Download Research Shows Sales Unaffected

[Richard Lockwood]

Good point Tom - brief, to the point, and well argued.

Websites *can* make bands money, but only if the band concerned can be ar5ed
to market themselves.  For a local pub band, nothing's changed, but for a
little local band with their own material, own ideas etc etc, it's an ideal
medium if a record label won't take them.  There *are* small bands making
money from it - and also big(gish) bands (see Marillion).

An ex-guitarist of mine now works for Earache Records (home of (originally)
Napalm Death, Carcass etc), and they put out what frankly I would describe
as "unlistenable sh1te" - bands like The Beheaded, The Berzerker, Forest
Stream etc - but:
a) The label has been going for almost 20 years and can still afford to pay
its employees
b) Some of the bands they've signed have gone on to actually make money
without compromising their art (or arse - you decide)

However, Earache can't sign every good band they hear - I've been to the
offices and I've seen the (literal) pile of demo tapes and CDs they get
sent.

If your band's good enough, and you gig hard enough and market yourself hard
enough, these days you've got a chance of selling a few records through the
wonder that is the internet.  If, on the other hand, you're just a good
band, but can't be ar5ed to bother with your website, reply to requests for
information etc, then you'll die a (Lawnmower) Deth.

Look at The Darkness.  They had a fantastic website, selling CDs, T-shirts
etc long before anyone outside of Lowestoft had heard of them.  They're the
perfect example of a band that worked its ar5e off, gigging, marketing,
selling etc to make it.

Compare their website to the piece of cock that is hawkwind.com (sorry Rik,
but you know my thoughts on that) and you'll see why "I Believe In A Thing
Called Love" caught the attention of a record company.

When was the last time Hawkwind released a "single" and promoted it like
that?

Who out there's going to be the first to try and register
"ssshhhhhooooweeeeooooweeeooeeooooeeeeeeeewangablangablangablanga.co.uk"?

Just a thought...

:-)

Cheers,

Rich.

ps.  The Darkness.  They Rock.  When was the last time you heard a fifteen
year old girl tell you that about Hawkwind?

pps.  Not that I'm a fifteen year old girl you understand...


> Personally I think the internet has done wonders for music. Just take a
> browse through some of the artists at www.soundclick.com (present company
> excepted, ahem)
>
> I don't think there's going to be a lot of money in unpackaged music
though
> (ie anything that's not Kylie or Robbie) - there are a lot of people
> producing it cheaply and distributing it for very little. It's a bit like
> the invention of printing - unless there's a high volume distribution the
> production of individual items becomes uneconomic, and unattractive for
> companies with high fixed costs. Maybe that's one of the reasons why so
many
> monsteries went bust in the 16th Century!
>
> I think good music is fast becoming a cottage industry (and I don't mean
> that in the George Michael sense!)
>
> Regards
>
> Tom
>
> >From: Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET>
> >Reply-To: BOC/Hawkwind Discussion List <BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET>
> >To: Recipients of BOC-L digests <BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET>
> >Subject: BOC-L Digest - 16 Apr 2004 to 17 Apr 2004 (#2004-96)
> >Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2004 05:00:01 -0400
> >
> >There are 4 messages totalling 190 lines in this issue.
> >
> >Topics of the day:
> >
> >   1. Dowload research shows record sales unaffected (2)
> >   2. OFF: Dowload research shows record sales unaffected (2)
> >
> >----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >Date:    Fri, 16 Apr 2004 14:34:50 +0100
> >From:    M Holmes <fofp at HOLYROOD.ED.AC.UK>
> >Subject: Dowload research shows record sales unaffected
> >
> >http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-5181562.html?tag=nefd_top
> >
> >------------------------------
> >
> >Date:    Fri, 16 Apr 2004 16:54:37 +0100
> >From:    trev <judge48 at HOTMAIL.COM>
> >Subject: Re: Dowload research shows record sales unaffected
> >
> >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.
> >I spoke with a very prominent entrepreneur recently who said as much,
> >forcing me to punch his face in (not really but i wanted to). Just
imagine
> >if Hendrix couldn't play guitar.  Would he have become the legend he is?
> >According to the current music biz mentality, the answer would be "Yes".
> >Music is an art form which can give deep and lasting benefits to the
> >listener resulting in that listener wanting more. Music based solely on
> >fashion is transient.
> >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!
> >Better still, I could compile a "Death List" and publish it on the web,
so
> >if you happen to live near any of those named, you could pop in to their
> >office and kill 'em.
> >All those willing to take part in this liberating venture contact me at:
> >RFM - Real Festival Music  http://www.realfestivalmusic.co.uk
> >Festival Cd's, Reviews, Vids, Downloads, Forum, Healers, News
> >
> >Judge Trev
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "M Holmes" <fofp at HOLYROOD.ED.AC.UK>
> >To: <BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET>
> >Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 2:34 PM
> >Subject: Dowload research shows record sales unaffected
> >
> >
> > > http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-5181562.html?tag=nefd_top
> > >
> >
> >------------------------------
> >
> >Date:    Fri, 16 Apr 2004 15:51:25 -0400
> >From:    Doug Pearson <jasret at MINDSPRING.COM>
> >Subject: Re: OFF: Dowload research shows record sales unaffected
> >
> >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
> >
> >------------------------------
> >
> >Date:    Fri, 16 Apr 2004 22:49:12 +0100
> >From:    trev <judge48 at HOTMAIL.COM>
> >Subject: Re: OFF: Dowload research shows record sales unaffected
> >
> >No we won't try that Doug.  I've heard of that kind of thing happening
> >before, especially the "here's the advance but you have to spend it in
our
> >studios" - ha ha. Thats not really an advance is it - it's a con.  We're
> >looking for a deal that makes sense for both parties, whatever the size
of
> >the company. There is not even a whiff of interest anywhere at all.  No,
I
> >still think the serial killing is the best idea. I'll be posting a list
> >soon
> >with names and addresses.
> >he he
> >
> >trev
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Doug Pearson" <jasret at MINDSPRING.COM>
> >To: <BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET>
> >Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 8:51 PM
> >Subject: Re: OFF: Dowload research shows record sales unaffected
> >
> >
> > > 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
> > >
> >
> >------------------------------
> >
> >End of BOC-L Digest - 16 Apr 2004 to 17 Apr 2004 (#2004-96)
> >***********************************************************
>
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