Kate Bennett wrote: > > I think its a great time to be an independent artist, though it takes a lot > of work. On the other hand there is so much corporate consolidation going > on, such as clear channel radio buying up radio stations around the country > and also performance venues.
Yes, but I think they'll do themselves in eventually because no one will pay any attention to their products, so, like a chain store that expands too much, too quickly, they'll collapse. Or be so cumbersome the indies can do an end run around them. > A 2000 report by the RIAA (http://www.riaa.com/MD-Cons-5-00-MCT.cfm) stated > "Of note was the 45 and over segment, which more than doubled its share of > the market since 1990, rounding out the decade with a 23.8% share of the > market. This past decade clearly revealed the significance that the baby > boom generation places on music in their lives." Almost a quarter of the market?! That's great, since baby boomers are used to paying for music in object form. From what I've heard even people who now download "free" music will buy it if they want the complete package, including artwork, and if it's a decent price. It's hard, though, to figure out what that "decent price" is. Today I was again in the store that's closing and was very happy buying cds at much less than the usual $20. Lots of people were very happy doing that. The store was packed. I would have bought more cds all along, especially music I didn't know anything about, if the usual price was around $11. I think the record companies have a lot to do with people wanting music either as downloads or copies. And now that they've added something to some cds (starting with Celine Dion's latest one) that will actually destroy a hard drive if a person makes a copy, the companies are going to make consumers even angrier and even less inclined to pay for their products. I'd be so pissed off if a cd ruined my hard drive it would be a very long time before I'd buy any cd again. > As an artist, I chose not to put my stuff up on mp3 mainly because I did not > like their business practices towards artists (another story). But if someone else does, what happens? Isn't it then available for everyone? My understanding is that Napster doesn't exist anymore, but that there are similar ways to get music. > I will continue to record in the CD format...at least in my lifetime & for > my audience, think there will still be a market for CDs. Or at least until there's something better for you. It may be that rather than produce the cds yourself, you can do the master recording and people will pay to download it directly from you and burn their own copy, and print out the artwork, which will probably be more like self-contained envelope designs rather than jewel box inserts. As to getting paid, there might be something to be learned from freelance programmers who develop shareware that anyone can download. They must have some tricks to make sure they get paid. I realized after I sent my previous message about the future of the music business that it probably came across as rather depressing, especially for anyone in the business who would be feeling the most anxiety about the unknown changes coming. I didn't mean for it to be such a negative message but, Joni's voice comes flittering in here, I've got some blues inside and outside my head these days, so it's hard to write anything without that coming across. Plus, it's easy to talk about what won't exist any more eventually (and I don't see how the current distribution system can last much longer) but hard (well, impossible really) to know what will replace whatever's being lost and see how it will benefit us. In the meantime I'll buy cds forever if I can. I didn't mind leaving albums behind but love these little silver discs. Debra Shea NP: David Bowie on A&E's Live by Request. It's the fourth time I've seen him this week, without even trying. He's publicizing not only his new cd but his website too. He really is a master at self-promotion, and very charming too. And I'm even enjoying the music.
