As a bit a research I checked to see if my own (old) band’s EP was available to download illegally….

http://www.myasorubka.ru/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t14361.html

The issue here is not the record label but the consumer. Im no defender of the record industry but the idea that all the music I consume should be free is an utter nonsense. Most of the bands I follow have a dedicated but loyal fanbase but- for heaven’s sake they have to eat and pay the rent. As someone who has been pretty close to the live music industry for about 20 years, the costs of putting on even a small tour are eye watering so I recognise the pain you were feeling when thinking of getting a record sorted.

I have become increasingly irritated by the so called consensus that downloading is somehow giving a kicking to “The Man”: they in turn kick the artist by releasing them from contracts and not taking risks on more challenging artists who they can bankroll with sales from their “cash cows”. The age of digital distribution has not yet become the ubquitious Dr Death that some have envisaged but, doubtless, times are changing. I hope that listeners recognise that art does have a price.

Good luck with the bands.

Exactly right on niche labels, who have what marketers call ‘brand affinity’. Friends of mine buy Warp releases because they are Warp – they even bought the first Maximo Park album, after years of bleep madness, I think even this stretched it. They play to the ‘fanboy’ who is often middle aged now, meaning they have more disposable income also.

In terms of the larger labels, did anyone see that Speech Debelle has left Big Dada due to poor sales – which essentially stemmed from poor distribution.

This is important, because labels offer distribution that smaller DIY outfits cannot match. Many of the bands I have been in myself, and worked with, still see huge benefit with distribution. People still wander into shops and buy music, having your CD in HMV is still a boon for bands. Digital distribution is still limited in terms of cracking the ‘mainstream’, getting an album to exceed expectations will require national hard copy distribution in places like supermarkets and HMV.

I think smaller labels, as you indicate Marcus, are likely to go down the route of being ‘filters’ for the vast amount of music that is now available. As for the future of the ‘majors’, I really cannot say.

Oh, and as an aside, did you see that Linn have stopped making CD players in favour of Digital Streamers?

Al,

I totally agree, I work with over 20 young independent welsh bands, and within the mixture of different plans I see a number of different models for them to pursue.

There are many who believe this will flatten the industry and make it more ‘democratic’, with more small labels etc. I would not be so forthcoming with that, I largely think that labels will become more diverse beasts.

It is also worth noting that smaller niche labels still sell cds and vinyls to its audience, an audience which is clued up and wanting the physical product. The notion of ring tones and *shudder* cross platform media strategies is alien to them.

I must declare an interest, I have for a few years been toying with the idea of starting a label, but in truth I am still unsure as to what path to take. I came very close to funding an album that would have cost nigh on 5 grand to record, manufacture and distribute, for a band still in its infancy. When you stare down that barrell, it does bring a sense of perspective.

Marcus – brilliant piece. I thought I’d done my thinking on this subject. You’ve told me a whole lot more, and it’s balanced, too.

The old model is dead (or about to gasp its last), and Mandy disconnecting everyone in the UK isn’t going to change that, just hasten it.

I just bought an album for a fiver – perfect FLAC format, with a PDF of cover-art (so I could print my own cd/cover if physical product is important to me). BUT the difference is that I bought it straight from the artist – they got a fiver from me for a brilliant album. In the shops? They would have gotten about 50p.

So in my view, when we’re discussing this in our homes, bedroom studios, or government committes, we should be looking at how to take it forward FOR THE ARTISTS, not for the “Music Industry”. Their model has failed, and now they want Bank type help and bailouts. Not interested. You keep trying to sell me Susan Boyle, I’ll keep supporting the artists who I like.