the end of the record industry as we know it?

[James Blast]

read this from David Hepworth's blog:

The end of the promo copy
Something happened yesterday that could have great significance in what used to be called the record business. The boss of Sony Music in the UK announced that henceforth his company would no longer be sending out review copies of their upcoming product. Instead they would be making this music available digitally. This is significant not just because it will prevent hacks and radio producers making a little extra coin by selling their promotional copies. The bottom dropped out of that market long ago. This time it matters because it's part of a process which is going to see the end of "reviews sections" in magazines as we have known them.

When the first music monthlies were launched back in the mid-80s it was believed that big, alphabetically arranged review sections were a good idea because readers appreciated their apparently comprehensive nature, they attracted accompanying advertising and you could afford to run them at a reasonable cost because freelances liked the idea of getting hold of records before anybody else could.

None of these is any longer the case. Now that we have You Tube, Spotify and multi-channel radio and TV, any reader who reckons they can't get to sample something new isn't trying. Most records - and, ironically, there are more records than ever before - aren't supported by any form of print advertising so that imperative has gone. Now hacks won't even be able to get their hands on physical copies of records.

This will further change the way people talk about those records. Traditionally reviewers weren't just trying to communicate the pleasure of listening to something. They were also communicating the joy of possessing something. You can't do that if you're moored to your computer, listening to an incoming stream.

I know all the arguments about the decline of physical product but this move shows that record companies don't understand what goes on in the head of a hack who gets scores of new records every day, most of them by people he's never heard of. In a tiny minority of cases he just looks at the cover or the name, thinks "that looks interesting" and puts it on the office CD player. If it's any good somebody else in the office will say "what are we listening to?" and a short conversation will ensue. This conversation is the very first tiny step in getting known. It's a social event in the physical world in response to a physical object.

I'm sure there are lots of good reasons for Sony making this move. Should send a shiver through the Jiffy Bag business for a start. I also predict that within a year when they want reviewers to take notice of something they'll start sending out copies again.

http://whatsheonaboutnow.blogspot.com/

[Bartek]

the roof, the roof, the roof is on fire..."

[Erudite]

Let's face it, the music industry has been dying for some time now.
This can only hasten it along - guess it's a good thing that the law on assisted suicide has recently changed.

[stufarq]

Let's face it, the music industry has been dying for some time now.

Well, it's been changing and the existing business model is dying but there'll still be a music industry. It just might work differently. Although I suspect that reports of record label demise may have been greatly exaggerated.

[nodubmanshouts]

Record reviews? Bollox. Anybody who needs to read a review of a record to decide what to buy is the worst kind of audio fucktard known to man.

a. listen to record. if you like it, go to b. buy it, or c. don't buy it. DONE!

We should all be out celebrating.

[paul]

Record reviews? Bollox. Anybody who needs to read a review of a record to decide what to buy is the worst kind of audio fucktard known to man.

a. listen to record. if you like it, go to b. buy it, or c. don't buy it. DONE!

We should all be out celebrating.

amen to that

[darkparticle]

what he said

will it make a difference to the bland shyte churned out and hyped up

[Bartek]

DIY labels are more suitable fro current times and model of industry. i don't give a quack if some albums are released by independent or majors - contents is the only what i care.

[Izzy HaveMercy]

DIY labels are more suitable fro current times and model of industry. i don't give a quack if some albums are released by independent or majors - contents is the only what i care.

The only problem is that a lot of good bands won't be noticed just because of the lack of promo. Think about that as well.

I'm not talking personally (well, just a bit maybe ), but a lot of what you listen to is brought to you by a promo machine, be it EMI or WARP or Southern Lord or Alfa Matrix. They all try to promote their musicians, in the first place to make a profit of course, but it also benefits most musicians and bands. Maybe they don't earn millions under this label, but their name gets spread and thus they get better opportunities.

The demise of labels, independent or major, wil inevitably lead to the very same we have now, only worse... pop music will flourish, independent and interesting music will go further underground.

IZ.

[Bartek]

it's ture but now the Net give all of bands same tools to promote (this kind a DIY way like blogs, net-zins and other). you know that informations comes with a spped of light now take a look at golden age of myspace nad bands like artic monkeys and few more. for myself i have to say that i'm very not into modern music i mostly diggin' in old yards but i can't disagree with being a victim of promoting machines on some way.

