OFF: Dowload research shows record sales unaffected

[Doug Pearson]

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 16:54:37 +0100, trev <judge48 at HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

>Yes, this only goes to confirm my belief that the drop in record sales has
>resulted from the music industry's gross ignorance as to the nature of
>their product.  These get-rich-quick elitist, shop-keeper-mentality
>morons do not believe that the quality of music product has any bearing
>at all on sales.

Actually, I agree with that.  Most of the consumer audience for music (or
movies, or even books) do not want quality material (even if they say they
do).  Just look at the best-seller charts.

>For the past 3 months I have been approaching record companies re the new
>Mother of All Bands album by Ron Tree and myself.  Half didn't even want
>to hear it. 90% of the rest gave no reply.  In my own opinion, and in
>Ron's, this album is the best either of us have ever made, including all
>the Hawkwind and Inner City Unit albums we have been part of.  If nothing
>comes of this venture I will give up playing music and start a new career
>as a rec. co. executive serial killer!

Trust me, you don't want to get involved with those record companies.

<rant>
I know a band who are about to sign with a Los Angeles-based major label
(whose name rhymes with "winter dope"), and the contract they're being
offered is NOTHING more than a money-laundering scam by the label.
Basically, they're being force-fed a deal where they HAVE to take a large
advance (which means that they won't make any money afterwards unless
their album goes gold), AND they have to SPEND the large advance at the
label's chosen studio, with the label's chosen producer ().  It's as if
you went to the bank for a loan to buy an automobile, and the bank will
only give you the loan if you buy from their "preferred" dealer, who
happens to charge $2000 more for the same car than every other auto dealer
in town.  If their album *doesn't* go gold, they'll be rapidly dropped by
the label, still owing the label all of their advance (which they never
even got to see because it went straight to the label's chosen producer &
studio), which means that they will no longer be able to perform or record
under their own name without getting sued by said label.

(Oh, and in case you're wondering WHY a major label might be interested in
this band [besides the fact that they *are* very good at what they do, and
*are* great at motivating audiences]: their just-turned-21 female
singer/bassist/violinist usually performs wearing not a whole lot more
than Stacia did with Hawkwind.  I love Trev's & Ron's music, but guys -
PLEASE don't try this!!!)
</rant>

    -Doug
     jasret at mindspring.com