Music industry watch
The Music Industry Parallel Universe: Welcome!
I've been talking about the need to re-invent the music industry for nearly a decade now. Two years ago I called for the creation of a Parallel Universe music industry -- an industry that understands and embraces the Internet. For too long I was frustrated that we're not making any progress on this front, but now I'm starting to see clear signs of this parallel universe emerging.
Acoustic guitarist Kate Walsh produced an album in her home and started selling it on iTunes where it became a hit. Her album Tim's House is now the best selling album on iTunes. She is not signed to a label, as a matter of fact, she started her own:
"I set up my own record label called Blueberry Pie and just got the music out there. It's pretty easy. Anyone can do it."
Anyone can do it! Did you hear that RIAA et al? Anyone can do it! Of course we've been talking lots and lots about how easy it has become to compete with the incumbent music industry. My last reservation was that big labels had A&R and marketing departments that were necessary to get the word out about music. I guess even that has taken care of itself.
Starting your own record label is now easy. I love the sound of that. Music industry: Your days are numbered and you know it. CD Sales are in the toilet and the next generation way of selling music is not under your control. That control now lives with musicians making not only their own music, but their own record labels!
EMI dropping DRM is step in the right direction, but it might be too little, too late. Unless you guys start making some drastic changes really soon you can go flush yourself down the toilet. We're done with you!
So, are we completely done? Did we win the war? Unfortunately not yet. There are still some bad guys around who are not going to die quite as easily as the labels. SoundExchange comes in at the top of this list, since they have mandate from Congress for collecting statutory fees for online streaming. SoundExchange is forcing streaming radio (and NPR) out of business by retroactively changing the royalties for streaming webcasters. These guys are bastards!
No problem! We reinvented the music industry and now we'll have to work to reinvent the performance rights organizations and other corrupt organizations that are supposed to look our for the interest of artists. This too will take time, but we'll take care of those bastards too!
Posted by Mayhem at April 11, 2007 07:33 PM
