[BC] Radio's Influence on Music Sales

[WBRadiolists at aol.com]

In a message dated 09/16/2008 8:23:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
richwood at pobox.com writes:

> If you watch the industry, the record folks are in deep trouble. 
>  They're recording less. What they're recording are the usual suspects 
>  and not taking risks on new talent. The few new talents I see seem to 
>  be chosen for their appearance rather than musical talent.

There is an uprising of "Indies", though... Independent artists who are using 
the Internet to distribute their music. Sites are all over, where they can 
sell their songs for 99c a song, and they keep something like 90% (the site gets 
the other 10%.)

I have heard from a number of Indies, explaining why so many new artists 
don't want to go through the hassle of Record Company deals. They get a pittance 
of the total sales. When they sell their music directly, they get MOST of it. 
It's simple math at that point.

Yes, I'd say that the Record Co's are in trouble. The more the Internet 
grows, the more new generations use it, the more *talented* musicians decide that 
keeping 90% is better than 0.9%, the more trouble the "big guys" are in.

With today's technology, it should be possible to directly compensate artists 
for music played... many of whom would probably gladly waive those payments 
for the exposure your airplay gives them! Search for Indie Music. You will be 
pleasantly surprised! I was playing a fair amount of Indie music on the air 
before my layoff. Listeners loved it, too!

Willie...