Comments on: What if music should be free? http://www.wiretotheear.com/2007/10/13/what-if-music-should-be-free/ Wed, 15 May 2013 02:57:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Kent Sandvik http://www.wiretotheear.com/2007/10/13/what-if-music-should-be-free/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Kent Sandvik Sun, 14 Oct 2007 03:15:35 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/2007/10/13/what-if-music-should-be-free/#comment-26 Netlabels are alredy doing this big time. I'm about to start one, in addition to my commercial label, as it feels good to give something for free. I need the other one around, as there are still channels that require a commercial label (Beatport, promo services and so on). Netlabels are alredy doing this big time. I’m about to start one, in addition to my commercial label, as it feels good to give something for free. I need the other one around, as there are still channels that require a commercial label (Beatport, promo services and so on).

]]> By: Pete http://www.wiretotheear.com/2007/10/13/what-if-music-should-be-free/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Pete Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:23:47 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/2007/10/13/what-if-music-should-be-free/#comment-25 I think it's a great time to be a hobbyist musician and a terrible time to be a professional one. Technology allows new bands to get more exposure faster than ever, which is great. You don't need to be "found" by a scout anymore. However, the real challenge is figuring out how to make enough money off of music to keep doing it. I think this will happen in two ways: 1) Big companies will not die. Hollywood films, hit TV shows, big radio, and club DJs all _require_ pristinely produced, easily recognizable music, and that can only really come from a professional industry. 2) A much bigger piece of the music pie will go to regional bands, following the idea of "the long tail." Lower production, promotion and distribution costs will allow small bands to reach enough t-shirt buying, show-attending fans to stay afloat. If Madonna and a local band both pulled the Radiohead trick, I'd pay 5x more for the local favorite. Both of these, however, assume that normal, moderate-quality music ends up being free for personal use. I think this is a fact of life for all intents and purposes... the cat simply won't go back into the bag. I think it’s a great time to be a hobbyist musician and a terrible time to be a professional one. Technology allows new bands to get more exposure faster than ever, which is great. You don’t need to be “found” by a scout anymore.

However, the real challenge is figuring out how to make enough money off of music to keep doing it. I think this will happen in two ways:

1) Big companies will not die. Hollywood films, hit TV shows, big radio, and club DJs all _require_ pristinely produced, easily recognizable music, and that can only really come from a professional industry.

2) A much bigger piece of the music pie will go to regional bands, following the idea of “the long tail.” Lower production, promotion and distribution costs will allow small bands to reach enough t-shirt buying, show-attending fans to stay afloat. If Madonna and a local band both pulled the Radiohead trick, I’d pay 5x more for the local favorite.

Both of these, however, assume that normal, moderate-quality music ends up being free for personal use. I think this is a fact of life for all intents and purposes… the cat simply won’t go back into the bag.

]]>