Music Industry Crying Again

[Spike-X]

This time it's over Prince's decision to give away copies (http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2114557,00.html) of his new CD.

The Entertainment Retailers Association said the giveaway "beggars belief". "It would be an insult to all those record stores who have supported Prince throughout his career," ERA co-chairman Paul Quirk told a music conference. "It would be yet another example of the damaging covermount culture which is destroying any perception of value around recorded music.

"The Artist Formerly Known as Prince should know that with behaviour like this he will soon be the Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores. And I say that to all the other artists who may be tempted to dally with the Mail on Sunday."

What a bunch of crybabies. Their sense of entitlement is sickening. It's Prince's music, not theirs, and he can do with it as he sees fit. Funny how it's always the people who have the least involvement in actually creating the work who always cry loudest when they don't get to make a buck off it.

[TheLazy]

Haha, proof if ever there was any that label bosses are crying over nothing.

:)

[SUPERECWFAN1]

This time it's over Prince's decision to give away copies (http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2114557,00.html) of his new CD.



What a bunch of crybabies. Their sense of entitlement is sickening. It's Prince's music, not theirs, and he can do with it as he sees fit. Funny how it's always the people who have the least involvement in actually creating the work who always cry loudest when they don't get to make a buck off it.
They can't blame it on downloading. If I was Prince I'd tell them tough shit , grow up. I do what I want.

[DonC]

Reading Spike's link, I get the feeling the record stores are pissed because Prince is probably going to be paid by this newspaper so they aren't going to make any money off of it.

To be fair, these stores are in the business of selling a product and their business is going to be harmed by Prince's actions. If Marvel Comics announced they were going to give away copies of "Next Big Thing" in newspapers, who would you support, Marvel for giving the comics away or the stores who would complain about the loss of revenue?

[rick]

Reading Spike's link, I get the feeling the record stores are pissed because Prince is probably going to be paid by this newspaper so they aren't going to make any money off of it.

To be fair, these stores are in the business of selling a product and their business is going to be harmed by Prince's actions. If Marvel Comics announced they were going to give away copies of "Next Big Thing" in newspapers, who would you support, Marvel for giving the comics away or the stores who would complain about the loss of revenue?


I'd support Marvel obviously.

That next big thing would have been Marvel's property and if they choose to distribute it through a different source or to simply give it away, that would be their right as the owners of the property in question.

Same with Prince.

It's his album and he certainly has every right to distrbute it any way he chooses.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Reading Spike's link, I get the feeling the record stores are pissed because Prince is probably going to be paid by this newspaper so they aren't going to make any money off of it.

To be fair, these stores are in the business of selling a product and their business is going to be harmed by Prince's actions. If Marvel Comics announced they were going to give away copies of "Next Big Thing" in newspapers, who would you support, Marvel for giving the comics away or the stores who would complain about the loss of revenue?

He's also giving the CD away at concerts. Damn you Prince....damn you for wanting to give back to your fans !

I have to say this for Prince. The mans an innovator. He knows he makes most of his $$$ at tours. So what better way to perhaps hook new Prince fans than a massive circulated news paper in the UK that draws 2 million buyers (maybe more by July 24th) to your music .

Marvel tried distributing its own comics at one point but realized how hard it is in the 1990's.

[DonC]

I'd support Marvel obviously.

That next big thing would have been Marvel's property and if they choose to distribute it through a different source or to simply give it away, that would be their right as the owners of the property in question.

Same with Prince.

It's his album and he certainly has every right to distrbute it any way he chooses.


Okay, but don't you think stores would have a right to come out and complain that Marvel's actions were hurting their business? I think the same goes for the record stores.

[Punchy]

Reading Spike's link, I get the feeling the record stores are pissed because Prince is probably going to be paid by this newspaper so they aren't going to make any money off of it.

I think the actual gripe is that the record company/companies who own all of Prince's previous albums a afraid that the sales of his older CDs will be affected if he starts to give away his music.

As a musician who has poured his own money into recording, marketing, and trying to sell an indie CD it kind of pisses me off that someone like Prince would decide to give his music away. I mean the guy has more hits than God, he can afford it. Many other up-and-coming artists don't have that luxury. Giving away a free track or certain CDs for promotion is one thing, giving away your work is another.

[mattx110]

Okay, but don't you think stores would have a right to come out and complain that Marvel's actions were hurting their business? I think the same goes for the record stores.

the same way i support marvel films and whatever they want to make, if it has a chance of bringing more readers to comic stores, they should try it. giving stuff away in a newspaper could potentially bring in new readers if it was a one time promotional deal.

and heck, prince just sold maybe 2 and a quarter million albums by default... that is insane, even if it's because of a deal with a newspaper.

[cactusmaac]

Well I held my nose and bought the Mail on Sunday to get the album.

Pretty good, might check out more of Prince's later work.

