The Music Industry

Well, “music” must be good business – since the Major Record Labels are trying their best to “charge more for producing less.” Let me explain how this works---

In the “old days” the difference between the Major Labels and the Independent (Indie’s) Labels was that the Major Labels controlled most of the distribution of records, CD’s, etc. That meant that anyone not signed by a Major Label had about as much chance of getting their music promoted (radio play, etc.) as surviving a lightening strike.

So, they could (literally) put out “crap” and charge big bucks for it – it’s called no competition.

To make things easier and more profitable, the “Major’s” could put out records/CD’s with essentially 10-13 really bad songs and one that people might actually want. Ha, now for the catch, a customer would have to buy the entire CD to get the one song they really wanted – hee hee, which comes to about $13-$20 for the one song that they might really want! Now that’s really good business, and very profitable.

To compound the exploitation, what with them controlling most of the music promotional avenues (distribution, music award programs, MTV, etc.), the Major Labels could also produce dozens of “clone bands”, bands that aren’t 15 cents different from the one popular band they made a lot of money producing. Example – can anyone count how many Dave Matthews-like-bands there are out there!

You see, producing any new sounds – not like the “tried and true” – would be risky and could be less profitable! So, without any real competition, it’s definitely a good business plan. Yep, it’s good being a semi monopoly.

Now, here comes the “fly in the ointment”, the Internet and satellite radio! With iPod, iTunes, Napster, XM-Radio, etc., the “unwashed public” can now buy the music they actually want at 99 cents a song. They can even get music from bands that are as good as, if not better, than the bands the Major Labels are pushing – because these bands now have distribution! Wow, what a concept – buy only what you want at a reasonable price!!!

So, how does the Major Labels fight this, how do they compete - they don’t. They don’t try to put out better bands/music; they get lawyers and try suing everyone for one reason/excuse after another. But, it comes down to the fact that they aren’t making as much money as they used to make – because they’re still producing and promoting “crap!”

I love their arguments, especially about how “their Stars” aren’t getting enough “royalties.” Well, that simply means that they, the Labels, aren’t getting money! And, to make it even more laughable, with true competition many, if not most, of “their Stars” would probably not even be in the business – there’s a lot of “crap” out there!!!!

Another avenue the Label’s are taking – according to the press, is that the Major Labels are apparently going back to the old “payola system” – bribing radio stations to play “their Stars.” Hell, even the radio stations don’t really want to play most of the crap that the “Major’s” are putting out; hence, they need to be bribed!

A point to ponder:

Have you noticed that the “Major Labels” tend not to promote their “Stars” music? The guys are promoted by publicizing how many times they’ve been arrested, whom they are sleeping with and their propensity to taking drugs and over drinking! You know; “The Bad Boy Rock Image!”

The girls (ooops, I meant “women”), are promoted as little mini “porn stars.” Most of the girls are in videos (and appear on stage) scantily dressed, and appear as tramp-like (looking) girls - that just happen to have some music in the background. Ha, do you really think thousands of fans would show up for the music if they weighted 180 lbs. and had no makeup! Hell, that would only be music---

For music one must go to the Indie labels and unsigned artists, you know, the ones that don’t get distributed and promoted.

The Music Industry was a “sellers market”, now it’s becoming a “buyer’s market”, where will it end up?

My Solution:

Unless a lot of people write to their Congressmen – or Congress Woman - and tell them to stop writing and passing laws specifically designed to help the Major Record Label Companies, it will go back to a “seller’s market" again! Remember, “The Labels” give these guys a lot of “campaign money!”