[NewMusic] [BA-NEWMUS:50] Re: utopian cd death article

[Damon Smith]

About the only real change will be most record stores being replaced by 
websites making more music more available more places.

Damon

On May 31, 2007, at 12:02 PM, Sarah - 21 Grand wrote:

> I'm sorry, I don't buy this death of the label/power to the people 
> business.
> In theory, it sounds swell, however, there are several major factors 
> that
> this article occludes.
>
> 1. advertising - let's look at how websites make money - advertising 
> is the
> major revenue source. Look at myspace for chrissakes - the quantity of 
> ads
> are visually painful. Major labels still have the advertising dollars 
> to
> place their product more prominently, which also translates into
> content/coverage. Instead of power through placement in physical 
> stores,
> major label artists/records will just get bigger ads and more prominent
> placement on sites, from being "featured tracks" to the Amazon
> recommendation model of "if you liked this, you should buy blank."
>
> 2. power in numbers - let's say cds become the specialty market that 
> vinyl
> is and music is predominantly available electronically, following the
> formula the guy lays out in his article.  An aspiring band will want to
> associate with a more established entity, and perhaps hire the same 
> manager
> or share resources. There will still be other media opportunities that 
> pay
> money as well as concert appearances that pay money. Who negotiates 
> this? In
> this guy's article it's "the manager" - well, undoubtedly some 
> managers will
> have the brilliant idea to come together and form an entity to promote 
> their
> bands as a group.  Maybe it's not "a label" per se, but it will serve a
> similar function.
>
> 3. laziness/desire to be "in the know" - while "Joe and Jane Public 
> want
> music" what determines what music they want? This is the success of the
> Starbucks record label, it appeals to laziness and the desire to get
> something you'd probably like for your money (which in this envisioned
> future - replace money with time and effort). Labels have often 
> functioned
> well for this. Radio has served this function for years, and now we 
> have
> Pitchfork and the Wire. There will still be entities that filter and
> "curate" cultural offerings for the clueless consumer. These entities 
> will
> undoubtedly want to be compensated in some way for their work. The 
> level of
> "pay to play" will probably vary, but providing "something for 
> nothing" has
> a limited appeal.
>
> 4. capitalism stops at nothing - these major labels are parts of large 
> media
> conglomerates that own most everything. They will either adapt (often 
> by
> buying new media entities) or try to maintain the status quo.  For 
> example,
> either Sony will buy Soulseek or try to drive it out of business.
>
>
> sl
>
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