[Spike-X]

I downloaded it - I figure if he's giving the album away anyway, why the hell not?

It's got a few pretty good songs. My favourite so far is the insanely catchy The One U Wanna C.

[Ontir]

...he will soon be the Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores.

More like he will be Prince, the artist who used to be available in the retail carcasses that were formerly record store.

The music industry once warned that sheet music would destroy live performances, then said the same about recorded music. Neither was true.

They said that radio would be damaging to sales of recorded music. That wasn't true.

They said "illegal home taping" would destroy the industry, once again, untrue.

Now they've moved on to MP3s and internet radio, still blowing the same off notes, hoping that this time, they'll get it right. Repeating behaviour in expectation of a new outcome is the definition of madness.

[cactusmaac]

Welcome back, Ontir.

My favourite track is Guitar. Title track is a little preachy.

[Shellhead]

The music industry once warned that sheet music would destroy live performances, then said the same about recorded music. Neither was true.

They said that radio would be damaging to sales of recorded music. That wasn't true.

They said "illegal home taping" would destroy the industry, once again, untrue.

Now they've moved on to MP3s and internet radio, still blowing the same off notes, hoping that this time, they'll get it right. Repeating behaviour in expectation of a new outcome is the definition of madness.

I'm surprised that you didn't accuse the music industry of opposing the discovery of fire and the invention of the wheel. I think you made up the part about sheet music and radio. If not, give us your sources.

[jesse_custer]

Okay, but don't you think stores would have a right to come out and complain that Marvel's actions were hurting their business? I think the same goes for the record stores.

Technically, in a society that supposedly supports free speech, you have the right to complain about anything. However, that doesn't mean your complaining is automatically justified or correct.

[Valmore]

I complain that Plince is giving away his CD for free.

For me to listen to his music, he'd need to give me $50 along with the CD.

[J. Robb]

"The Artist Formerly Known as Prince should know that with behaviour like this he will soon be the Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores. And I say that to all the other artists who may be tempted to dally with the Mail on Sunday."
Haha, yeah stop selling certain artists at the stores. Nothing attracts customers like a limited selection!

[Ontir]

I'm surprised that you didn't accuse the music industry of opposing the discovery of fire and the invention of the wheel. I think you made up the part about sheet music and radio. If not, give us your sources.

I didn't make up the sheet music bit. I actually heard a musician talking about that at a party, about a year ago. He was listing, as I did, the entire progression of their ridiculous battle against any and all technology.

Luddites trying to make money in the information age.

[Punchy]

I'm a musician and I never really heard the music industry complaining about technology. Pirating mass amounts of music via P2P, yes but the technology more.

And why on earth would anyone think that sheet music would ruin live performance? I mean, how was a symphony in the early 20th century going to play a Beethoven Symphony without the sheet music? How would the music of Bach had survived if not for sheet music?

And more to the economic side, why would the industry begrudge sheet music when it is one of few concrete materials (unlike radio play or performance) that you can track and be gaurenteed your publishing and royalty fees?

[Paul McEnery]

I'm a musician and I never really heard the music industry complaining about technology.

Oh! Oh, Punchy, how on earth can you!

[Ontir]

Their argument was that if the music could be distributed to anyone with a piano, or a guitar, then they wouldn't pay to hear an orchestra or band, etc.

It's an argument I'd not heard until last year.

[Punchy]

Oh! Oh, Punchy, how on earth can you!
Okay okay okay, it depends on your definition of "industry".
Their argument was that if the music could be distributed to anyone with a piano, or a guitar, then they wouldn't pay to hear an orchestra or band, etc.

It's an argument I'd not heard until last year.Well it's an odd one and one I'd never heard before. It would be nice to find a source on it.

[Jonathan Bogart]

Okay okay okay, it depends on your definition of "industry".
Well it's an odd one and one I'd never heard before. It would be nice to find a source on it.
I believe that was around the 1890s, when sheet music sales (especially of popular songs) really started to take off. Some shortsighted bandleaders opposed the idea on the principle that if untrained musicians -- i.e. anyone with a parlor piano -- were going to be able to regale their friends with the latest hit, then no one would pay to see the professionals do it. It was less an industry-wide thing than the usual griping you see whenever change happens.

[howyadoin]

I'm a musician and I never really heard the music industry complaining about technology.You don't remember "the war on home taping" in the 80s?

[Sanagi]

The entertainment industry always whines about new technology until it ends up making them richer.

