Dear Music Business,
Please stop crying about “Downloads” killing the Music Industry. There were so many other factors that got us here. Now, I shall break them down, so everyone can understand.
If you have a short attention span, just read all the stuff in bold. You’ll get the gist of it.
Part 1: Catalog Resale
This is something no one brings up anymore. The resale of archived catalogs. Basically, it’s when Led Zeppelin releases another “Remaster” and everyone goes out and buys it for the third of fourth time. Only, in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, they weren’t remasters. They were entirely new formats. Reselling, proven successful music, was vital to music industry.
Once upon a time 45’s were popular. Full Length LPs joined that, when bands started doing more interesting albums. Think about the early days of Beatles, at first it was just 45 Singles, then over the years, Full Length LPs. Some may argue, the Industry died back in the 60’s when this was popular.
Some time in the mid to late 60’s, 8-tracks were released for consumers. Now you could listen to your favorite music in your car, instead of the Radio (which I’ll get to in moment). Guess what happened? Everyone went and bought music they already owned, all over again!
Some time in the 70’s, Cassette Tapes hit the market. Finally, you didn’t have to own five 8-Tracks for one album. It all fit on one cassette! Resulting in, you guessed it. Everyone bought their favorite albums all over again! Some people would even buy a Vinyl LP for home and Cassettes for the car, if you really loved a particular artist.
The 80’s. Oh, such a decedent time of deception and greed. Now we add Compact Discs into the market. Causing consumers to buy all their music all over again. But, this time, it took a little more work. So, lots of shady things went down. Sony/Philips purchasing record plants and shutting them down. Labels and Distributors refusing to accept returns of Vinyl LPs from Retailers. But, if you order CD’s, those are returnable. These moves are why, seemingly over night, Music stores went from a variety of formats to majority Compact Discs.
But, wait! The late 80’s and early 90’s still had those pesky Cassette Tapes around. How annoying! Surely something must be done to make more money. Most people barely remember this. But, two formats were introduced and failed. Sony’s Mini-Discs and Phillip’s Digital Audio Cassettes Tapes. Consumer’s were starting to wise up and were getting tired of buying music from the 70’s, again. So, those formats faded away.
Now we can purchase Downloads. I look forward to quality improving in this area. Remember, people are happy to pay for quality.
One final point about Catalogs. When I was with Giant Records( Warner/Reprise) in the 90’s, they didn’t make money from new artists. Irving Azoff made all the label’s money from selling The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac, and other Classic Rock acts that already had fan bases. I’m not hating on Irving, he was one of smarter business men, who got ahead regardless of the environmental obstacles. But, this time period was really when new music faded. Why pour money into new music, when you could very easily sell old music, again and again?
Part 2: Radio and MTV Dying
I hope I don’t need to explain how important Radio once was. Radio was huge and the one and only place to discover new music. Assuming you didn’t have friends handing it to you. This is why Payola was rampant. Everyone knew without Radio, your Artist would go nowhere. It was worth breaking the law to get Airplay.
I’ll leave all the complexities of trying to fit into “radio friendly” formats and genres. Oh too late, I already started. This was horrible for artists trying to be different and original. Labels would lecture them about conforming and fitting in, so they can get radio airplay. This was a common problem for musicians all through history. But, back to topic.
Radio dominated for decades. But through acquisitions and consolidations, It became flavorless. Stations were limited to what they could play. Eventually you would hear more commercials than music. It all just got worse and worse until people simply stopped listening.
We have to mention MTV. There is a reason, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Billy Idol, and many other artist, broke sales records in the 80’s. Music Television was the reason. Imagine, if you only had one Cable Station combined with the only Radio Station. The whole country only watched this one channel. It was great and terrible all at the same time. They had so much power. A good video on MTV would be difference between playing Arenas or playing dive bars(that are actually restaurants). But, this topic has been beat to death. MTV changed direction and plays mostly shows about spoiled rich 16 year olds, or pregnant 16 year olds, or whatever is going on there. The Music Television channel, abandoned music.
These were two fatal blows that would be very difficult to recover from.
Part 3: Internet Is The New Radio
This is when the complaining get’s really annoying. It’s not a new argument, but worth repeating. I use to record songs off the Radio onto Cassette Tapes. That’s right, I stole music off the airwaves. Friends of mine would lend me Albums on Vinyl or Cassettes and I would make copies. Oh the Shame! But, eventually, if the Artist was good enough, I would go to a Store and purchase something of good quality, that I would cherish for ever (or at least about 10 years).
The argument goes like this. Yes, people have always shared music, but there’s a big difference between your neighbors and giving something to entire planet. Sounds reasonable enough. Only one thing, what’s being left out is the power of great music and loyal Fans. Someone who truly loves an artist is not only happy to purchase music, they are compelled to do so!
When I want to hear a song, I go to YouTube or Spotify. Just like everyone else on the planet. But, when I really love something, I go buy it. I buy it on Vinyl if I can! So basically, the Internet has replaced Radio’s role. Really think about this. The thing the Music Bizz used to bribe and fight for, Radio Airplay, is now being done voluntarily by people, for free. OH God, that is so horrible. What are Record Labels going to do with all those Hookers and Drugs?!
Part 4: New Artist Development
Are Labels prepare to be patient and guide new artists through years of development? Heck no. Are Musicians willing to devote their lives to an art form and forge new styles of music. Heck no. “Ain’t nobody got time for that”!
This is where the problem lies. Both sides of the fence are to blame. Musicians and Labels. Without new products, there’s nothing to sell. You can only resell the same old thing, so many times. (I suppose Ovaltine might argue that.)
None of the complaining helps. What matters is captivating music. We (consumers) are desperate for it. Labels can no longer succeed by, brainwashing people through shear repetition of airplay. We all have to go back to the drawing board and give people something they actually care about! If people aren’t excited about it, music will continue to fade away into the background.
You deserve a prize for making it this far. Your reward is this entertaining video about Spider Dog.
rePtile like Me 