As part of the entertainment industry, the music scene is something that virtually everyone is interested in to some degree. Everyone has their favorite artists and favorite albums. That being said, a research blog is a great way to compile information about music and the music business.
As I mentioned in my previous posts, the music business is shifting to a more digitized format. More and more, music is being consumed through downloads and the internet. So, having a web log on the music business makes a lot of sense. Much of the research that one compiles is found directly from music websites. With millions of people trolling the internet for information about music and current trends, blogs are a great source of information. Some of these people who manage to navigate to a music blog will have access to lots of good information and possibly be able to offer some comments themselves.
There is a good chance that I will continue to post on this blog as I find out more about the trends in the music industry. As I have made clear, we are currently experiencing some pretty exciting, fast changing times. In the near future, I think continuing to post on this blog will provide useful information about how the business has changed and continues to do so.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
The Future
The major labels we know, like Capitol and Sony BMG will inevitably break up into smaller, more independent labels with much fewer signed musicians. Many of these will rely on the internet—probably downloading—for their advertising. As that happens, consumers and artists will see a leveling of the playing field, so to speak. No longer will there be the ultra-popular, multi-platinum pop stars. Jazz and classical music will be just as available as rock and pop and consumers will be exposed to new artists.
The shift is happening now, of that there is no doubt. For the artists and music, this is a great thing. The shift away from the big business side of music will hopefully bring out some of the too-often-ignored artistic side. As the huge, conglomerate record companies of old collapse into new business models, executives will be forced out of their comfort zones. Struggling to stay in business, their focus will necessarily shift from manipulating the artists and making the most money possible, to staying fresh and interesting in this new, exciting scene.
The shift is happening now, of that there is no doubt. For the artists and music, this is a great thing. The shift away from the big business side of music will hopefully bring out some of the too-often-ignored artistic side. As the huge, conglomerate record companies of old collapse into new business models, executives will be forced out of their comfort zones. Struggling to stay in business, their focus will necessarily shift from manipulating the artists and making the most money possible, to staying fresh and interesting in this new, exciting scene.
The Artists Take Back Control
Presented with the above information, it is obvious that if they want to stay in business, record companies are going to have to change with the times. The internet and its accompanying ability to download is directly antagonistic to the interests of the old industry business models. However, with the internet comes loads of potential for thoughtful industry professionals to tap with new ideas. Both artistShare and SpiralFrog are two great examples of new ways artists and music businessmen are adjusting to the new scene. In the near future, I think we will continue to see a shift away from the old recording contracts and artists signing on with specific record labels. Many more artists will start to take advantage of the ability to take control of the business end of their music that the internet provides them. The artistShare site is the best example of artists truly owning their work.
The work speed and availability of information that the internet provides makes it much easier for artists to manage themselves. All of their press and contact information as well as all as their CD sales can be managed through a single website. Contacting people about booking for shows and tours is easier as it can be facilitated through e-mail and the website as well. With this lack of need for record labels and agents, much of the middleman aspects of the music business are being cut out. Therefore, it will continue to become harder for major record labels to stay in business.
The work speed and availability of information that the internet provides makes it much easier for artists to manage themselves. All of their press and contact information as well as all as their CD sales can be managed through a single website. Contacting people about booking for shows and tours is easier as it can be facilitated through e-mail and the website as well. With this lack of need for record labels and agents, much of the middleman aspects of the music business are being cut out. Therefore, it will continue to become harder for major record labels to stay in business.
SpiralFrog
Since the internet and music downloading have come into play, the attitude of consumers has changed drastically. People are so used to being able to get the music they want for free that there is no point in trying to stop it. Well aware of this fact, SpiralFrog is experimenting with a new business model. Through their servers, SprialFrog offers free, legal music downloads. They make it legal by selling advertising on their site rather than charging users for the service
Launching this month, SpiralFrog has already signed a deal with the Music Publishing Division of EMI to gain access to their copyrighted material. The deal covers the entire music catalogue, but only for tracks which have an agreement with the artist's recorded label. This means that half of all music will be available when it launches.
In order to make more music available additional contracts will need to be negotiated. Universal, for example, is known to be the industry's largest recorded music group. Fortunately, many of its artists are signed to EMI Music Publishing so the contract negotiation is not so much of a stretch. For other, smaller recorded music groups, the contracts may take more time. Regardless, the library of free music that will become available for download through SpiralFrog is huge.
Launching this month, SpiralFrog has already signed a deal with the Music Publishing Division of EMI to gain access to their copyrighted material. The deal covers the entire music catalogue, but only for tracks which have an agreement with the artist's recorded label. This means that half of all music will be available when it launches.