[Izzy HaveMercy]

it's ture but now the Net give all of bands same tools to promote (this kind a DIY way like blogs, net-zins and other). you know that informations comes with a spped of light now take a look at golden age of myspace nad bands like artic monkeys and few more. for myself i have to say that i'm very not into modern music i mostly diggin' in old yards but i can't disagree with being a victim of promoting machines on some way.

It's a boon and a burden IMO... The Promo Machine sold me some crap already, but also gave me some beauties...

Now with the Internet, everyone can do it, which makes quality control very hard.

How many bands an you name that made it through MySpace? Now try the same with a record labe of choice. Agreed, the Net ain't around for that long, but MySpace is already over its peek and going straight down (personal findings and with me a lot of bands/artists think so as well) and it is around for only a couple of years...

Sometimes you need real people, with insight, experience and a face to sell your product; be it mascara, a car or a CD doesn't really matter.

IZ.

[moses]

An interesting turn in events............. especialy for Pink Floyd fans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8561963.stm

[markfiend]

An interesting turn in events............. especialy for Pink Floyd fans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8561963.stm

It's not like the Pink Floyd will care about cutting off a revenue stream. Good on them for standing up for the principle of the thing.

[Izzy HaveMercy]

An interesting turn in events............. especialy for Pink Floyd fans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8561963.stm

It's not like the Pink Floyd will care about cutting off a revenue stream. Good on them for standing up for the principle of the thing.

So are they going to sue all the radio stations playing just the one song from an album as well?

Principles yeah, but a bit far-fetched IMO

Only a band that's snugly wrapped up in money already would start that kind of debate...

IZ.

[nodubmanshouts]

How many bands an you name that made it through MySpace? Now try the same with a record labe of choice. Agreed, the Net ain't around for that long, but MySpace is already over its peek and going straight down (personal findings and with me a lot of bands/artists think so as well) and it is around for only a couple of years...

I'm hoping the music industry becomes less about "making it" and more about allowing a larger number of smaller acts make a living from what they love doing. I would love to see people start caring less about what's hot or not and start seeing more bands on a local level, who utterly deserve your entertainment dollars.

Free internet radio has opened my eyes to lots of smaller acts over the last year or two, and I'm sure it'll continue. Networking sites like Facebook (or whatever's next) can only help improve that. Agreed, My Space is dead, but I think the principle is sound.

Music is actually becoming a little bit interesting again...

[Izzy HaveMercy]

Music is actually becoming a little bit interesting again...

For the listener? Very. For the musician? No.

There is no opportunity to make money or even break-even with the Digital Revolution.

ATlest, not yet. We need a business plan first. Until then, musicians will lose money instead of gain, and for most small musicians, music is a hobby that in the best of times is a break-even job. They will soon lose heart if they have to punp more money in it thatn what it is worth

IZ.

[moses]

for most small musicians, music is a hobby that in the best of times is a break-even job. They will soon lose heart if they have to punp more money in it thatn what it is worth

IZ.

Surely anyone's hobby is worth more than money and if we could all make money from our hobbies then we would never have to work again.
If the idea of making money is the driving force behind making music then every musician should be trying to write the most commercial piece of junk they can imagine.

And as for Pink Floyd I think they are trying, for the better, to retain some artistic integrity in the concept of an album as a complete piece of work rather than a fragmented selection of random pop songs. And it makes no difference if they are billionaires (earned on the back of their hobby) or paupers.

[paul]

I make music because it's my hobby. At least, I consider it now as a hobby. But there was a time I was playing with the thought of making a job out of it. Glad I got rid of that thought quickly when common sense kicked in.

There are too many good bands out there, all trying to get into the industry, all believing they're the next big thing. IMO it's not worth the effort these days. Record companies, radio stations, venues etc. get flooded with demos and Myspaces, so it's rather useless. And in case you get a record deal, there is no tour support, they release stuff with a big financial risc for the band, poor distribution etc...

Like I said: For me It's a hobby and it stays that way. It's nice to chase a dream, but mouths have to be fed and mortgage has to be paid.

[nodubmanshouts]

Have to completely disagree Iz. Its never been a better time for musicians.

