It’s time for story Eight Million and Six-teen about how the record labels and the musicians they ostensibly represent no longer get on with each other. This time, we have a bit of a row developing over in the UK, where that proposed knock-people-off-the-Internet-for-file-sharing law is currently stirring division amongst the ranks. One on side, of course, you have the record labels who, in the year 2009, are still afraid of piracy destroying the music business (please note: that’s destroying the music business that made record label execs fat and happy; music hasn’t gone away, it’s merely changed, and change is death to the record label middle men), and on the other, the musicians who recognize that, you know, maybe suing the pants off your customers isn’t the best thing to do.
The labels insist that it’s easy for popular bands such as Radiohead or Nine Inch Nails to experiment with different distribution models, but you can’t turn around and promote Unknown Band the same way. That’s why the record labels are still Very Important. I mean, what kind of 18-year-old in a new rock band knows how to record music, and throw it up on a Web site? That requires teams of highly skilled, highly compensated professionals to figure out.
I don’t know, maybe one of our English readers can offer some sort of perspective here. How is the discussion playing out, if at all? Is there TV coverage, or magazine articles being written? Does anyone give a damn at all?
I have a solution to all this music piracy business, by the way: just ban music outright. No creating it, no listening to it, just gone forever. Now everyone’s miserable, but the problem is solved.
I think there are lots of 18 yo’s that know how to record their own music these days and post it to the internet. I give a damn.
Reading comprehension FAIL.
and this team of highly compensated professionals using new technology to figure out music came from where? were they born age 30 with these skills?
a kid who focus’ on what he loves can be just as much an expert as the dude who went to college for it cause he liked it a bit and needed a job.
sure school is cool, but not necessarily necessary.
if its something you love to do and devote all your time to you can be just as good as the pro’s
and i think ‘18 year old kids’ are proving this often enough
eff the labels. i only find bands i enjoy through myspace now any way. i never listen to the radio
“I mean, what kind of 18-year-old in a new rock band knows how to record music, and throw it up on a Web site?”
Sure an 18yr any old can upload their music on the web. But, is it enough to make them “that” top selling Artists? I THINK NOT.
The problem is: Independent artists haven’t gotten the opportunity to reach the level of “success” that signed artists have (supposedly) been getting through the Record Labels.
Most artists will tell you that they want to get signed. Why? because they feel there are more opportunities for them getting signed with a major labels than doing it on their own.
Once this problem is fully addressed, Artists will once again have full control of their art, and you will gladly see the Record Labels disperse into thin air:)