In this year’s Novello awards an “unknown” band entered the race: The Leisure Society. And surprise, surprise, the usual suspects were all awarded, while the “homeless”, independent, not patronized by labels band was left out.
I still wonder why the organizers even bothered to enter the song in the competition since the awards are predestined for the money-machines who finally got them. It is definitely not for their musical superiority, definitely not for their good looks. The most logical explanation is that an outsider can be used as an attraction for the surprise-thirsty audience; “outsider against the mainstream” is a good story for the media even if the outsider does not make it. It is an incident that makes the event more memorable.
But musicians are already looking for ways out of the label system; apart from the digital distribution that is available to everybody (via Itunes and other stores), Amazon has recently announced a new service: CD on-demand. It will allow musicians (or labels) to sell actual cds over the Amazon website, and a cd will be manufactured only after it has been ordered; no piles of cds left unsold. The question is whether new musicians will choose to operate on their own. The famous ones have the power, that is some money and audience to support them but it is the beginners that can make the difference, be brave enough to change their attitude towards the labels and force them to change too.
Promotion is still a big issue that is in the hands of the well-connected labels but everything shows that things slowly change and technology is the answer.
Related articles: A new era in music industry / Shooting stars / Don’t go medling with record companies.
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November 3rd, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I think that artists are shying away from labels in favour of digital download sites for their revenue.
May 30th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Nice information. Good luck friend..