First off, I don't have a horse in this race financially. I'm not in a band, I'm not trying to get a record deal, and at 51, I know I'm not in the demographic sweet spot of the record industry. Since I don't have a pecuniary interest, and come to this issue simply as someone who loves music, I can attempt to be objective.

The recent development of winning "free tunes" by checking out bottle caps and candy wrappers, to me, is a total insult to music and musicians, and relegating music to the status of a plastic CrackerJack prize, says volumes to me about how record execs and food makers look at music. To them, it's just a gimmick, a saleable oddity.

The insulting attitude toward music and musicians has gone on for a long time, but when the music attorneys for the recording industry got involved in suing people for not buying tunes (or that was their allegation), I knew things would spiral downhill in a race to the sludge covered bottom.

The plight of independent musicians can be summed up by a famous line from a comedian..."Hey, I don't get no respect." Think music is about the craft, the art, or anything more spiritual ? Not for big record companies. Music sales become "moving units" and artists are tolerated as long as the fans buy their stuff, but when the sales fall off, record companies discard them with all the aplomb of used condoms.

My friends on this board, Tom, George, and Larry, are themselves musicians. They know the joy of performing, they know the way music can take you to emotional heights that nothing else can, and they respect and love music as art. More importantly, they give a damn about fellow musicians and about the industry.

BIG RECORD LABELS OUT OF TOUCH
One particularly bilious media "pundit" called MP3.com, a "toxic waste dump".
I think that shows what kind of contempt big music industry people have for
music, musicians, and independent musicians in specific. Well sir, there were
lots of caring, tallented, intelligent artists who had their works there, and
for every one of them, that was a slap in the face. It doesn't diminish their
worth by the comment, but in fact, it demonstrates
what a soulless, untalented, vindictive,and
meanspirited media hack you are !

MUSIC IS AN ART, NOT JUST A BUSINESS
To me, this is an important point. If the sculptor of Venus de Milo was around today,
and the sculptor was a slave to a group like the RIAA, manned with dried
up, spiteful "businessmen", they would demand the sculptor increase her breast size.

Musicians have been the sweat shop workers for big music for far too long.

Those "in the biz" for years, have plenty of horror stories about blues artists who made a LOT of money for record labels, and who died penniless, and without any health insurance.

This latest gimmick of using "free tunes" as a ploy to get people to buy more caramel colored, sugar laden "junk food", shows just how little respect the industry gives to its major commodity. It's not all about the music to them, not all about the musicians, and not even, all about the art. It's all about the MONEY!

When corporate businessmen turn an industry into a "business" there lies the seeds of destruction for the ground troops in that industry. Agribusiness has all but killed off the family farm. And, with regard to clothesmaking...."fuhgedaboudit"...clothes are cranked out in sweat shops in third world countries, with, ironically, the same emphasis in the clothing industry...the number of units moved.

WHO KILLED MUSIC?
To me, we don't have to email Sherlock Holmes to work out the solution to this one.
The big record labels and their lawyers are killing the industry. To me, this doesn't even warrant a moment of indecision about who wears the black hat.

Fat cats, chomping on cigars and reminiscing about the "Rat Pack" with Sinatra,
Martin, and "Sammy", I believe they have nothing but contempt for all things music these days. They waste their time day after day, seething about the situation in music, typing their little pus filled hate letters around the internet, and blaming the very people that they depend on to buy their crap.

So, my message to the recording industry types who even let the question float through that addled, mush filled calcium prison they call their skull is simple.

You wanna know who killed the music Slick?

LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

~CW
"At long last Mr. Sherman, have you no sense of decency? Have you no shame sir?"

It makes you wonder. What do the artists involved in this think? A song they have worked hours on is reduced to the status of a cheap little plastic prize at the bottom of the box. (Good analogy, btw) Or are they considering this a type of promotion? Has anyone heard any honest comments from them or are we in for a long wait? (Not holding my breath)

This is true and I agree with you, being in my mid twenties now, my childhood was in the 80's and I spent most of my teen years in the 90's. That time for me was fascinating, not only because I was younger and in many ways carefree, but the music, metal, and grunge, hey anything is better than pop right. Of course I love classic rock as well which leads me to my point, this is nothing new, this is an industry that took great songs from the 1960's that meant something and gave them to the newest candy pop band to play in hopes of generating revenue, an industry that took a great song like "Revolution" and sold some of its rights to Nike so they could turn it into a corporate 30 sec peice about their new line of shoes. So it doesnt surprise me that they would do this with bottle caps and gum wrappers and what not, when has the industry cared about its muscicians. Ask any musician that was something some twenty years ago and is nothing now if they have even received as much as a post card from any of these people. The reason that the music industry has been in such a slump is because the music they have been dishing out sucks. Anyone remember the Spice Girls? Does anyone really buy any of the albums the "stars" of American Idol come out with? How much money was invested into that? I remember toward the middle 90's I was still a teenager back then, filesharing was not even heard of and the concept of the internet for reg consumers anyway was in its infancy. I remember that there were two stores where I lived, two major stores that sold music, Camelot Music, and Specs, they both closed down due to bad sales, but neither the Internet nor Napster had anything to do with that, because Napster didnt exist, and the Internet was a relatively new concept. Unfortunately, this is an arrogant industry and in many ways wants to punish its customers for not purchasing their products, rather than coming up with a strategy, they hire some asshole lawyer to be their PR guy, nice job. And due to it, we ll probably see another wave of law suits dished out sometime next week, fortunately, the more exposure the lawsuits get, the less people are inclined to buy their music.

