With the popularity of downloading (or "pirating") growing and the popularity of angry record labels suing the general public growing, I think it’s time to step back and have a look at where the music industry is going.
Out with the big, in with the small
There are literally thousands of indie-labels out there that work hard to promote, distribute and help out their artists for very little pay-off. Some would argue that some of the most talented bands and musicians are on indie-labels. When it comes to marketability, the bands that are the most marketable are the ones on major labels. Thats not to say that indie-bands are not marketable – but major labels won’t touch them if they don’t have a hit song or an eccentric lead-singer or some sort of gimmick that they can put on a t-shirt.
What could happen is the major labels could disappear all together, and the indie-labels – many of which see music downloading sites something that can be used to their advantage – will take over the music industry.
Artists don’t even mind
Many artists (even those on major labels) don’t mind the fact that their music is being downloaded. Many say that if downloaders like the music, they will support the artists and buy the CD or album.
This is an approach I think everyone who downloads music (you know who you are *wink*) should take.
It’s like that Chinese restaurant at the mall that gives out samples knowing that if you like it, you’ll come back and pay for it. Of course, you can’t download Teriyaki Chicken from the internet.
Free (and legal) music
While this whole music-pirating fiasco was going on, there were a few creative individuals who decided to embrace the idea of free and completely legal music on the internet.
How it works is they would find bands/artists that they thought were talented, the artists would send them digital copies of their albums fully-aware that their music was going to be distributed online for free – and the NET labels would promote and distribute the album online.
The NET labels don’t make money on the albums. If they’re lucky, they make some money on ads and donations but with no physical product to produce, they are free to distribute as much as their bandwidth will allow. Now with services such as Itunes and Napster taking over the distribution of major artists and labels legally NET labels are taking up a notch by offering free downloads and other options to pay for such as exclusive artwork or a physical CD.
Most recently Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor did away with his record label and began to independantly promote and distribute his music, which was met with much success.
Power to the people
In the end, it’s going to be all about you.
You will ultimately decide which way the scale tips, and where the music industry goes from here. With the power of the inernet rising every second, you can bet that the final battleground will take place on the information super highway.
Lets just hope it fair for everyone – Artists and fans alike.
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