What if the gourmet burgers had a special spicy sauce (by default) that didn't cost more, but the average person that eats burgers doesn't like it? I totally get the idea of going after niche, if there is too much competition in mainstream. But niche may not make enough money unless the price is higher and people consider it worth paying for. In general, if people are exposed to smaller doses of niche, and then elevated slowly over time, then niche could become mainstream. If there were really competition, Music companies would develop ways to beat the status quo. Problem is that in the US, the government has allowed monopolies in information and has not appreciated the importance of competition in ideas. College radio and Public TV has not filled the gap either. The good news is that the Internet has allowed the niche to thrive (or just even exist).
No one was ever willing to pay more for 'niche music'.
Now, since the default value of music for a very large % of people in general is 'free' and even on PE where 'interested, motivated listeners' gather to discuss music, a very sizable percentage of people are unwilling to pay for music, you have summed up the problem in a nutshell.
Steve F.
www.waysidemusic.com
www.cuneiformrecords.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
“Remember, if it doesn't say "Cuneiform," it's not prog!” - THE Jed Levin
Any time any one speaks to me about any musical project, the one absolute given is "it will not make big money". [tip of the hat to HK]
"Death to false 'support the scene' prog!"
please add 'imo' wherever you like, to avoid offending those easily offended.
I was one of the first wave of people who glommed on to Napster. It was very much a "I like one song by them, why should I pay $15 for the full album?" mentality. Of course, the downside was that in the days of 56k downloads, it took almost 8 hours to download the whole 17 minute In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. Now, I use Soulseek to find long out of print opera and orchestral stuff, bootlegs and stuff like Beach Boys session tapes, I'll also use it as a preview service. I still buy CD's (and for movies, DVD's and Blu-Ray's), much to the bemusement of some of my friends, who haven't paid for anything in a decade.Now, since the default value of music for a very large % of people in general is 'free' and even on PE where 'interested, motivated listeners' gather to discuss music, a very sizable percentage of people are unwilling to pay for music, you have summed up the problem in a nutshell.
...or you could love
When an artist puts out an album that contains only one or two worthwhile tracks, it tests the moral fibre of even the best of us. Like you, I don't like paying for filler. My usual response in that situation is not to pay anything at all, and not to download anything either, just listen to the songs I like once in a while on Spotify or YouTube.
I appreciate the points made about the quality of popular music being driven mostly by the general listening public - but I also think there is a certain arrogance on the part of artists or record companies lazily filliing up a disc with material they know to be inferior just so they can charge the price of an album, and then expecting people to pay full price.
Uh, Steve...
I kind of dropped out of the conversation coz I wasn't around for two days.
I don't know if what I will say goes for most everyone here, but I do not include you or Ken, AltRock or Moonjune as "the music industry" (Vicky and Esoteric is different ballgame though). Your small labels are anything but industrial multinational congliomerates
Just thought I'd let you know that
You might be surprised if this was (force)fed 10 times a day in their skulls. Especially if there are odd-looking chicks in the band (like SGM).
sad bit somehow true...
Now saying there is no future is another step that I'm not ready to take (but you are so much more informed than moi) , yet.
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
Bookmarks