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Tony “Hitman” Macucci, the mastermind behind MTV, is a high-powered and savvy music producer who knows a number-one hit when he hears one. At Pacific Records, owned by the Miyaki Group, Macucci is about to hear an audition when Tyro Miyaki interrupts. He assigns Tony an impossible task: make David McGuinn’s song “American Sky” a top hit again. Desperate to keep his job and reputation, Macucci considers that the only way to bring “has-been” McGuinn back to the top is to kill him off “accidentally.” After all, countless music artists hit the top of the charts after their tragic ends.
Amidst torturing his soul over this difficult reality, Macucci hears McGuinn’s most recent songs, and the edgy producer starts to soften. Is it possible Macucci, who has a strong nose for what sells records, can learn to appreciate the artist’s work and craft? The story turns more complicated when it is not the song “American Sky” but a more mature and expansive song called “My Field of Dreams” that Macucci wants to feature as number one. Now, instead of facing the consequences of murder, Macucci faces the consequences of admitting to his boss and Miyaki's daughter that “American Sky” has seen its day.
Readers who liked books like A Visit From the Goon Squad or Powder or who enjoyed the movie Field of Dreams will appreciate this tale, which is a sendup of nostalgia for American music of the 40s, 50s, and 60s. This novel features comedy, tragedy, and romance, all while paying tribute to the heroes and songs of the great tradition of American music. Nieman crafts Macucci as a conflicted character whose moral and ethical struggles lead to the opportunity for personal growth. Readers intrigued with the darker side of the music business may find Nieman's book to be an interesting read.