Mayhem & Chaos Blog

Music industry watch

Progress in the music industry

Too bad this progress is butt ugly, but finally some forward movement towards putting the incumbent music industry out of business. First off, Rolling Stone talks about the music industry dying and in the first few pages they dish up some choice quotes that let us peek into the status quo of the music industry:

The major labels are struggling to reinvent their business models, even as some wonder whether it's too late. "The record business is over," says music attorney Peter Paterno, who represents Metallica and Dr. Dre. "The labels have wonderful assets -- they just can't make any money off them." One senior music-industry source who requested anonymity went further: "Here we have a business that's dying. There won't be any major labels pretty soon."

and

... Warner Music Group, announced that it would lay off 400 people, and its stock price lingered at fifty-eight percent of its peak from last June.

We all know that the industry is dying because the majors have refused to "reinvent" their business models. They are simply too inflexible and steeped in their old crummy practices that "reinventing" means giving up the gravy train they've been riding for too long. CD Baby and Magnatune, two music companies that get it, are doing fine and growing.

Progress is nice -- not doubt. But we all know animals will lash out and do severe damage when cornered. And what is going on with the streaming royalties is a great example of that: Today is the Internet Radio Day of Silence. In protest of the new royalties a number of broadcasters are not going to transmit their usual radio today. The efforts of Sound Exchange will kill off a number of radio broadcasters that do not deserve to die, but in the end they will serve to kill off themselves.

And that will be to our advantage in the end, it will just be a little ugly getting there. I do know that a number of foreign companies will spring up to fill the void left by US broadcasters. Problem is that they will not benefit US workers or US artists. Once again it increasingly looks better to do business outside the US than inside.

Ugly, but its progress.

Music

My musical tastes

Last time I was in London Chris Jones and the /music team at the BBC asked me what sorts of music I listen to. I blurted out some answer that upon reflection was thin and weak. I've been meaning to correct this for many months now and since I'm meeting with the /music team tomorrow, I think there is never going to be a better time to fix this than now.

To answer the question, what kind of music do you listen to, I would have to break the answer into a few pieces:

1. If I am programming, or otherwise need to concentrate, I will choose down-tempo music. At first I was pulled into this genre of music by Portishead, Morcheeba and B-Tribe, but my likes quickly expanded to include Thievery Corporation, Flunk, Brazilian Girls, De-Phazz, dZihan & Kamien, Röyksopp, Goldfrapp, Czech, Bitter:Sweet, Boards of Canada, Supreme Beings of Leisure and an ever expanding list of artists that few people in America seem to know.
2. In the process to find common musical ground with Jean, my mate, I set out to explore rap/hip-hop. While Jean likes hard and angry gangster rap (Notorious B.I.G., Ludacris, Snoop Dogg) I ended up liking less aggressive hip-hop artists like The Streets (mostly the first album only though), Jurassic 5, Blackalicious and Lyrics Born. Unfortunately Jean doesn't really like these artists, so my attempt to find common ground failed. But my horizons expanded into a genre that I previously despised.
3. One of my favorite classes at University was my Music Appreciation class. Covering the gamut from chanting monks through classical music, I learned to love Beethoven, Mozart and Hayden. Classical music has a certain place and time for me, but when the conditions are right, its can be the most powerful type of music.
4. My latest musical taste expansion covers latin music. While I have to chuckle at the similarity between German Polka music and Mexican Mariachi music, neither inspire me. The Buena Vista Social Club did inspire me. As does Ozomatli from LA. The soundtrack in my mind for this trip to London would have to be "A Lo Cubano" by Orishas. Excellent stuff!
5. Earlier music that I still love, but that doesn't really influence me anymore would have to include Depeche Mode, Bob Marley and Trance. They still have their time and place, but many other musical genres keep my attention better these days.

There are countless other bands that have influenced me at various points in my life. But the 5 categories above shape(d) me more than other music out there. And for a counter-point, I pretty much hate all bands that are made up of 2-3 guitars, a drumset and some fool screaming into a mic. Count me out -- which of course begs the question why I would ever go to SXSW. But I've already blogged about that.

With that, /music team, I look forward to spending time with you tomorrow!