Steve Albini on the state of music industry
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 900 posts since 19 Aug, 2009
The music producer, Shellac frontman and author of seminal 1993 essay, The Problem with Music, spoke in Melbourne about the advantages of the internet, the death of the major label system, copyright law and that ‘purple dwarf in assless chaps’
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/n ... ic-in-full
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/n ... ic-in-full
- KVRAF
- 4656 posts since 1 Aug, 2005 from Warszawa, Poland
Finally.And people who used to make a living selling records are having trouble selling downloads as substitute for records, and they no longer make records.
- KVRAF
- 5948 posts since 19 Jun, 2008 from Melbourne, Australia
Good stuff, thanks for posting the link.
Nothing to argue with, he's right on point
Peace,
Andy.
Nothing to argue with, he's right on point
Peace,
Andy.
... space is the place ...
- KVRAF
- 1724 posts since 31 Dec, 2004 from betwixt
Fascinating article.
My experience has been very different. I worked my ass off in the 1990s as a teenager and young adult to get recording gear, learn it, make my own music. Recorded music was worth something.
And when I finally started achieving something along came the internet and made recorded music worthless. I cannot tell you how depressed that made me. Along with other depressing things that happened.
But it's the way things are, and one either adapts or dies. Mwa ha ha! Free it is! And on the good side, there is soooooo much quality music for free the listener in me is in complete heaven.
My experience has been very different. I worked my ass off in the 1990s as a teenager and young adult to get recording gear, learn it, make my own music. Recorded music was worth something.
And when I finally started achieving something along came the internet and made recorded music worthless. I cannot tell you how depressed that made me. Along with other depressing things that happened.
But it's the way things are, and one either adapts or dies. Mwa ha ha! Free it is! And on the good side, there is soooooo much quality music for free the listener in me is in complete heaven.
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- KVRist
- 94 posts since 4 Jun, 2013
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- KVRAF
- 16977 posts since 23 Jun, 2010 from north of London ON
Loved the way he put things into a different perspective.
Beats the whaaa mode...
Beats the whaaa mode...
Barry
If a billion people believe a stupid thing it is still a stupid thing
If a billion people believe a stupid thing it is still a stupid thing
- Beware the Quoth
- 33178 posts since 4 Sep, 2001 from R'lyeh Oceanic Amusement Park and Funfair
Codestation wrote: along came the internet and made recorded music worthless.
I'd kind of disagree with that, except for the fact that Im not sure what it is about it you think was made worthless.
my other modular synth is a bugbrand
- KVRAF
- 7365 posts since 9 Jan, 2003 from Saint Louis MO
Have you ever tried selling an MC Hammer CD to a used record store?whyterabbyt wrote:I'd kind of disagree with that, except for the fact that Im not sure what it is about it you think was made worthless.
- Beware the Quoth
- 33178 posts since 4 Sep, 2001 from R'lyeh Oceanic Amusement Park and Funfair
Weeeell, when he said 'made worthless,' I was kinda assuming it didnt start that way in the first place....foosnark wrote:Have you ever tried selling an MC Hammer CD to a used record store?whyterabbyt wrote:I'd kind of disagree with that, except for the fact that Im not sure what it is about it you think was made worthless.
my other modular synth is a bugbrand
- KVRAF
- 1724 posts since 31 Dec, 2004 from betwixt
Good point.
I valued recorded music. I treasured it. Great masses of people did as well, or the stuff wouldn't have sold. As Albini pointed out, back then it was a form of "legitimacy" to record your music and I - right or wrong - accepted that model when I was a kid.
So the internet f**ked me in the soul. But it's no problem, like I said, adapt or die.
I valued recorded music. I treasured it. Great masses of people did as well, or the stuff wouldn't have sold. As Albini pointed out, back then it was a form of "legitimacy" to record your music and I - right or wrong - accepted that model when I was a kid.
So the internet f**ked me in the soul. But it's no problem, like I said, adapt or die.
- KVRAF
- 8406 posts since 2 Aug, 2005 from Guitar Land, USA
It's about what I figured it'd say. blah blah blah
If you're not facing that fact that it sucks, you're going down w/the ship. Land ahoy, Cap'n!
If you're not facing that fact that it sucks, you're going down w/the ship. Land ahoy, Cap'n!
The only site for experimental amp sim freeware & MIDI FX: http://runbeerrun.blogspot.com
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCprNcvVH6aPTehLv8J5xokA -Youtube jams
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCprNcvVH6aPTehLv8J5xokA -Youtube jams
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- KVRAF
- 4205 posts since 21 Oct, 2001 from my bolthole in the south pacific
The analysis of the pre-internet era economics of the music biz for those signed to labels was pretty spot on. In Oz, bands signed to majors could run up a bill for $500K recording an album in the studio and never hope to recoup any actual money even if it was "hugely successful" in sales terms.
"I got a car battery and two jumper cables that argue different."
Rust Cohle
Rust Cohle
- KVRAF
- 12356 posts since 7 May, 2006 from Southern California
For. motherfucking. reals.
I decided at some point that making a living from my music wasn't one of my goals. It didn't affect my desire to express my musical ideas and I found that sharing (or releasing) my music is a totally fulfilling experience. And people listen to it! I don't even have to mention how easy it is to make a great sounding recording with all the technology available. You don't even need to make a "great" recording to get your music heard… you just have to put it out there.
Most of the music I listen to now, comes from Bandcamp or Soundcloud and I find out about that music in forums like this. I hear new stuff all the time; some stuff I like, some I don't... but I'm now constantly exposed to stuff I wouldn't have previously considered. All because people are free to post whatever they want. It's an awesome time to be a music enthusiast.
I decided at some point that making a living from my music wasn't one of my goals. It didn't affect my desire to express my musical ideas and I found that sharing (or releasing) my music is a totally fulfilling experience. And people listen to it! I don't even have to mention how easy it is to make a great sounding recording with all the technology available. You don't even need to make a "great" recording to get your music heard… you just have to put it out there.
Most of the music I listen to now, comes from Bandcamp or Soundcloud and I find out about that music in forums like this. I hear new stuff all the time; some stuff I like, some I don't... but I'm now constantly exposed to stuff I wouldn't have previously considered. All because people are free to post whatever they want. It's an awesome time to be a music enthusiast.
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- KVRAF
- 4007 posts since 8 Jan, 2005 from Hamilton, New Zealand
The argument that bands can make a living out of gigs alone has been dead-and-buried for a very, very long time, even for single-acts like DJ's. Only the top-end make a mint.
Steve has a long history of criticising the music industry, despite turning out some not-really-great mixes, and the ultra-liberal state of things probably suits him just fine. He's got money already and he basically doesn't care, is the message I get from him. But I can't agree with his conclusions.
The only non-no1. musicians I see making a living are those willing to suck up and play the web 2.0 I'm such an extrovert game. And that's fine. But I've seen the music that comes out of that non-insular process and I won't buy it. Because it's shallow.
Steve has a long history of criticising the music industry, despite turning out some not-really-great mixes, and the ultra-liberal state of things probably suits him just fine. He's got money already and he basically doesn't care, is the message I get from him. But I can't agree with his conclusions.
The only non-no1. musicians I see making a living are those willing to suck up and play the web 2.0 I'm such an extrovert game. And that's fine. But I've seen the music that comes out of that non-insular process and I won't buy it. Because it's shallow.
I make music: progressive-acoustic | electronica/game-soundtrack work | progressive alt-metal
Win 10/11 Simplifier | Also, Specialized C++ containers
Win 10/11 Simplifier | Also, Specialized C++ containers