You can get a starter home studio (better than something you'd pay $10,000s for 20 years ago) for less than the cost of a decent guitar.

Its super easy to get your songs on the net, post a You Tube video and use social networking to spread the word.

Would any of us own a CD like Gary Marx's solo album without the internets? I very much doubt it.

Musicians have always had a hard time making money; its not any worse now... at least now you MAY be able to flog a few mp3s without a distribution deal, and you can get almost all that money via services like Pay Pal, without paying a 70% cut to the retailer and distributer.

[paul]

and you can get almost all that money via services like Pay Pal, without paying a 70% cut to the retailer and distributer.

But who's buying it?

[nodubmanshouts]

But who's buying it?

Um, people who like it?

[Izzy HaveMercy]

But who's buying it?

Um, people who like it?

All three of them?

In short, because I have had this debate a gazillion of times on other fora:

- I am happy I have music as a hobby, my regular job pays a lot better, thank god, but music as a hobby is bloody hard work nowadays, and thet's OK if it is your JOB but not when it is just a pastime. And music costs a lot of money, just like any other hobby, so it is nice when you get some in return.

- To give you a clue about digital heaven: We had a hundred times more profit from selling our CD than from selling our songs as digital downloads. And that's not nly because we are not very well known. I can give you exactly the same data from at least five other Belgian bands that are quite famous and released a CD this year, as physical product as well as digita download. Downloads are nice and cool, but not as a selling medium. People buy cd's. People download when it is for free. Or they rip their CDs to MP3.

People paying for downloads are a big minority and will even become an even smaller group of buyers when providers don't realise their prices are too steep. I mean, 10 dollars for some files on a server somewhere? For two dollars more you have a shiny silver physical carrier with glossy artwork and a nice plastic box to protect it.

- it has never before been easier to record your own cd, I give you that. But as a result, it has never been more difficult to stand up among the amateur musicians, the 'underground' and the indies. Because EVERYONE does it.

And how are you to know I have a new CD? Yeap, solely through this forum, maybe on Facebook, or maybe our website. With promo, You'd know on the Net, on your radio, on telly maybe, and in your fave magazine. Promo is important; and it is nice when someone does it for you.

IZ.

[nodubmanshouts]

I still don't see how your worse off now than before... you now have a chance of getting a small slice of the pie, rather than no slice. You may only sell to 3 people today, but it would have been zero 15 years ago... and its cost you a lost less to record those tracks now.

[Izzy HaveMercy]

I still don't see how your worse off now than before... you now have a chance of getting a small slice of the pie, rather than no slice. You may only sell to 3 people today, but it would have been zero 15 years ago... and its cost you a lost less to record those tracks now.

Dunno. I bought everything official of course. That cost me at about 3000 euro, give or take.

This includes PC, monitor speakers, DAW plus controller and the regular software I use.

Recording a full-cd in our genre will cost at about 2000 euro.

Granted, I can do watever I want with all I have now, but this gets old as well, needs upgrading etc... so cheaper? Only if you use in-the box illegal software. And that's not cheap, that's STEALING.

In my life I sold my fair share of product, with various bands. The least I ever sold was with our Black Metalband 'Avatar' which was 120 cassettes.

Other cd's and demos varied between 150-2000 cd's. Of which I always got my good share of money. Nothing to retire with, but good enough to replace cables, buy a new keyboard stand, or a new Expansion board for my synth, etc. That's what I call break-even.

With the FGG cd widely available as digital download, I earned just enough to pay for the coverage of yet another year availability in iTunes and the like.

Just to say, for this year I earned a whopping 30 dollar from our digital downloads. Whereas we gained at about 600 euro selling the very same CD as a physical product, own sales as well as through distributors. We sold approx. 200 of them by the way. Which makes an average 3 euro profit per cd.

The time we sold 2000 cd's through a record label we gained 50 eurocent per cd, making a 1000 euro. That seems far worse regarding profit-per-cd, but due to the promo campaign they did, our cd was sold 2000 times, which I find far more important. It means we gained 1000 euro and we reached 2000 people.

Now do the math again.

Oh, as you can see, I never made a secret of what I earn with music Just to show you it's not all gold and glory for musicians, this Digital Age...

IZ.

[moses]

it's such a shame that it's all about money. Buy an acoustic guitar