I have put up an interesting poll to start off this week. “Should Record Companies Cease to Exist?” I just want to get everyone’s opinion, good or bad on the current state of the music market and whether the old model for a “Record Company” should be kept or whether a band can move forward without the help (Or backing) of a record company. Go vote, then come back to this post and discuss your thoughts and feelings on the matter. Should the future really spell the end for the Record Company as a business model, or is their still room for growth? Or should bands become their own record company? You discuss.
| 02/09/2010 03:07 am | News
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Close Your Eyes 
Fair 
Creations 
Sons of God 
Vanguard 
Mark This Day 
Living Sacrifice 
We Set Fire 
With Life In Mind 
Shapes Stars Make 
Inlow 
Onward to Olympas 
Heaven's Force 
New Heights 
Michael Phillips 
Sean Patrick Rhorer, Director of A & R at Blood & Ink Records
This Armistice
Leroy Hamp of War of Ages
Creations
Mattie Montgomery of For Today
Vasely Sapunov of Saving Grace
The Fold
Aaron Sprinkle of Fair
Floodgates
Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter
Carlos Salazar of Before There Was Rosalyn
Laz from ALLORNOTHING
Chadwick Johnson of Hundredth
Ben Crist of The Glorious Unseen
Sons of God
Our City Sleeps
Interview with Jonathan Dunn, Solid State’s Director of A&R
Sleeping Giant
For those that voted yes, please post your thoughts below. It would be interesting to hear the reasons.
It would be good to get everyone’s opinion on this matter. I think the old model is certainly dead but there is certainly room for the “Record Company” to grow and change into what is has to become to survive the future. Obviously digital music is the future, but is the middleman really necessary these days? that’s my question. I think from a marketing standpoint, there is still a need for a room full of employees to do the dirty work that bands aren’t willing to do themselves, but the rest of it is kind of in the air. I’m curious to see what everyone’s opinion is.
It certainly sucks for the legitimate independent record labels that have tirelessly promoted their bands and done a lot of good – hosting festivals or promoting charitable causes. I’m thinking Facedown records here, specifically, but there are doubtless many many more. If all they’ve wanted to do is put out good music that they can believe in, then I would be sad to see them fail because of the digital music revolution.
Then again, I love the physical component of music. Especially packaging and fun things like that.
Me too Sam. I’m still old school like that and prefer walking into Best Buy (Or buying from Interpunk.com) and getting a CD with artwork/packaging. Lately though I have been buying more and more digital music and all the labels I deal with, have switched everything over to digital meaning for reviews, they don’t send us CDs anymore in the mail. All digital streams/downloads. It’s kinda sad because I miss going to my PO Box and getting a CD package that I could pop in my computer and listen to or look through the lyrics to get a handle on an album before I judge it. I think in Facedown’s case, seeing as they ARE completely independent, I think they’ll be fine. Bands still need a label to actively market and promote their music to a worldwide audience (to people like you Sam) who’ve never heard of a particular band before. Sometimes that hard part of convincing the public to buy a record is done by a Record Company. Band’s doing it themselves, have an uphill battle to try and convince young kids to listen to their music who’ve never seen them live or heard them before, or seen an ad. Sites like ours can only do so much. I think there is still a need from a marketing standpoint, maybe even distribution wise, for bands that can’t do it themselves. For more established bands, they might be able to survive on their own but it’s not easy. It’s the whole “convincing the public” part of the deal that’s the hardest.
All good points there, Brandon.
For me, the only good reason to be on a label, it’s a about tours and promotion and visibility. A friend of me is on a band since 7 years and they running their business by their own, booking all national tours, design merch, etc BUT their problem is that in a town everyone know them and they reach 1000 kids and in another one, only 25 kids know them… That’s why record label SHOULD continue to run because without them a lot of good talents won’t be able to grow up in a “normal” time…
I think that labels are in essence a great idea for promotion and getting a band’s name out there. Many major labels have gotten greedy and want more for the same thing they’ve been offering the whole time. Whether it’s the 360’s deals (label gets money from the band’s sales of merch, royalties, etc.), trying to have itunes pay for samples of songs to be played, or forcing bands to record songs purely for radio, it shows that a restructuring of the system would be beneficial. If labels just shut down no band would ever really be able to promote themselves at all, and a lot of great talent would be missed. I see a need for change but not a complete shutdown.
