Recently, a few big artists have big going with Radioheads new method of record distribution: offer the album for a self-priced download. The bands that are doing this are: - Oasis - Jamirouqai (sp?) - NIN (Trent Reznor) Those are some major artists. If this trend continues, then I can see record labels being non-existent in the near future. What do you think?
The way I look at it, NIN isn't following Radiohead's new method. And to be honest, it isn't new nor is it Radiohead's. NIN got beat to the punch (if you look at Trent's history with labels, that'd be extremely obvious that he's been trying to break free), and there are many bands who distribute this way. I don't see labels going away in the NEAR future. There are still little bands for whom this method will not help, and so the label will be the better deal in the beginning.
I think having some record labels is a necessity. There are a lot of bands who can't afford to do what Radiohead is doing and even if smaller bands started doing it, Not many people would actually choose to pay for it because they aren't sure enough that it'd be worth their money.
i know Angels And Airwaves are trying to do something to make I-empire free but the label still makes money.....it was in some article but it only hardly mentioned it
SHIT. NIN ARE "FREE AGENTS"? This is quite possibly the best news ever. Now Trent Reznor can do whatever fucked up shit he wants, with absolutely no label pressure. I can't wait for Year Zero II.
You fail for thinking Radiohead started that. Its ok, it just sucks that Radiohead gets all the credit.
All of us when we're seventy and have grandchildren: HAS ANYONE SEEN MY DR. DRE CD? WHO THE F*** STOLE MY DRE CD? <333 Nick Swardson. Screw the record labels. I download my music. I put money in Chester's pocket by buying my ticket to Projekt Rev and buying a hoodie there!
Nick Swardson came to my college to perform :] [/OT] But yeah, I pay in merchandise and memberships to fan clubs and concert tickets. I buy cds from time to time, but I mainly download, unless I get something cool with my cd.
The way I see it, there are no royalties in being signed to a record label, only benefits. We're in a new day and age... And until the labels accept rather than deny that, we're probably going to see more of this from both the artists and the fans. Unfortunately I think if it continues, in the long run both sides will be contributing to an inevitable downward spiral and both sides are going to lose.
If everyone does this, well not new but recently popular, distribution method, wouldn't be hard for any new band to get into the mainstream? IMO this method isn't going to go to huge lengths. Although it's a good idea it could also stop awesome new bands from getting their music out to the world.
Speaking of Downward Spirals, Imagine how amazing/fucked up The Downward Spiral would've been if Trent didn't have label pressure on his back!
I don't foresee record labels dying out anytime soon, but I do think they need to find a new business model or their profits will continue to dwindle. I wouldn't feel bad if they did go the way of the dodo. All those years of fucking artists over, price gouging, and other shady practices are starting to bite them in the ass. That's karma for ya assholes!
I don't know music history that well, but I don't know of any band before Radiohead (stolen idea or not) that lets you get their album for free or pay whatever you want for it. I mean, I know the garage band down the street does, but not someone on an actual label that makes money by the truckloads (you know what i mean).
Well, the band's management has made a statement saying that the download was only a marketing tool for the physical album. That's why the quality was so low. So basically, it was a marketing tactic wrapped in a good idea designed to trick consumers into thinking that they're getting something that they aren't. I still like the album though.