I will address this subject of corporations in a larger article later, Code. Thanks for the tribute. I will touch on one aspect of this subject here 'n now.

A number of years ago, the manager Ken Kragen wrote a book about his dynamic management philosophy. He calimed that three media events had to happen at once, an album release, an appearnace on the Tonight Show or movie acting job and/or a major event. We saw what happened in that era, when Kragen put his clients Kenny Rogers, Travis Tritt and Trisha Yearwood into movies, TV sitcoms and perfume commercials. Lionel Ritchie refused to do any cringeful acting jobs, nonetheless he appeared in the Super Bowl, We Are The World and Hands Across America Specials.

The end result was over-exposure.

None of those artists currently have record deals, and we may contrast that with the long-range career trajectory of real songwriters like Tom Petty, Bruce Springsten and Neil Young. Those kind of artists refuse to allow their songs to be degraded with TV jingles, silly rock videos and presidential campaigns.

Even Michael Jackson or his advisors never had any sense of balance regarding over-exposure and you could arguably say that whoring out to Pepsi and setting his hair on fire was the end of his career.

We could conclude then that singers, esepcially Nashville artists, are embarrassed at being in the msuic business, and see it as only a way station to a "real" career in Hollywood movies.

Russell Simmons and P Diddy have convinced a whole generation of budding singers that one has achieved stardom only when designing a name-branded clothing line. The illusive nature of "bling" is the Holy Grail of talent.

Yes, Jim Griffin has nailed it by saying "songs are in danger of becoming the side-show." By this he indeed describes the devaluation of the song. I won't speak for Jim of course, but a number of commentators have decried the evaluation of the song as approaching near-zero.

My conclusion then is that exceutives like Tommy Mottola need to be driven away like Dracula with a stake through the heart. This modern style of management/label direction indicates that the songwriter needs product tie-ins like the CD-In-A-Pepsi-Lid. For such management service, it is claimed that the record label deserves increased percentages of all touring and merchadise fees.

For god's sake, isn't the song itself good enough?

lol...and I loved that "hack" they were using to get free music...looping at an angle under the cap...DRM bites the dust!

Is ruination a word?

3 entries found for ruination.
ru·in·a·tion ( P ) Pronunciation Key (r-nshn)
n.
The act of ruining or the condition of being ruined.
A cause of ruin.

From dictionary.com

Code, you know how to put us 50+ folks on a trip down memory lane. Good article and good comment Tom.

I guess the best way to share the frustration is to invite you to a quick visit to the birth place of the blues http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?s=%20%201741559. And who can forget listening to clear channel radio – KAAY, KOMA, KSL, WLS, WCCO, and not to forget to name the first station that broadcast soul music, after midnight, WLAC.

When looking back at music before the 70’s, you have to consider the availability factor. Where maybe one in five families had a record player, now days each family has at least five devices that will play music, play – not radio. And the clear channel radio, that is only good from sun down to sunrise.

In comparing the way it was and how we listened to music in the 60’s to the listening habits of my nephews today, about the only thing that has changed is the name of the artist. Looking around my office, walking through the construction area or at any of the other places I’ve visited for over thirty years, I haven’t seen much change in listening habits.

Looking also at the musicians, I don’t think the struggle to make it to the top is much different today than it was in the 50’s.

Having lived through the music revolution, you would think that the music industry would consider the opinion of a few of us ‘old farts’ once in a while. I do agree that what has changed is in the middle, and I don’t like it.

Lol good detective work, code Good comments in your article though. Many good points as usual...I've always thought of giving away the songs as a way to promote but it really does diminish the value of the artist's work. Hmmm...diminish the value...wasn't there an article about how they wanted to RAISE the price of the songs to $2.99?

You know the worst part is that the artists are probably being billed for "label promotional expenses" for the songs being given away, even while Pepsi is alos buying the music they are giving away.

I've often wondered if you could make it as a straight fee for service recording company. No contracts, no fronted money, just this is our facility, we charge this much per hour to use it, when you're done you leave with your master and a receipt. Any service offered would have an upfront fixed price, and you wouldn't be required to take everything if you think you can get a better deal on CD mass production go ahead, there your CD's. I've never really looked in to the actual costs, but it would seem like this could be done so that your final charge could be afforadable to an average band with the revenue generated from two or three successful bar shows. It would be far better than becoming an indentured servant to Sony for the next five years.

Frankly, we don't even need the studios. We all have gear better than George Martin did when he produced the Beatles. Maybe a little post-production work, but if you can't capture your basic tracks, then you have a problem.

We can get our CDs pressed at places like DiskMakers for less than $2 each, including case and insert.

Promotion and distribution are the only things we need. And it shouldn't be necessary to sell your soul for a marketing arrangement. It should be worth a small percentage of profits, but not the bulk of it.

