DISQUS

last100: Radiohead’s new album challenges music industry’s conventional business model

  • Peter Antypas · 2 years ago
    Radiohead can do this because they enjoyed the major label support thoughout the 90s that helped build their brand. If you're an indie artist today your chances of achieving any kind of success with touring are zero. Good luck getting people to come to your shows when the money you'll earn playing in dive bars won't even pay for gas, let alone room and board or your bills at home.

    In the age of the Long Tail the aggregators and distributors will profit immensely, but the producer will make so little they won't be able to live off of it. Music will be an amateur affair.
  • Clay · 2 years ago
    Peter is 100% correct. What I see happening amounts to a "cheapening" of music as a whole, not just recorded music. Of course Prince can give away his new CD with the Sunday paper and still sell out concert tickets! Why is that surprising and what does one thing have to do with the other? Prince sells out venues because of all the hits he has SOLD in the past.
    He and Radiohead can do whatever they want to do.
  • BPFS · 2 years ago
    Peter's statement "Music will be an amateur affair" is valid in our minds. Many bands have a song-writing skill, yet record on their (minus a experienced producer and this is digital NOT analog) computer at home. This is digital route is sub-standard in our minds...

    But this software in their computer is "industry-standard" called Digital HD "Pro Tools" at best sounding flat and is many times without proper mixing/engineering.

    We (Black Patterns From Saturn) have extra sensitive ears, but many songs on the radio today seem much thinner than ever due to the digital recordings labels have even authorized.