Record Companies No More

Record Companies No More

In these days of peer to peer networking sites, like this, with the ability to talk to each other across formats through rss feeds, Apps and widgets , that allow the operator to update sales opportunities and information across publicity sites with one posting, and can effectively turn artists fans websites into a myriad of shop windows for his/her music, with music download and internet access opertunities on PC and phones direct at point of sale.

Now we have an enlightened pyramid selling ability in the direct control of the artist.

Is the roll of the record company and traditional publicity networks becoming superfluous to the independently minded musician?

And is the music fan better serviced as a consiquence?

I look forward to your thoughts

Rob Ellen

Tags: marketing, music, publicty, records

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Permalink Reply by Cole Prior Stevens on December 13, 2008 at 10:21am: I think Johnny Winter said it best in an interview when he was asked why did he stay with Capital Records for 20 years? His reply: "That's how long it took me to pay the record company back for my first album." Things have changed a lot since then I reckon eh Rob?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cole Prior Stevens on December 17, 2008 at 7:21am: Sue...
I like your practical reply... very wise words to think about for sure!

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Permalink Reply by rob ellen on December 18, 2008 at 1:48pm: Thanks for your thoughts, it is a subject that fascinates me, these are times of change (they all are) and I'm of the thinking those who are adaptable to change will catch the wave and be better able to stay on it when the seventh one comes (thats the big one). Skill is the key and talent of course but it should be fun at what ever level its at, were lucky in our work that way.

Sue you have got a point on the 30's 40's acts, Bob Wills used the new technology (Radio then) set up in the broadcast area of a station hit the airwaves in the morning and did the dances and theatres in the evening till they played them all then moved on to the next radio station and started all over again. He never got to Hollywood but did create a legend. I wonder if their is a modern day model that fits that template? Radiowise there are enthusiasts (neigh obsessives) like myself who have the foot in the door of Media-ocrity for the independently minded musician and it is possible to pick out a living and your way around the world on the back of those media whispers, even against the crass mad hollerings of the prescribed mass entertainment.

As more people get seduced by the garbage its going to be more important to cultivate community's of like minded people, that's where I think the future lies and sites like these offer those possibilities and important connections and music offers a salve for the ailments of the disenfranchised everywhere, bring em all in thats what I say!!

Thats one reason why I call what I do the Medicine Show, the other is in the native american sence medicine is all that is good in nature connecting us all, the medicine of music in both cases is all important.

The music industry is geared up to suck in the bright young things and spit out the husk. It is no bad thing that more creative youth might escape at least for a generation or two and actually build and grow on their creativity, instead of cuss their luck on rejection or on that rare occasion hit the stars and hold on for dear life.

More thoughts please

Rob Ellen; ▶ Reply to This