My View
Music Industry 2004
In the immortal words........ written and sung by Mick Jagger so many, many years ago........Please, "may I introduce myself"......... Ah yes, those were the days a long time past in this business of ours........the music business........Hmmmmmmmmm........now there is an idiotic statement if I've ever heard....music and business........think about it........ Music: Creative, soulful, feel, expressive, heart, message, stories, memories....on and on and on.........Business: Lawyers, rip-offs, contracts, executives making more $$$ than artist, lawyers, "don't hear a hit"....on and on and on. Bitter you say? Nope....not me, I'm a realist....I've been in this business for a long time........Some of you may ask...."Alright tough guy, you think you have all the answers?"........As a matter of fact I do and this site is just the start....
My intentions, to have a forum for music first....a place to post my wares so to speak........one minute-thirty seconds of each song available to the public (a sample) and should John Q public like what they hear....I would be glad to send the full file....just send an e-mail and let me know. This site is also a place to talk about the music business........in the Feedback Forum section of this site I will be discussing points and facts about current and veteran engineers, producers, musicians and the industry in general. I welcome any feedback regarding the discussions........
The obvious is that the music industry is changing........it has too.... and it will.... if the best marketing tool out there is the music, the song itself....give it away....at least one selection to get the promo ball rolling..... There are many other ways for the artist to make money without the use of the stereo type music industry contract and their design of one's career........I will offer my views and hopefully your input and opinions will further this goal.
One major change In today's industry is that we have professional and amateur engineers, song writers, musicians and producers recording, manufacturing and distributing music from home. Some good, some bad material........The point is it has become a standard to have a computer and software available to create projects, bad for the recording studios but exactly what the record companies love and hate.... Love........because they can get material recorded on the cheap....lower overhead less budget for recording means more for promotion and marketing (a good thing)........The problem....? It's still the old fashion attitude and approach to marketing, distribution and the overall business model. Hate........well........basically for the exact same reason, that.... I, you or John Q public can record, manufacture and distribute our songs on the internet on the cheap without the record company.
I know....! You're saying without promotion money from the biggies then my music is dead in the water....well, I may have agreed with you years ago....but today with the success of so many bands involved with the net and the realization that the promo budgets don't have to be all that big and you factor in college radio and working with indie promo people....most, long time veterans of the industry you have a good chance of success or at least getting to the public and letting it be judged on it's on merit. i.e.; people listening, buying and attending shows. Believe me the biggies will come knocking on your door. Once you've done all the work and set the table in they come to feed and devour....then as always it is your choice to fall in line or stay independent........you know that old statement "everyone has a price"........well, they know it....if they want you bad enough.
Believe me, they (record co. exec.) say they want to shake things up and make changes to help the consumer....please take my word for it....they don't want to change to much because they'll be out of their fat 1.5 million dollar salaries or their golden parachutes (severance packages) should they lose their gigs. They embrace the internet like a mongoose to a snake....break it down, contain it, consume it....just make it work for them. If you knew the real cost to manufacture a CD by the record companies....the breakdown of numbers....budgets for recording, promo, marketing, publicity, graphics and production and then knew what some of the executives make compared to what the artist earns!....it would make you sick. Remember all is recoupable before the artist makes money and should sales not happen on the first record....well, a good chance you may not make a second and if you do chances are you won't get much of that golden promotion money everyone desires. I'll guarantee this....that if your record doesn't do well you won't be seeing the promo, marketing, sales and publicity executives giving back any of their salaries....
The point is....when you buy a CD at your favorite music outlet........paying ridiculous prices....and the artist you just bought isn't doing fifty thousand units a week out of the gate....Chances are the artist may live fat for a little while on advances but no big sales means no more money........unless you're lucky enough to be someone like Mariah Carey and meet some moron that is going to pay you a ridiculous amount of money and you deliver nothing....temporary as it may be you're paying for all those department executive lunches, bonuses and salaries........hey it happens........ yup....You know what else happens........just like Enron, WorldCom, on and on and on it gets passed on to John Q public.
Another point is we are becoming a singles oriented industry......very similar to the Motown 60's era when it was about the 45 single....except today it is the internet and the file. For the most part people don't want to buy a whole CD, partly due to cost but mostly due to a lack of quality writing of songs. Now this isn't to say songwriters suck today....because that is not entirely the truth....but if you pick up a Beatles, Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, Temptation or Supremes record chances are you are going to have four or five quality if not great songs on that disk........that's a fact. The difference is that years ago there was something called artist development....that's right....just as it sounds.... an opportunity to develop your craft while being supported by the record company....first single doesn't do well....that's OK, you've still got a second and maybe even a third if they see development in your writing. Today....it's one and done....so most consumers will get on the net make a greatest hit's package of a bunch of different artists and they're totally happy....problem is it just perpetuates mediocrity.
My last point........or I guess some would say slam (I say constructive criticism) about the music industry is how musicians as they get older get dropped like the dead....and heaven forbid if you are older and never had a deal in place when you were younger....forget it you are dead. Eric Clapton will always sell records as will Rod Stewart, Paul Simon and Smokey Robinson and many more....chances are they are not the priority of a label and I'm sure do not get the marketing and promo budgets of some younger and probably less qualified artists....but the public that grew up on these artists will still support them and chances are their children (the ones with good taste) will probably listen as well....The problem I have is that so much money is going into fueling these young careers for the wrong reasons. kids that are in there teens being sold more as sex symbols than musicians....Some can't even sing (you know who you are)....but hey, they look good.....It has become an image first and no content industry.
Now I'm not ignorant to the fact that it is a business (please read opening paragraph) and that the MTV world changed everything in the music business....but it's like listening to some sixteen year old sing or rap about the world or love........OK, if I give some validity to that then how about giving some validity as well as an opportunity to some thirty five year old....whom in my opinion may have a more genuine feel and songwriting approach about the world and love........doesn't experience count for anything anymore....in the art world it does. Just look at acting....some people break into that business much older in life....why is it in acting you get better with age and can land great parts, can win an Oscar or an Emmy when your 60........but in the music industry.......As Tony Soprano would say "forget about it" ........and they wonder what the problem is with the industry today........
Oh yes........let me introduce myself....my name is Joe James.