[BC] music industry woes

[DHultsman5 at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/21/2007 5:46:22 PM Central Daylight Time, 
barry at oldradio.com &  Mr. Orban wrote:

> >I hear a lot of this kind of thing. However, music *listening* is 
> >higher than ever -- the argument that "today's music isn't appealing 
> >to consumers" just isn't true, even though it may not appeal to 
> >those of us in the 55+ demographic. The problem is simple -- you 
> >can't compete with "free." The last statistic that I saw indicated 
> >that paid downloads were less than 2% of total downloads; the rest 
> >were pirated.
> 
>      Interesting. That is part of the problem.
>      Of course, this doesn't include those buying
>      the CDs in the traditional way.
> 
>      I am not against artists being paid. Don't
>      get me wrong.  I'm just thinking that the
>      old record company metaphor is gone, as
>      are many other parts of society.
> 
> 
> ***********************************************************

This is parts of the changes that happen within any industry that has a 
technology base.   In music the technology change from vinyl and lots of 45 records 
that were reasonably priced to  new releases on CD's  but lack of easy 
availability of single record performance at a reasonable price.   Coupled with the 
change by the performers to try make more money by stuffing a CD with a bunch 
of so-so music that they had written and published in order to increase 
royalities from the CD's by having written more selections.  Pay $13-15.00 for a 
single selection of music vs the old $0.00-$2.00 for a 45 RPM vinyl record that 
could be bought at nearly all the stores had to have a part in the change.

Especially when the internet became available and many individual libraries 
became accessable for free on line.    It was kinda like the early satellite TV 
owners.  They would sell individual licenses to HBO and Showtime so the 
public bought access through other technical means.  Then they come back and 
license to all the satellite providers after they had so much bootlegging.  

Same happened with the RIAA,  they didn't want to license Wayne Hunsinger?? 
who owned Blockbuster Video and Blockbuster Records who wante to provide 
customers with CD's  that coule be recorded in the record store with one or two 
selections for a much smaller charge which covered the CD, cost of the record 
performance and all necessary license fees.   Then the customer could return the 
same CD and add another selection by another artist at a later date for a lower 
charge that only inluded the performance and licensing but not the CD 
hardware.

He was turned done by the record industry.  The Customers went elsewhere.

Many musicians are copywriting their music,  some with the own publishing 
company, and also marketing their CD albums and concert performances on CD and 
DVD thru their own marketing companies.

Content has alot to do with it but as a person in my early '60's I still 
purchase CD's of artists I like.   I also have seen many older rock and rollers 
now making music their parents grew up with very successfully,  i.e. Rod 
Stewart's  Volume 1, II, III and four.   And of course Elvis Presley is still high in 
total record sales.

Most folks don't buy life insurance from an agent they shop the internet,  
buying a record is also that easy.  It just took too long.

Just another opinion.

Dave Hultsman




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