In order to make more music available additional contracts will need to be negotiated. Universal, for example, is known to be the industry's largest recorded music group. Fortunately, many of its artists are signed to EMI Music Publishing so the contract negotiation is not so much of a stretch. For other, smaller recorded music groups, the contracts may take more time. Regardless, the library of free music that will become available for download through SpiralFrog is huge.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
ArtistShare
So far the examples I have been discussing have covered only mainstream artists. That was in order to make clear the significance of the occurring trends in the music industry. The recent shift away from record labels that Prince, Radiohead and other hit bands are just starting to experience actually started in less popular genres and has been working it's way to the top, so to speak, over several years.
In 2001, a professional musician and computer programer, Brian Camelio started a website called ArtistShare. Frustrated with the apparent futility of seeing financial returns with record labels, he designed the site as an alternative. Artists who sign on get their own site on the ArtistShare page. As Camelio states: "Here at artistShare it is our goal to put the "art" back into the word artist. Our patent pending process allows fans to experience an artist's project from its conception to its fruition. Through artistShare, artist projects become a unique and rewarding experience for the fan."
In order to gain access to content, fans donate money. There are different options for fans who wish to contribute. They can spend $16.00 or so and simply get a copy of the CD. They can spend a little more--up to about $30.00--and get the CD and some extra material, like a booklet or some photos, along with it. Finally, there are the Bronze (limited to 10), Silver (limited to 5), Gold (limited to 2) and Executive (limited to 1) participants who donate $1,000, $2,500, $7,500 and $18,000 respectively. These people gain total access to all the content and information, signed special edition copies of the CD, personalized DVD messages from the artists, the ability to attend the recording session of the album they are supporting, VIP and backstage passes to the bands performances throughout the year and more.
For less mainstream artists and those who have a small, niche group of fans, this method has proven much more lucrative than signing with a record label. One artist who has had incredible success since her shift from a label to ArtistShare is Maria Schneider. Considered by many to be one of the best and freshest modern big band composers, Schneider has been nominated for several Grammy Awards and won one in 2005. Her first three albums were recorded with a label and she lost considerable amounts of money with each one. Therefore, when she was presented with the ArtistShare option in 2001, she was only too ready to jump on board; what did she have to lose? Now, when she sells a record, she sees all of the money for it. She is doing much better for herself and continues to write and record music prolifically.
Tying this all in with my previous post on the internet, it is interesting to note that Schneider's Grammy winning album, Concert in the Garden, was the first Grammy winning album to have all online sales. ArtistShare is just one such new business model that musicians are benefitting from. As this trend continues, I am sure we will see many more appear.
In 2001, a professional musician and computer programer, Brian Camelio started a website called ArtistShare. Frustrated with the apparent futility of seeing financial returns with record labels, he designed the site as an alternative. Artists who sign on get their own site on the ArtistShare page. As Camelio states: "Here at artistShare it is our goal to put the "art" back into the word artist. Our patent pending process allows fans to experience an artist's project from its conception to its fruition. Through artistShare, artist projects become a unique and rewarding experience for the fan."
In order to gain access to content, fans donate money. There are different options for fans who wish to contribute. They can spend $16.00 or so and simply get a copy of the CD. They can spend a little more--up to about $30.00--and get the CD and some extra material, like a booklet or some photos, along with it. Finally, there are the Bronze (limited to 10), Silver (limited to 5), Gold (limited to 2) and Executive (limited to 1) participants who donate $1,000, $2,500, $7,500 and $18,000 respectively. These people gain total access to all the content and information, signed special edition copies of the CD, personalized DVD messages from the artists, the ability to attend the recording session of the album they are supporting, VIP and backstage passes to the bands performances throughout the year and more.
For less mainstream artists and those who have a small, niche group of fans, this method has proven much more lucrative than signing with a record label. One artist who has had incredible success since her shift from a label to ArtistShare is Maria Schneider. Considered by many to be one of the best and freshest modern big band composers, Schneider has been nominated for several Grammy Awards and won one in 2005. Her first three albums were recorded with a label and she lost considerable amounts of money with each one. Therefore, when she was presented with the ArtistShare option in 2001, she was only too ready to jump on board; what did she have to lose? Now, when she sells a record, she sees all of the money for it. She is doing much better for herself and continues to write and record music prolifically.
Tying this all in with my previous post on the internet, it is interesting to note that Schneider's Grammy winning album, Concert in the Garden, was the first Grammy winning album to have all online sales. ArtistShare is just one such new business model that musicians are benefitting from. As this trend continues, I am sure we will see many more appear.
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