[matz2]

Originally Posted by Saw31

Didn't I just say this?

Anyway, another shake-up that will come of this will have to do with the "album" format. As the author alluded to, why the [censored] would anyone want to buy a CD with only one good song? The fact is that the "album format" is partially to blame for all this garbage that we have to weed through. A band may write the greatest song known to humankind, but that's not enough. They have to have those other 10-12 tracks to fill up that album. And they must have them in time for that ever approaching release date. Ever wonder why a band has a great first album and then can't repeat it? They had their whole lives to write the first one. They've only got 18 months for the second. Nothing is worse for creativity than business pressure IMO. You can't force creativity, or at the very least, you can very rarely force creativity. With this new approach, I would love to see bands being able to release songs as they feel they've written a good one, at their own pace, not because a record label holds a contract requiring 12 songs by such-and-such date.

Frankly, I'm surprised it's taken this long. I know some of it has to do with the fact that the labels still hold sway over radio and other music outlets. No music, no radio. For example; "You must add this band (newcomer, most likely garbage) to your rotation in order to get this band (a proven, well liked band)." That's how it works a lot of the time. Why is this? Well, new bands mortgage their futures to these labels. The label fronts the money and wants a return. I know a band that needed to sell 500,000 copies before they made one cent. That's a "Gold" album before they can even afford lunch. Do the math here. A cd may cost 2 cents to produce. Obviously the initial recording and production costs very, but there is no reason on earth you can't produce a quality recording for $250,000 (a typical investment a label may make with a new band). The band must pay that back, or as we always called it, they were a "write-off" band. The label loses money and writes the band off as a business loss. The label is playing a lottery here too. But they know sooner or later they will strike it rich because of the power they hold. But with the technology out there now, and a little talent, you can produce the master recordings for pennies on the dollar compared to that $250,000. Most of that cash would go to a $500 an hour studio where you end up spending days on end doing nothing more than micing amps and drinking coffee. Now, none of this is new. We've heard the stories of labels taking advantage of artists since the recording industry began. What we may see here though, is a complete power shift in how all of this works. I for one, having seen it first hand, can only hope. If there are any aspiring musicians reading this, some advice for ya. Learn the new technology. Build your own studio and learn to produce. The quality of recordings you can make in your own basement will rival any $1,000,000, big name producer if you've got the ear for it. It's still going to be tough to "get the word out", but at least you haven't sold yourself, your name and any future product to the labels...

Nothing to add, just want to say nice post!