More evidence that the major record label model is obsolete...

Link: http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/features/article342799.ece

This article explains why and how the current limited number of major record labels have not been serving the industry well, to the extent that a number of emerging (and some established) acts have learned how to be successful and develop a public profile without having to "sign their lives away" with a large recording company.

02.3.2006 • Music Industry • PermalinkPermalink

Here's a cogent, pointed explanation...

Link: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/music/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2007230

...from Todd Rundgren of why the music industry is no friend of either artists or consumers. It's from 2003, but not much has changed in the last 2 years to make the situation any better. Indeed, with the latest attack of mind-boggling stupidity from the MPA (see previous post), it might be plausible to claim that things are actually getting worse...

12.17.2005 • Music Industry • PermalinkPermalink

Now the MPA is coming for your lyrics and guitar tabs....

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4508158.stm

In which the head of the MPA has this to say:

MPA president Lauren Keiser said he wanted site owners to be jailed.
He said unlicensed guitar tabs and song scores were widely available on the internet but were "completely illegal".
Mr Keiser said he did not just want to shut websites and impose fines, saying if authorities can "throw in some jail time I think we'll be a little more effective".

Jail time? Jail time for copying and disseminating song lyrics?
Who is this pompous, macho, posturing little twerp?

Let me if I understand...the music publishing industry thinks that it is a good idea to sue web sites that are disseminating their artists' lyrics and tablature without permission, when the people using those lyrics and tablature are in all probability consumers of the artists' music?

I thought this might be satire until I realized that, sadly, it is true. The MPA is either badly-advised, stupid or both.
Here is a well-argued article explaining why this is a really bad idea, and also summing up the prevailing attitude in the music industry...

12.15.2005 • Music Industry • PermalinkPermalink

Sony is digging itself into a hole...

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051115/ap_on_hi_te/sony_copy_protection;_ylt=AkelYOrYeQnACvebJ2lJMTFk24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3cjE0b2MwBHNlYwM3Mzg-

Story so far; Sony Music decided to implement its own unique twist on copy-protection to prevent unlimited copying of music CDs. Unfortunately there is a lot of evidence emerging that (a) the protection scheme doesn't work very well at all, and (b) it actually makes home computers less safe from external attack. It also discriminates against iPod users.
When software manufacturers introduced copy-protection in the 1980's, everybody revolted against it, usually by buying copy-protection busting software. Eventually the software industry wised up and stopped trying to copy-ptotect software.
When will the music industry stop stop making a fool of itself and pissing off its customers?
My decision to only buy from small record distributors and independents looks wiser by the minute...

11.15.2005 • Music Industry • PermalinkPermalink

Well, what a surprise...members of the Beach Boys suing each other again

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1635032,00.html

Those of us who are fans of Brian Wilson know that the various surviving members of the Beach Boys have been intermittently squabbling and suing each other for decades.
One of the most litigous of the original band members is Mike Love, who (probably unfortunately for Brian Wilson) co-wrote the version of "Good Vibrations" originally released between "Pet Sounds" and the then-planned "Smile" album. Love re-wrote lyrics originally written for "Good Vibrations" by Tony Asher.
Love has now decided to sue Brian again, this time over the release of his recently-completed "Smile" album, which , by the way, is a beautiful collection of songs.
We will now be treated to yet more legalistic California screwed-up family dysfunctionality...the recent history of the Beach Boys reads like a family and legalistic train-wreck, with two (sometimes three) rival ensembles each directly or indirectly trading on the Beach Boys' name, accompanied by various levels of whining, sniping and legal chicanery. With Brian Wilson touring himself, none of those ensembles contain a member of the Wilson family, thus making their level of authenticity debatable. Brian, in the meantime, has undergone something of an artistic renaissance, particularly with the completion of "Smile" and the extensive tours he has undetaken to promote it. The tours show that if "Smile" had been completed as originally intended, it would have probably knocked

11.5.2005 • Music Industry • PermalinkPermalink