the undisputed truth
Banned
the discrimination against digital labels and MP3/wav/flac.
It still seems that as much as vinyl is becoming more and more niche and boutique, CD sales are dropping and digital downloads are forever on the rise, broadcasters still won't play anything if it doesn't come in the traditional format from an established source?
I know there has always been a payola thing going on between the major labels, the broadcasters and retail chains with regards to securing synchronised blanket radio/tv play and prime window space then kicking back to the copyright collection agencies but surely even that antiquated system cannot stem the tide of quality music being released digitally.
I've noticed over the last few years and even more so now, major label's and vinyl based indy dance labels slagging the mp3 piracy angle as an excuse for distributers closing down, record shops going under, sales dwindling but really isn't that just evolution and survival of the fittest ?
Sure I could go on about big name DJ's handing out promos to radio shows and other big name DJ's who feel obligated to play out the stuff and have the up front tunes no one else has but that doesn't mean that the quality of those promos are any better than a myspace guy pimping his tunes on a few download sites.
But would those big name DJ's and radio shows actually go online, trust their own judgement enough to support an artist to buy their tunes and play them out ?
I don't think so. Is that discrimination ?
The way things are heading it is inevitable that at some time the trad broadcasting distribution, promotion and sales system will have to go digital or go under. I'd equate the current status quo to the last stages of apartheid in Sth africa being propped up by hardliners who have the most to lose though that might be a bit extreme.
so what's the hold up ?
I think it's the copyright agencies and the major labels.They can't figure out how to get residual income from stiffing the artists anymore so are reluctant to change models until the law can back them up. I would venture most of the majors sales and hence profits from the digital sites come from releasing back catalogues they own mechanical rights to in perpetuity. Something artists in previous eras had to accomodate if they wanted the big push and a deal.
The trad broadcasters still being reliant on advertising revenue, i would imagine are reluctant to play out anything which will not generate a copyright fee to the agencies being that a percentage has to go the agencies in the form of a license or a percentage of their advertising revenue for that month being paid out according to the logging of a particular songs airplay. Sure you get the odd groundbraking new music show which highlights the next big thing but even thats more of a hipster, fashion style and street cred thing for the individual radio jock. Maybe it does translate into sales but only if the medium is widely available yet more often that not it isnt.
Is that discrimination ?
you tell me
And what of the independent free press in the form of music mags and critics for the dailys ? Do they have a vested interest ? Are they a part of the same system anachronistic system of promotion and marketing tied into the money go round that monopolises the media ?
I think so but thats an entirely spearate rant
It still seems that as much as vinyl is becoming more and more niche and boutique, CD sales are dropping and digital downloads are forever on the rise, broadcasters still won't play anything if it doesn't come in the traditional format from an established source?
I know there has always been a payola thing going on between the major labels, the broadcasters and retail chains with regards to securing synchronised blanket radio/tv play and prime window space then kicking back to the copyright collection agencies but surely even that antiquated system cannot stem the tide of quality music being released digitally.
I've noticed over the last few years and even more so now, major label's and vinyl based indy dance labels slagging the mp3 piracy angle as an excuse for distributers closing down, record shops going under, sales dwindling but really isn't that just evolution and survival of the fittest ?
Sure I could go on about big name DJ's handing out promos to radio shows and other big name DJ's who feel obligated to play out the stuff and have the up front tunes no one else has but that doesn't mean that the quality of those promos are any better than a myspace guy pimping his tunes on a few download sites.
But would those big name DJ's and radio shows actually go online, trust their own judgement enough to support an artist to buy their tunes and play them out ?
I don't think so. Is that discrimination ?
The way things are heading it is inevitable that at some time the trad broadcasting distribution, promotion and sales system will have to go digital or go under. I'd equate the current status quo to the last stages of apartheid in Sth africa being propped up by hardliners who have the most to lose though that might be a bit extreme.
so what's the hold up ?
I think it's the copyright agencies and the major labels.They can't figure out how to get residual income from stiffing the artists anymore so are reluctant to change models until the law can back them up. I would venture most of the majors sales and hence profits from the digital sites come from releasing back catalogues they own mechanical rights to in perpetuity. Something artists in previous eras had to accomodate if they wanted the big push and a deal.
The trad broadcasters still being reliant on advertising revenue, i would imagine are reluctant to play out anything which will not generate a copyright fee to the agencies being that a percentage has to go the agencies in the form of a license or a percentage of their advertising revenue for that month being paid out according to the logging of a particular songs airplay. Sure you get the odd groundbraking new music show which highlights the next big thing but even thats more of a hipster, fashion style and street cred thing for the individual radio jock. Maybe it does translate into sales but only if the medium is widely available yet more often that not it isnt.
Is that discrimination ?
you tell me
And what of the independent free press in the form of music mags and critics for the dailys ? Do they have a vested interest ? Are they a part of the same system anachronistic system of promotion and marketing tied into the money go round that monopolises the media ?
I think so but thats an entirely spearate rant