Comments on: The Album: Extinction or Evolution? http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/ A fresh look at the media industry and how trends affect the independent artist and publisher. Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:14:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anthony C http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/comment-page-1/#comment-11315 Anthony C Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:14:47 +0000 http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/09/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/#comment-11315 Mic, I appreciate your advice greatly. It has peaked my curiosity though, are you a composer or musician, and if you are, could you direct me to a site where I could have a listen. Thanks AC Mic, I appreciate your advice greatly. It has peaked my curiosity though, are you a composer or musician, and if you are, could you direct me to a site where I could have a listen.

Thanks

AC

]]> By: Mic Mell http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/comment-page-1/#comment-11271 Mic Mell Thu, 11 Oct 2007 19:04:01 +0000 http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/09/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/#comment-11271 AC, I invite you to consider the avenues of spending time rather than money. Creating a cult of personality around yourself, and an interest in who you are as well as your art may make a huge difference in the results you achieve. AC,

I invite you to consider the avenues of spending time rather than money. Creating a cult of personality around yourself, and an interest in who you are as well as your art may make a huge difference in the results you achieve.

]]> By: Anthony C http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/comment-page-1/#comment-11270 Anthony C Thu, 11 Oct 2007 18:51:51 +0000 http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/09/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/#comment-11270 Mic, So true, I guess its now a young person's game. After a couple of years of self promoting and personal investment of my latest CD, I have come to the realization that it could take a few more years/money and cds to get my investment back.(and without that, I will not be able to continue down this path, hence my frustration!!!) Thanks Mic, I truly hope your right and the music industry's new path will allow new artist's to flurish and continue their work. AC Mic,

So true, I guess its now a young person’s game. After a couple of years of self promoting and personal investment of my latest CD, I have come to the realization that it could take a few more years/money and cds to get my investment back.(and without that, I will not be able to continue down this path, hence my frustration!!!)

Thanks Mic, I truly hope your right and the music industry’s new path will allow new artist’s to flurish and continue their work.

AC

]]> By: Mic Mell http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/comment-page-1/#comment-11267 Mic Mell Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:22:50 +0000 http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/09/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/#comment-11267 AC, Your frustration is understandable. Consider that for an artist to succeed in the modern landscape, we are at the source of our own success or failure. Self promotion is time consuming, and it is one of the keys to the kingdom of success in a post-major label industry. The days of relying on an outside company to manage your career may well be over. The good news is, the days of major labels being the only access ot mainstream success are ending, too. AC,

Your frustration is understandable. Consider that for an artist to succeed in the modern landscape, we are at the source of our own success or failure. Self promotion is time consuming, and it is one of the keys to the kingdom of success in a post-major label industry.

The days of relying on an outside company to manage your career may well be over. The good news is, the days of major labels being the only access ot mainstream success are ending, too.

]]> By: Anthony C http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/comment-page-1/#comment-11257 Anthony C Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:51:56 +0000 http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/09/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/#comment-11257 dr.xnib, I hope your right about me underestimating humanity, and I hope that the formula you have seen in the one case, is broad,even though that still would mean 1/2 of potential records sales. My point is mostly about a sustainable path for this industry. Mic Mell's piece is predicated on established artist, the ones who got there through a label and can afford to give away their product. The future I think, will have to be a balance of the old and new. Self promotion is unbelievably time consuming due to the factors I have put forth, and have discovered for myself.A newartist must hit a certain critical mass of "recogonition" before they can get any attention from a label which I still believe is needed to bring an artist to the heights of a Radiohead or Prince. I have seen very little evidence of any new artist at the top today that does not have the "machinery" behind it. As much as I hated the old label model, I now beleive that it is neccesary for any artist to push into the higher realms of success. The model though must reflect a fairer deal for the artist and I believe that it will and does through the emergence of the smaller lables. This is my little view from here, at the bottom of the industry and I appreciate your comments. AC dr.xnib, I hope your right about me underestimating humanity, and I hope that the formula you have seen in the one case, is broad,even though that still would mean 1/2 of potential records sales. My point is mostly about a sustainable path for this industry. Mic Mell’s piece is predicated on established artist, the ones who got there through a label and can afford to give away their product. The future I think, will have to be a balance of the old and new. Self promotion is unbelievably time consuming due to the factors I have put forth, and have discovered for myself.A newartist must hit a certain critical mass of “recogonition” before they can get any attention from a label which I still believe is needed to bring an artist to the heights of a Radiohead or Prince. I have seen very little evidence of any new artist at the top today that does not have the “machinery” behind it. As much as I hated the old label model, I now beleive that it is neccesary for any artist to push into the higher realms of success. The model though must reflect a fairer deal for the artist and I believe that it will and does through the emergence of the smaller lables. This is my little view from here, at the bottom of the industry and I appreciate your comments.

AC

]]> By: { dr.xnlb: We interrupt this broadcast… } http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/comment-page-1/#comment-11246 { dr.xnlb: We interrupt this broadcast… } Thu, 11 Oct 2007 06:56:54 +0000 http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/09/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/#comment-11246 [...] Until then, check out the piece Mic Mell wrote on the Polyvibe blog. Email: dr.xnlb  |  Filed under: blog   |   [...] [...] Until then, check out the piece Mic Mell wrote on the Polyvibe blog. Email: dr.xnlb  |  Filed under: blog   |   [...]

