Next thing for labels

[PatientSaint]

With the industry basically imploding upon itself. Sales dropping prices too high and acts breaking out of contracts. (the latest i saw is Incubus trying to break off with sony) Fingers are getting pointed and consumers are getting labeled theives and pirates.

My question is at this junction where do you think labels can head? I think After everything they've done lately to alienate consumers most won't go back. they've been real sluggish to try and get anything fair online and don't seem to want to give us a price break and still shove untalented pop acts down our throats. At this point I think the best they ahve to offer will be public relations for upcoming artists. Get then name recognition and out to the masses and concentrate less on their traditional business model. That would mean not relying heavily on Cd sales or modifying them to include something like dolby 5.1 surround sound(like DVD).

Who would pick up cd sales? The artist themselves i would think. Give them more creative input and time to make good albums.I guess only time will tell.

[The Hunter]

Where the labels have to head, is away from studio created artists, and toward self created artists. IE artists that have built up a following by hard work, and writing their own songs. The younger generation are not as easily taken for a ride as I was by studio hyped garbage. We all know the next step, that is to sell the cds at a fair price, and the bands can do that by selling to us direct. They need to remember that again these new buyers, will not buy cds with only 1 or 2 good songs. WE all have had too much fluff shoved down our throats. That was my rant for the night.

[Siskabush]

Great point hunter, I have been disapointed too many times when buying a CD and only liking 2 of 11-15 songs.

And yes, this studio created poor excuse for rap (Ill call it "Pap"), and idiot artists like nelly trying to kill gangsta rap also have to go.

And I would love to hear about north american techno artists, and hear thier music on radio, instead of all that mainstream crap they try to get me to like.

[joemama1]

. They need to remember that again these new buyers, will not buy cds with only 1 or 2 good songs. WE all have had too much fluff shoved down our throats. [/B][/QUOTE]

THAT is the whole reason that P2P grew in the first place! How do you think Napster, the grandaddy of P2P, became so huge in it's heyday?? Because people wanted one thing the labels were reluctant to give..,.....S-I-N-G-L-E-S!!!!! People just grew tired of the industry making them pay for a $20.00 CD with 1 or 2 good songs and the rest of it filler tracks! In the 1950s, they did allright with single hits on 45 records.... but the industry grew big and greedy! They stopped making singles and started selling whole CDs,not only stopping there, but hiring and promoting acts with no songwriting or playing ability ....just a decent vocal ability and promoting them as though they were the greatest thing since sliced bread......... then the "napster" revloution (because that was what it was) came along and people said to the industry...."If you're not going to give us singles......FINE....we will get OUR OWN!" And P2P was born! A nightmare for the music industry, but a alternative to the music industries control over songs and placing it back where it belongs...IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE!! Now the industry is playing "catch up" with the likes of press play and others BUT THEY ARE TOO LATE! People now have a system set up where they can trade for what they want and thge industry bigwigs are crying in their beer. They won't get any sympathy from me though, they have made me pay "highway robbery" prices TOO LONG, but no more!