That's the conclusion of Author and Singer-Songwriter Nathan Harden who writes that whilst
many people are familiar with the financial woes of the music industry. What isn't well understood, however, is how the economic misfortunes of the music business are transforming popular music itself,
The problem he sees is that record companies can no longer invest time and money in nurturing new talent
if a band's first album is not a hit, more often than not, that band is dropped from the label. No second chances. Most artists never turn a profit.
But more importantly whereas the digital revolution was supposed to empower musicians
hundreds of thousands of other musicians are competing for attention online. Winning new fans and staying connected to them requires tremendous marketing sophistication.
Interesting as people are claiming the I-PAD is the new I-pod will the publishing industry go the same way?
2 comments:
These pieces alway seem to lack reality, don't they? If you think the most lauded album of last year was by Animal Collective, a band who have been releasing stuff unnoticed for years, then surely this isn't entirely true? What you find is that the majors aren't investing in 2nd or 3rd albums by bands who are no longer du jour. Hardly a tragedy - a few years recording albums cheaply and quickly before that major label advance could be just what music needs!
I take your point and your example is good but it concerns me that without sustainable investment from the big labels,long term growth in the industry must be under attack.
What I always ask myself is can you imagine the bands around today performing comecack concerts in 10,20 years time to packed audiences?
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