The article goes on to blame things like Napster and the changing technologies, and I feel as though that's a big part of the challenges the music industry has faced, but I don't think that's what is continuing the decline. I spent $40 last night on songs on iTunes out of the blue!! The way to sell music digitally has been refined pretty well.
Here's the problem. . . When the digital age slapped us in the face the big record companies freaked out and sued all sorts of people, assuming this could be the end of their world. After that, they went into a crazy panic and thought they had to make immediate money, so they only signed artists they thought were sure things for this instant.
This practice was not uncommon before, but in the past, there was always a mixture of commercially viable artists and long-term investment artists that were under development and they knew would have long careers. Now the long-career artist has been removed from the big picture and all we have are a handful of short-term artist because the big companies were freaked out about losing their money over digital downloads.
Short term artists are also pushed to have good singles so that they can sell right now. The problem with this in the digital age is that it's easier and cheaper to buy a single now without buying the whole album. Since the consumer doesn't even need to buy the whole album to hear their new favorite song, the record companies are out of the money for the whole album. Since it's a single-based market, the record companies don't even care about having a strong, unified ALBUM. It's just a collection of singles. What's the newest Major Label album that you can say "that's a great album" There are lots of smaller label records out there, and records by old artists with new records, but for new artists? few and far between. (there are always a few exceptions, but the exceptions don't make the rule)
This whole mess with the major labels trying to make more money now for fear of not making money later also made them change their main demographic. They're shooting for kids younger and younger. That's because they think the only people willing to buy things in a recession are the rich parents of annoying kids. Hence the pop music industry being more childlike than ever. . .musically, lyrically, thematically, tonally. Watching the Black Eyed Peas new stuff is like watching the Teletubbies with their wacky costumes, silly songs, and weird dance routines. As a music fan, I find it hard to connect with all that.
That brings me to a big point. The MUSIC INDUSTRY is no longer that. It has become the ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. Music is a part of it as much as music is a part of video games or movies. . . it's an accent to a series of other events.
Now I'm not the kind of musician that believes music is something unto itself. I believe MUSIC is a language. . a form of communication, and I feel as though a lot is being said, but nobody's really saying anything. If you want a good conversation, you'll have to go elsewhere.
I'm not angry about realities of what's going on (with a few exceptions. . .ahem. . .taylor swift. . ahem. . for another blog) These are mostly my observations on why this industry is taking a dive. I strongly believe if the record industry allowed people to go out on a limb and really say things (even Green Day did well with their political album, American Idiot. . .also older, established artists with much pull) then people will have something to listent to, connect with or at least form an opinion about. This at least gets people talking about issues, their lives, their worlds, what's important.
Perhaps that's the thing that bothers me the most. We're not being shown any new way to view anything important. We're just being fed the same things in the same ways because it sells a few records now, but we'll get sick of it and move on. . .which is why the big record companies are in a constant scramble. Get some depth and people will stick with you forever.
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