by Grunch » Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:40 am
If the RIAA had its way, we would buy the CD, then also pay for each song on the disc each time we listen to it. We'd receive a monthly bill for the luxury of playing the CD we paid for.
IMO, a huge problem with the music industry, labels and radio stations combined, is their absolute ignorance of good music and the their betrayal of many artists they actually signed. Does a new CD by Justin Timberlake really even need promotion? Face it, those that find his music to their taste will buy it whether it is promoted or not, yet they'll spend millions promoting their hand-picked stable of fluff and ignore many up and coming artists they signed and recorded, and then push the Timberlake and Britney tracks down listeners throats at the expense of the other bands never getting a single spin on a radio station. Good music has never been hard to come by, it has always stared the music industry in the face, but the corporate execs choose to program the new Sheryl Crow track into a death groove until we are all in a zombie state reciting the chorus line, if we had the lack of judgment to flip on the radio in the first place. The music business ignores the true heart of their business, the listeners, and gives them little or no credit. Do they really believe most of us go out and buy a CD, program track three to play for 3 months, then say, hey, now let's try track seven. Perhaps the bulk of radio listeners prefer being spoon-fed music, and the mentality is simply 'it must be good if the radio plays it'. Think of the plethora of superb artists floundering to make a living, while the execs chompt their steak and drink their perrier through their nostrils, they can just smell success. I, for one, believe the state of the music industry is their own doing. They can look to cast blame on the 'downloading evildoers' and a fickle public, but honestly, they need a big mirror and a major look at their own downfall. The music industry is in a shambles and they look as always to blame the buyers. Perhaps they should listen to a broader audience and realize the process begins with them. I've got my music, thank God I don't have to ever turn on a radio to hear music. I can listen to what I want, when I want, how I want, and the major labels and stations can all close up shop and go home to mama for all I care. Too bad more artists aren't finding ways to totally bypass the labels with the internet and do their own thing, as they envisioned it in the first place, and listeners could pay fair prices to purchase or download direct from the artist, plus they could offer rare and bonus material, the possibilities are endless for them. If I could give the artist 100% of the money for their CD, and none to any label, that would be nice.