]]> By: dr.xnlb http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/comment-page-1/#comment-11245 dr.xnlb Thu, 11 Oct 2007 06:56:22 +0000 http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/09/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/#comment-11245 AC, you underestimate humanity. For every person that pays £0, there will be someone there willing to pay £20. In fact, I know of at least 1 person that got it for free, then went back and got a second copy for £16, because he thought the album was worth it. AC, you underestimate humanity. For every person that pays £0, there will be someone there willing to pay £20.

In fact, I know of at least 1 person that got it for free, then went back and got a second copy for £16, because he thought the album was worth it.

]]> By: Anthony C http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/comment-page-1/#comment-11208 Anthony C Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:28:10 +0000 http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/09/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/#comment-11208 All the above comments have some merit, but, let me interject what I have been experiencing as some of the realities now. records sales are down and as far as I can see, still falling. The drive to create may be stronger than money but the drive to get something for free is stronger! Successful bands like Radio Head or Prince giving away their CD can afford it because they are at the top, mainly because of the "Old" system and this is saying something in itself. New artist are left to self promotion in a "ocean of fish" all clamering for attention. The CD becomes a very expensive "card" and your left with playing live to do the selling, just like the old days. Problem is, playing live is expensive and getting more expensive , hence, it becomes a young man's game only. Tech. has made it easy for every "postal worker" and "drywaller" who dabbles in music to make a cd, which has helped to flood the world with more and more product which in turn has made it harder for the serious artist to push through. Music is subjective enough for these people to enter the music field and drive down the "value" of music. Making a living in this industry has become much harder and as I have stated before, "If you can't make a living at something, be it a carpenter or a musician, then your a hobbiest and quality is on a slippery slope and the bar gets lowered on a daily basis. I know I sound depressing, but, I have been at this in the trenches for over 35 years and have always made a "living" because I was lucky enough to enter this bussiness at a time which allowed me to hone my craft and still work 6 nights a week and pay the bills. At this point, I am still waiting to see a sustainable path for our industry and the up and coming artist/musician. AC All the above comments have some merit, but, let me interject what I have been experiencing as some of the realities now. records sales are down and as far as I can see, still falling. The drive to create may be stronger than money but the drive to get something for free is stronger! Successful bands like Radio Head or Prince giving away their CD can afford it because they are at the top, mainly because of the “Old” system and this is saying something in itself. New artist are left to self promotion in a “ocean of fish” all clamering for attention. The CD becomes a very expensive “card” and your left with playing live to do the selling, just like the old days. Problem is, playing live is expensive and getting more expensive , hence, it becomes a young man’s game only. Tech. has made it easy for every “postal worker” and “drywaller” who dabbles in music to make a cd, which has helped to flood the world with more and more product which in turn has made it harder for the serious artist to push through. Music is subjective enough for these people to enter the music field and drive down the “value” of music. Making a living in this industry has become much harder and as I have stated before, “If you can’t make a living at something, be it a carpenter or a musician, then your a hobbiest and quality is on a slippery slope and the bar gets lowered on a daily basis. I know I sound depressing, but, I have been at this in the trenches for over 35 years and have always made a “living” because I was lucky enough to enter this bussiness at a time which allowed me to hone my craft and still work 6 nights a week and pay the bills. At this point, I am still waiting to see a sustainable path for our industry and the up and coming artist/musician.

AC

]]> By: Mic Mell http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/comment-page-1/#comment-11154 Mic Mell Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:21:47 +0000 http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/09/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/#comment-11154 Exactly! The path to transforming this industry requires this painful shift. Major label methodology must fail before something new can emerge. In this transition period, it's going to take a broad revolution against the existing industry. We're just breaking a few eggs.... Exactly!

The path to transforming this industry requires this painful shift. Major label methodology must fail before something new can emerge. In this transition period, it’s going to take a broad revolution against the existing industry.

We’re just breaking a few eggs….

]]> By: J-Ro http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/comment-page-1/#comment-11152 J-Ro Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:15:37 +0000 http://www.polyvibeentertainmentgroup.com/2007/10/09/the-album-extinction-or-evolution/#comment-11152 Thanks for the link. It's nice to be inspiring. I think we're going to see something somewhere between the two situations you've put forward above. Artists will never stop creating. That's a drive that's stronger than money. And some people will always find a way to live off their art. Like you said, we'll hopefully see the quality of art go up, and so people will once again be willing to pay for it. Right now it seems to me you have a classic market problem. Before Napster, record companies (who control distribution) could put out basically whatever they wanted. As long as they were reasonably successful at riding broad trends, their music would sell. People had no other choice. Enter Napster and suddenly people don't have to pay for broadly marketed crap. I agree with them. Why should I buy it if it's not really good? I'm happy to support good artists in ways like seeing them live, but why should I buy their latest (often mediocre) album, with only a small fraction of the purchase price actually going to the artists. Bring on the change! Thanks for the link. It’s nice to be inspiring.

I think we’re going to see something somewhere between the two situations you’ve put forward above. Artists will never stop creating. That’s a drive that’s stronger than money. And some people will always find a way to live off their art. Like you said, we’ll hopefully see the quality of art go up, and so people will once again be willing to pay for it.

Right now it seems to me you have a classic market problem. Before Napster, record companies (who control distribution) could put out basically whatever they wanted. As long as they were reasonably successful at riding broad trends, their music would sell. People had no other choice.

Enter Napster and suddenly people don’t have to pay for broadly marketed crap. I agree with them. Why should I buy it if it’s not really good? I’m happy to support good artists in ways like seeing them live, but why should I buy their latest (often mediocre) album, with only a small fraction of the purchase price actually going to the artists.

Bring on the change!

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