Reinventing The Record Store
from the it's-about-time dept
One of the most interesting parts of watching the recording industry self-destruct over the last few years is that so much of the blame is placed on the record labels, and so little on the retail side. Two years ago, VC Kevin Laws pointed out that it was really the retail record stores that were pulling the strings -- and when they finally went out of business or had less power, the labels would become much bigger fans of digital music. Since then, we've definitely seen record stores struggle. Tower Records declared bankruptcy last year about a year after Wherehouse Music did the same. Some smaller, independent music stores recognized the need to change, and have tried to adapt to the times -- including one that turned the store more into a dance club that also sold music. Two new stories today suggest that more record stores, including one of the big ones, are trying to adapt as well. On the independent side, well-known Bay Area chain, Amoeba Records, is going to create an online music store, offering downloads, as well as starting its own record label. The focus, as always with Amoeba, is on serious music lovers, often looking for rare recordings or less well known acts. Meanwhile, Sam Goody, the huge chain of record shops is completely recreating their stores to make the more of a destination point. They're offering all kinds of games, the ability to download ringtones, burn your own CDs and just hang out and have fun. But how are they planning to make money if they're not actually selling CDs? In grand internet-age fashion, they're planning to make up the difference with advertising. Big, big ads, all over the store. It's tough not to be pretty skeptical of how well that will go over, but at least they're recognizing that simply selling CDs wasn't cutting it any more.
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No Subject Given
And if we are talking about pushing music to customers IMHO music reviews/blogs/radio is a much better medium.
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Re: No Subject Given
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Bands Get it -- Companies Don't
According to their front-man, they never made money on CD releases anyway (which have to reach upwards of 250,000 before the band sees a dime). All the money they ever made was on TV and film licensing, merchandise and touring. New record company contracts with perfomers cut them out of the publishing rights, leaving most of them high-and-dry.
So it might not even be a matter of waiting for micropayments... once more bands start adopting this kind of approach and begin releasing Creative Commons music, the record companies will just be disappear in a puff of practicality.
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Re: Bands Get it -- Companies Don't
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Re: Bands Get it -- Companies Don't
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Lone ranger versus the industry
It may seem altruistic to give away material in this manner, but I just want to be heard. Also, it helps to have a real job to finance my minute expenses...
1. Make music
2. ???? --- I am here
3. Profit
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Re: Lone ranger versus the industry
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Why do they all have to end up ultra rich?
I think entertainment will reach it's equalibrium when artists realize that they are doing a job like anyone else, and that they shouldn't expect to become wildy wealthy from thier music (art, whatever).
As long as there are artists who expect the lottery payoff, there will be someone for the (big-name, evil) record lables to exploit.
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"Destination" music stores
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CB3ROB BBS opens online record label on www.huge.n
People are a bit pissed off at the RIAA and the likes for their undemocratic mafia-like approach to generating income.
Let's face it, copyright laws and patents aren't exactly what one would expect in a 'democratic' country, so why bother with those if artists can make more money without them.
We feel that by just paying the artists more than the old-economy record labels do we should be able to undermine their resources and get rid of the dinosaurs cracking down on p2p and other technical developments.
People don't want cd's, they don't want to walk up to a box to insert a disk, that sounds like work..
they just want the music, and preferably legal.
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option
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Record Stores
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