[mattx110]

I believe that was around the 1890s, when sheet music sales (especially of popular songs) really started to take off. Some shortsighted bandleaders opposed the idea on the principle that if untrained musicians -- i.e. anyone with a parlor piano -- were going to be able to regale their friends with the latest hit, then no one would pay to see the professionals do it. It was less an industry-wide thing than the usual griping you see whenever change happens.

this is really quite amusing.
if they saw the insane "Celebrity over substance" movement coming, they would have supported the selling of their socks and pencil shavings, who cares about sheet music?
lucky it became so easy to play music on a device that most people don't bother with playing music anymore. but ummm, back when, pieces used to be sold as sheet music even before being premiered. 17th-19th century patrons would throw money around to fill up their libraries without planning a performance. musicians would compose for anthology type books as their primary source of income. more recently, takemitsu released books of guitar arrangements that are used by everyone from john williams to the kid 3 blocks down from me without recording all of them.

the internet is a real threat to capitalism (aside from ebay, which is the ultimate capitalist masterpiece), sheet music, even with tab sites is a source of income.
the music industry might as well start suing ear training tapes and books on harmony for making it so easy to figure out 90% of their catalog.

maybe the sad state of most music programs in public schools is due to a music industry conspiracy to breed children who appreciate musicians but don't understand music.

[Leslie Lee III]

I really don't get this. It's his music, how does anyone open their mouth to question what he decides to do with it? He's under no obligation to go through the middle-men of the recording industry or sell it through record shops. He paid to make it, he put his time into it, why does the RIAA or the ERA deserve a piece? Because they're used to making money off of Prince (and every other artist)? I especially liked the thinly veiled threats levied at Prince and every other musician who considers not paying for protection.

[Spike-X]

"It sure is a nice back catalog you got here. It'd sure be a shame if anything was to...happen to it, y'know what I'm sayin'?"

[J. Robb]

The entertainment industry always whines about new technology until it ends up making them richer.
Microphone killed the opera star!

[rick]

Microphone killed the opera star!


I have no comment, but I just really liked that one and had to say so.

[howyadoin]

I have no comment, but I just really liked that one and had to say so.Yeah, that's definitely goin' in the Digest.

[Ontir]

Okay okay okay, it depends on your definition of "industry".
Well it's an odd one and one I'd never heard before. It would be nice to find a source on it.

If I could pull one up for you I would. Unfortunately I still have conversations in the real world, and they don't come with hyperlinks.

You don't remember "the war on home taping" in the 80s?

EVERY GRAMMY TELECAST!

I had to ask someone what they were on about, and when it was explained that they were trying to make "Mix-Tapes" illegal, I was flabbergasted.

Nothing stunned me so much, until Garth Brooks joined up with them in an effort to get money from the sale of used CDs. I hadn't ever bought one of his CDs before, but I never will now.

[howyadoin]

EVERY GRAMMY TELECAST!

I had to ask someone what they were on about, and when it was explained that they were trying to make "Mix-Tapes" illegal, I was flabbergasted.Supposedly there were actually a few albums with some audio signal mixed in so you couldn't tape the songs.

And I definitely remember Pat Benatar bleating in some interview about how home taping was gonna destroy the record industry.

[Punchy]

If I could pull one up for you I would. Unfortunately I still have conversations in the real world, and they don't come with hyperlinks.
Way to be a smartass. Just because you heard some musician say it it doesn't mean it holds any water. I'm a musician too and I'm telling you it sounds fishy. You can be just as full of crap in the real world as you can online.

[Ontir]

Sorry, but it's true. There's this idea that if you can't post hyperlinks, it isn't true, but stuff that is hyperlinked can be crap as well.

[Punchy]

Okay, then I have one for you.

You're lying.

I don't have a link for it, but since I'm just, like, saying it it must be true.

[Ontir]

You're more than welcome to think I'm lying. I'm not, but clearly nothing aside from presenting you with the original speaker will satisfy you, so believe what you will. It changes nothing.

[z0mbie_aut0pil0t]

If I was Prince I'd tell everyone to shut it. The guy has been around long enough...I think he has the right to give away free shit.

[Punchy]

You're more than welcome to think I'm lying. I'm not, but clearly nothing aside from presenting you with the original speaker will satisfy you, so believe what you will. It changes nothing.
Unless the original speaker could present some kind of evidence I wouldn't believe him either.

[Ontir]

Well then, the next time we speak, I'll make sure I have a fully annotated treatise that can stand up in a court of law.

[Punchy]

Just one article would suffice.

[howyadoin]

Just one article would suffice.I lost track. What are we looking for an article on?

[Nate Grey]

I bought his album yesterday, and I gotta say, I REALLY love it (had the cd case though).

Not sure what the big deal is with him giving it away, but I do wonder if it had any affect whatsoever on the sales when he officially released it.

[Paul McEnery]

Just one article would suffice.

"the"

There you go.

[Paul McEnery]

Just one article would suffice.

I'm a bit lost here, too.

But I cheerfully direct you to Bow Wow Wow's C30-C60-C90 Go!

[Aubergine~!]

This depressed me.

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pb...60347/1005/biz

They're apparently fining coffee shops and other establishments who have live musicians that play cover songs now.