Music Industry Worried About CD-Burning

[seeker007nmss]

Originally Posted by hayley

I'm so tired of the whining that it's the record companies' faults for putting out 'trash.' I work for a record company. For every single crap 311 or R. Kelly CD we put out, we also put out something like the new Rodney Crowell, or British Sea Power, or Matisyahu, or Jem. Amazing records are at your local stores, they always have and they always will be. The explosion of pop artists like Britney and all that crap DOES suck, sure it does- but don't blame the record companies who have done what any business will do- exploit a popular trend for as long as possible to make the most amount of money.

I ALSO worked for a record label. And they are all the same only worse now. And Haley, I am not picking on you, but the record companies are to blame when they won't promote those "amazing" records. I have seen many great things die on the vine for lack of attention by them. (Yes, there will be exceptions to these) They = record execs.

1. They don't give new artists a chance to grow anymore, they want product shoved out as fast as possible, no time is given to produce a cd with more than a couple of decent songs on it.

2. They don't want groups anymore, just single personalities.

3. The industry is run by Accountants now..... not people who actually into the music. How many executives collect music anymore?

4. Price gouging. The cost of making a lp was $2.12. The price of a cd is less than 7 cents. Yes, they can cook the books to add in every little thing to say it is more expensive now, but it really isn't.

5. Rather than add VALUE to cds in order to gain purchasing over burning, they would rather whine. (Remember when albumns had posters and stickers...etc. I think cd's could have things added- how about band trading cards, or autographs mixed in every so many thousand? Make the boxes bigger and add stickers, or postcards, or whatever? Make the cd itself have better graphics - 3d's, holograms. How about special decoder rings? Scratch off cards for %off when you go to the concert, win free merchandise, ...Geez maybe a free coke?. A special use only once code to get more music on the web?) They can come up with something if the MUSIC itself isn't working anymore.

6. They have to adapt to new technology and accept the fact that todays entertainment dollars are going to other things besides music. (Computer games,...etc.)

7. I also blame the monopolistic radio markets. Big corps own most of the stations in major markets so a new group will almost never get airplay. If they aren't on the playlist, they aren't easily getting on.

8. They need to accept the world is changing and change with it. The technology is out there to imbed into files a limited use. 5 plays then it would go to a 30 sec sample, unless it is purchased.

9. Sure they "ride the trend" but they also keep it going and push trends that may not have survived as long as the do. (The macarana (sp) was one trend they didn't need to push...ick) Can't a trend be GOOD music on an entire cd? Or pay the artists a decent % of albumn sales? A cd liner worth looking at? ....etc.

10. Also the popular artists are to blame. One reason I HATE...yes HATE... rap/hiphop crap is they would rather Steal..oh sample...music rather than writing their own. (Among a ton of other reasons, but hey...each their own). So easy and cheap to produce this stuff then learn to play an instrument and write your own music. And no- a drum machine is not an instrument. (I cringe whenever I hear sampling). And yes, I still can't stand the fact they stole - er used - Stevie's stuff, even if she didn't mind. -harrumph.

It is down to $$$$$$$$$. They have to accept that they can't make the same margins with the same formulas from times past.

Okay off my soapbox now. (Your turn Haley )