The record companies have a problem with music downloaders. That is, people who are downloading music for free over the Internet. People are frustrated with the high costs of Cd's, and it doesn't help knowing that the record companies give very little money to the artist from CD sales. With the decline in CD sales we should look at what the consequences of this are. Could it be the end of the record company as we know it if this trend does not decline? How will artists make their money?
If I were in a band a record companies did not exist as they do today I would make my money by performing live and selling Cd's at my shows. As I could I would sell other merchandise at my shows and I would use the Internet as a form of promotion. Myspace has become a great tool for bands to use to promote themselves. It also allows people to hear there music. On my website I would sell my music in CD and MP3 form, but also offering a couple of free songs.
It is also possible that a new kind of record company will form. It would be nothing like we know today. There is already a system that maybe be a step toward the next evolution in the music industry. Magnatune Records is a new kind of "record company" that has non-exclusive agreements with artists and gives them 50% of the profits. The music is all available online for the consumer in MP3 format. Magnatune is a good idea. Whether it survives or really takes off is only for the future to tell.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Monday, September 11, 2006
Sunday, September 03, 2006
It's the Music
I don't think I would have found out about a lot of bands with out file sharing.
Back before the record companies started suing people for downloading music, I was downloading music. Now I use itunes to buy my downloads. I have always gone out and bought Cd's that I really wanted though. I like having that hard copy and the booklet it comes with. I still enjoy going to the record store and buying music (YES, I do buy records too, mostly Cd's, but I am building a collection) and today I do buy most of my music. However, if one of my friends is going to send me something, or burn me a CD, I'm not going to refuse. A CD compilation is much like a mix tape. I like to compile compilations of music for myself or my friends as a gift.
The record companies may be losing profit, but the way I see it, they are thieves themselves. They rake in a ton of money and leave minimal money to the bands. It's robbery. I did a search on Google to see what I could find on that point and I was surprised at what popped up. Courtney Love wrote on this subject back in 2000. Her opening statement is "Today I want to talk about piracy and music. What is piracy? Piracy is the act of stealing an artist's work without any intention of paying for it. I'm not talking about Napster-type software. I'm talking about major label recording contracts." Courtney Love maybe have had her "incidents" of drunken displays, but she is an artist and she has a point. I found it to be extremely interesting. Maybe Courtney Love does have something intelligent to say.
Despite the thievery of the record companies, the artists do make some money off of the album sales. File sharing is a useful tool though and we should be able to use it. I like being able to preview new albums or check out new bands before I buy the album. I'm sure I am not the only one who feels this way.
Back before the record companies started suing people for downloading music, I was downloading music. Now I use itunes to buy my downloads. I have always gone out and bought Cd's that I really wanted though. I like having that hard copy and the booklet it comes with. I still enjoy going to the record store and buying music (YES, I do buy records too, mostly Cd's, but I am building a collection) and today I do buy most of my music. However, if one of my friends is going to send me something, or burn me a CD, I'm not going to refuse. A CD compilation is much like a mix tape. I like to compile compilations of music for myself or my friends as a gift.
The record companies may be losing profit, but the way I see it, they are thieves themselves. They rake in a ton of money and leave minimal money to the bands. It's robbery. I did a search on Google to see what I could find on that point and I was surprised at what popped up. Courtney Love wrote on this subject back in 2000. Her opening statement is "Today I want to talk about piracy and music. What is piracy? Piracy is the act of stealing an artist's work without any intention of paying for it. I'm not talking about Napster-type software. I'm talking about major label recording contracts." Courtney Love maybe have had her "incidents" of drunken displays, but she is an artist and she has a point. I found it to be extremely interesting. Maybe Courtney Love does have something intelligent to say.
Despite the thievery of the record companies, the artists do make some money off of the album sales. File sharing is a useful tool though and we should be able to use it. I like being able to preview new albums or check out new bands before I buy the album. I'm sure I am not the only one who feels this way.
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