Quote:
Originally Posted by Nautilus
We're already awash in garbage music, and mostly because of the big labels not wanting to go into the hassle of working with real talents. They just want to make money by selling a "product", not music. And to use some "technology", best of all a computer program, to get that product done that phases out a real talent that takes too much time to grow and is too difficult to deal with.
I'd shell out $15 any day for an album the "Dark Side of the Moon" quality, but I will not pay even $1 for those one-hit wonders' albums simply because I appreciate my time and hate listening to the garbage music. I wouldn't even download it for free, because for me I'd either listen for quality music or wouldn't listen for anything at all.
In nowadays world, any business should have a compelling reason to exist. For big labels it could be that they scout for real talents (which was what they were actually doing in the past), help them grow and promote them to the public. That's something that is worth asking to get paid for. But it is painfully obvious that they're in here just for money and do not care about music at all, that's why they gain no public support of their efforts to protect their business. Although maybe their claims are at least half legitimate, and they have contractual rights to the music that gets distributed now free online - their "business" is not bringing anything better to the world and people tend to think of $15/CD as an unfair tax that goes to those useless "suits".
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The music labels are very much to blame for the problem they are in right now. I have said all along that they used to be in the art business. They used to develop acts and really promote talent. Then the fast money started coming in and they got into the "product" business. It is mainly why the singles business has taken off. People were sick of paying $15 for a CD that had 1 or 2 good songs on it and the rest was crap. Now they can just pay a couple of bucks for the songs they like. In the past people had no choice. If you wanted a song you had to plunk down and buy the CD. Now you don't and you can just buy the single. The labels built that mistrust and are now paying for it.
Here is my argument:
The labels, in a way do act as a filter of sorts. Sure, they put out a bunch of crap, but it takes a certain amount of dedication to get that crap out on the airwaves and into the peoples ears and hands. With that it narrows down your choices and that isn't always a bad thing. When I wrote for a music magazine I used to get 30-50 CDs a week from various record labels hoping that I would review them or write about them. If I got 50 CDs 45 of them were garbage. The songs sucks. The bands couldn't play very well and there is a reason those guys are now working construction. Everyone who ever picked up a guitar or learned a bass line or a few chords on the piano are net meant to be pro musicians. They can have fun and play a little but, but they just are not pros. The labels help to at least filter out a bunch of those people. In the end developing an act is expensive and often those quality acts don't sell really large amount of albums. The labels need acts like Britney Spears and NSync in order allow them to develop a lesser known band and give them a chance to grow and develop an audience. Also, while I am not a fan of Britney or NSync million worldwide have bought their CDs and have paid to go see them in concert so there is a market for that music.
Sure, there are good acts that get passed over and never get the due they deserve, I won't deny that. If there is no filter when you go to your local music store there would be thousands of CDs by thousands of bands that you never heard of. How many of them are you going to just pay for and try? If it is all online then there would be maybe even more to pick through. How much drek are you willing to sift through to find something you like?
The labels are not the be all end all and I know they screw people over, but I think the do serve a purpose and for the casual music fan they are a good thing. If you are a hardcore music fan that likes to dig and look for different acts there is plenty of options for those people as well.