Music Industry and it's losses.

[ClubMed]

I just read this article: Online pirates scupper music business

And I started thinking about it. On the one hand, it is understandable that the Music Industry is angry and worried about the never ending losses due to piracy.

But the more I think about it, the more I realise that it's mostly due to their own fault.

IMO music should have remained an Art, it is now an Industry. How pathetic. They spit out hundreds of albums and groups each year, and yet they are all the same, all weak, lacking in talent or seriousness. Superficial and bloated.

I’m really sick of the music industry, they are trying to sell us over priced junk, nothing more. It is obvious that they are out of original ideas when they start to make covers of older songs over and over again.

I stopped buying CD's 4 years ago. I do it occasionally when I come across a band I really like, and when I think they are worthy of the money I earn.

If the music majors want to make money then they should start being serious. They should make an effort at supporting talents, not inventing them out of garbage.

There are no more caliber’s like in the past, most of today’s 'stars' are forgotten 2 weeks later.

One part in the article I agreed with completely, this one:

...When U2, Sade and James Taylor are still walking off with awards after decades in the business, perhaps there were clues to the state of the industry...

Just exactly what message does Britney Spears have? Or Kid Rock, or Christina Aguilera, Outkast, NSYNC etc... I could go on but that would take the whole evening.

/rant.

Just had to let that out folks

[kenyg]

I agree, there was the poll the other day about how many mp3' s people have, I've got 600+, but you know what, other than Christmas songs, I haven't downloaded an MP3 in the better part of a year.

The music thats out there just doesn't compare to what was being produced when artists were allowed to be artists. Now its mostly the corporate machine cranking out songs. Now and then there are exceptions - but for the most part - its junk.

Ken

All too true but there is some good ones too. If they made music cheaper and affordable, maybe piracy would reduce.

[ClubMed]

Something else I noticed is the more money some artists make, the worse their music gets because they no longer have to make an effort.

Suddenly they have millions at the bank, and they hope their fame will cover up and save them when they make crappy music.

Perhaps artists should earn less. Maybe that way they would stay commited to their work.

A good point too shahani.

[Knothead]

Sorry, guys, but it don't work that way. While I am not sure of the EXACT amount an artist gets per CD sold, I do know it is but pennies on the dollar.

The REAL culprits are the industry execs themselves (actually, CM, you kinda pointed that out.) who have absolutely NO IDEA of good music, even when it bites 'em on the a$$. So they look for 'formula' bands to sign, and you get what we got now.

On a hopeful note, the revolution we are seeing here (MP3, etc.) will most likely cause the industry to mutate, if not crash altogether. The REAL artists will continue to create, because the HAVE to, and the opportunists will go back to pumping gas.

edit: or practicing law...heh, heh...

[ClubMed]

Yes I agree with you Knothead. You pointed it out better than I did.

I would call it the 'conveyor belt mentality'. They produce everything from the very good to the very very bad and hope that they can generate enough profits like that.

IMO the very good can be counted on two hands at the moment. The rest would need a massive database

[Knothead]

I would call it the 'conveyor belt mentality'.

That's it, CM...that's it right there.

hmmm...surprised he didn't bite at the lawyer reference...

[geekgrl]

I buy only artists I like really... or the mix cds of singles that are one hit wonder things. I buy the art, because I have a degree in photography..... and I guess I understand how it is to put your heart into something and have it stolen. I don't have any MP3s....

[Warthog]

I agree.

Maybe if the money did actually effect the artists themselves, I'd begin to reconsider buying cds......well....I still don't think that oogles of money is completely necessary...I don't feel sorry for the rapper with his $200k Bentley....

......I don't buy cds; I make them.

In my lifetime, I've bought only a couple cds....that was 5-6 years ago....

The downside to making Cds is, of course that the quality of sound is almost never as good as the original as there have been several back and forth conversions from mp3 to wav to whatever and if someone has used a lower sampling/bitrate, the music sucks, specially if played at a higher volume on a good speaker system.