I think labels will become smaller. You will no longer have Nooth and Nail type companies as the model. I think it will all be a bunch of small labels running the show. I think it comes down to efficiency. I speak from experience as part of an indie label for the last 4 years-from Nashville/Minneapolis. So, just a matter of time. Thats all I got to say. Labels will continue to be an asset to whatever…
I think record companies will continue to exist to fund music as long as music is being made but I think they’re no longer a necessity to release material. Many Hip Hop and R&B artists release single after remixed single before releasing their albums because its radio play and digital downloads that are raking in the cash more so than an album release. I also like Radiohead’s view on their abandonment of the album format. They still may release albums when they have material for them but they also release songs or sets of songs that accompany each other outside of the standard album format without calling them an ep because these songs may not released on an album. Now, with digital releases artists can change the way they choose to release their music. Very much like how CDs allowed for longer songs than a two-sided vinyl album or cassette, I see artists being able to do more with the music they’ve created and movingg outside of the 10-12 song release.
I really hope cds will be here forever. :( I only buy cds… digital music is for tools.
That’s a hard question, the digital age has brought a lot more freedom and access to Independent artists, but Physical cd’s are still had to put out, and I think that and promotion is where Record Labels come in. The old “all powerful you do what we say and we make you big” idea is dead, but without Record Labels you’d still end up in a war over which bands Distributors sign deals with, for Distribution. So I think there is still a place in the current music industry for Record Labels, the way they operate is just changing.
Obviously record labels in their current state are failing and folding up left and right. Too much money is being spent and not recouped. I just heard through a guy that used to be at Wind Up that they have yet to recoup Seether’s advance. And how many records have they sold?! Too much money is being wasted, whether it’s Indie or major labels. Smaller bands want music videos now so they (label or band if they’re unsigned) spend thousands of dollars on something that will ONLY be seen on myspace and youtube. Horrible idea. There are plenty of places to funnel thay money and put it to better use.
As far as digital vs CD, i’ve done a lot more digital lately. I buy CD’s of friends’ bands on release day usually and that’s about it. Not many band actually have good art or layouts anymore. When i do buy cd’s it’s used, so that doesnt help the band. There are some good models for new school labels out there, that benefit both label and band. Nothing that will rake in millions, yet. But there are also deals out there to benefit the label and screw the band, 360 deals. Labels are taking money from every piece of the pie because they can’t make it off record sales and that is just killing bands and their potential income. There is a much needed facelift.
I hate buying digital music. I want the hardware! I understand those that think that record labels are greedy and ripping off artists but I believe they do a lot for artists that they cant do for them selves. How many indie records have you bought that wore mixed in a garage and sounded like they were live records? At least the label gets them hooked up with good producers and mixers. Without the labels it will be nothing but myspace rips getting sold!
It’s all about Come&Live!
agreed
You know what I would miss? Buying a cd from the band in concert, meeting the band, and having the band sign my cd!! I love that! That would totally be missed! I mean, am I going to buy the songs on the computer, then burn the songs to cd and have the band sign a copied cd? That wouldn’t be cool…!!!
Just from my own personal experience, having a label that cares about you is a great asset. We’ve been fortunate to hook up with our friends at Eden, but alot of our friends-in-bands aren’t signed to any label (big or small) and it makes things really hard, as far as touring is concerned. Having a label that “cares” means that you’ve always got someone who is ready to spiritually (and financially) support you. Touring without a label and doing everything “indie” may work for some, but in many cases, the indie bands are really struggling to stay afloat. I believe that many of the giant, machine-major labels are gonna be hurtin’ soon, but indie labels will survive for the most part.
As far as the business model goes, the professional recording process is becoming cheaper and cheaper. Bands are able to pay for high-quality recordings like never before. If labels begin aiming their financial efforts towards marketing, tour support and radio promotion (which isn’t always terribly expensive), then the record-release process will become alot more efficient.
Independent bands may be able to afford to record and promote on MySpace, but legitimate tour support and promotion are hard to come by without label support.
I agree with TIm. C&L is my favorite =D