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RE: The ideal music industry

Comment comment by ldsudduth on 02 October 2007

it's very significant that the copyright on a book is almost always owned by the author, but the copyright on a song is almost always owned by the publisher.

I think 'very significant' is a vast understatement; it's borderline criminal. The labels 'coerce' the artists (effectively) into signing away those rights.

You're right that the industry adds very little intrinsic value to the process; all they do is tell us, the fans, who to like.

For me, I typically don't hear music unless someone else is playing it on their radio. I rarely listen to music radio, unless it's a Christian station. I do make a habit of collecting music from the two music forms I don't mind paying for--Blues or Jazz.

I think the artists would do well to run far away from the big labels, and give more business to the smaller independent labels. Or, promote and publish themselves.

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RE: The ideal music industry by twabulldogg :: NR5

I think the artists would do well to run far away from the big labels, and give more business to the smaller independent labels. Or, promote and publish themselves.

The issue with this is that in order for an artist to "make it," the record label needs to one that reports to the RIAA. The RIAA and its members are stuck in an old mindset where they dictate what is listened produced, played on the radio, and what is popular. They have yet to grasp the the power of the internet and how to leverage it. Before their collective monopoly can be broken, more artists need to take the step that Radiohead and Prince have already taken.

I found this nice breakdown of CD price distribution. It is a bit dated, but the amount that goes to the artist has probably not increased significantly. Most artists to not make the majority of their money from album sales; only "big time" acts that get guaranteed amounts of money beforehand get rich selling albums. The money for musicians comes from their live performances.

Radiohead and Prince should be applauded. However, to go a step further, check out what the Counting Crows support. They allow free trading of concert bootlegs, as long as no one profits from the trading.

Posted 05 October 2007, Hide, Parent, Reply