In other words, it's time to turn the tables on the labels. New contracts that basicly switch everything around.

For instance -- If you created your product with no help from the label, they do deserve something for helping you sell it, like a commission. Say 30% of the wholesale price. Using Sony math, this works out to $1.86 a CD, based on a $12 wholesale price. The other $10.14 goes to the artist, leaving him about $8 a copy after mfg expenses.

The more they sell, the more they make, minus any recoupable advances to them as payment for their services. Of course, anything the labels themselves would create in the course of the marketing program would become property of the artist, as they are works for hire.

For this trouble, the labels would be given a license to distribute the work for a limited time, with no control of content and certainly not possession of the copyrights.

Great points George!

If I were a good musician right now with tunes ready for release, I would think twice though about enlisting the "help" of the RIAA labels to market and distribute your work, since a lot of folks really do use RIAA radar to decide what to buy...and what NOT to buy.

Boycott the RIAA>>>>
Long Live Leflaw, George, Tom, and Ringo...er...CodeWarrior

Hmmm. So maybe a commision or fee based promotion/marketing agency would have a better chance of working than the studio.

Maybe we could start an entrepeneurial project discussion forum, working on the theory that the best way to destroy a bad business model is with a better business model. Besides it sure would be fun to sue the big guys over anticometitive business practices if we got something going.

*anti competitive (got to love typos)

Great article Code!

Hey Baldrocker-correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't at least three of those radio stations in the midwest?

KOMA-Oklahoma City
WLS-Chicago
KAAY-Little Rock (Phantasmagoria-something ring any bells?)

Those guys were more than how we learned to love and appreciate music and the means to hear our favorites. They were there with us, night after night, through whatever was happening, the music was there. And there was a kind of, oh hell, call it magic, yeah, it was magically powerful, coming from the artist's heart, expressing the times and what was happening, and we bonded emotionally, and those ties are still there.

I regret that my children can't experience the same kind of power in their love of music, but they would argue that they do. It's funny, though-they listen to a hybrid kind of music, both new stuff and the old stuff. But back then, it was all new (and, shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-magic).

Hey Code,
Just one quick question, do you or any of the posters on here have a pic of Matt Oppenhiem? It amazes me that he just like Cary Sherman are cowards that say some of the crap they do and then realize that their bread and butter is eroding right under their feet.l

Rocknrollwoman

You are correct, and the others are:
KSL - K -Salt Lake City
WCCO Minneapolis
WLAC - Nashville, TN where before probably 1963 they broadcast a mixed format, a lot of country, rock-n-roll late evening to midnight, and then after midnight they were the only station in the country that would broadcast soul music - Big John R was the DJ. Now if any other person visiting this forum has heard Big John R, I would love to know.

There were quite a few other of these station, but these were the one's I mainly listened to.

As far as I know, all these stations are still on the air, but most are talk radio now.

"In other words, it's time to turn the tables on the labels. New contracts that basicly switch everything around."

Hey everybody! Note the quote above from George's earlier post in this thread. Think of the possiblities. This is a GREAT catch-phrase:

"Turn the tables on the labels"

You've got rhyme, "tables" / "labels", it's catchy. And "turn" with "table" (for us old farts who still have LPs) is a great twist.

P-Ditty will buy fewer ultra-luxury cars and mansions this year. Madonna will follow suit and not buy another castle in England.

Your killin me Code. A couple of things need to be mentioned here:
1. Musicians sign a contract to be with a label. Maybe IF THEY READ THE CONTRACT prior to signing it they would know what they are getting into. No one is holding a gun to their head and telling them to sign.
They can always walk prior to signing ... Or the "business" can try another pay structure like a Salary and stock options?

2. Musicians have been getting screwed since before the advent of recorded music. As long as bands define making it as being as popular as the Rolling Stones or the Beatles they will sign their lives away. Do you think that they are any different than the working stiff who devotes 25 years to a company only to get laid off due to outsourcing, etc.
Maybe the musicians should join the Teamsters, there they would get the same salary but they probably wouldn't be screwed either.

3. If you don't like the Big 5 quit buying there stuff. Period, that's all.

4. If you don't like radio because of big 5 domination, listen to internet or satellite radio.


In essence what I am saying to all of those musicians who think they are getting screwed, Welcome to the world! You are not the Lone Rangers of the planet, everyone is likely to get screwed. You can just write songs about it.

Protect yourself and trust no one. You will be less likely to be screwed!

Its sad, I found mp3.com to be one of the best sources of good music on the internet...damn the pos that slanders this great site!

mp3.com WAS a great site ...once upon a time. Michael Robertson (CEO/founder) built it on OUR backs and then SOLD US OUT! (Both literally and figuratively.)
Michael Robertson is a traitor to music and shall be remembered with more vile than any "Benadict Arnold."

Shmoo, of Electric Gypsy
(former mp3.com artists who got out when we saw the writing on the wall before the sale to Vivendi/Universal.)
Support Local and Independent Music!

JLBRMECHANIC- been outta town, still am...sorry, don't have a pic of old Matt