5 ms·

>> "The music industry is vicious." That hits the nail on the head. Adding to that, it's an issue that goes both ways. For indie artists, it sucks even worse t

>> "The music industry is vicious." That hits the nail on the head. Adding to that, it's an issue that goes both ways. For indie artists, it sucks even worse than for small-time programmers, if you can believe that. They get all the problems the big boys have on top of the lack of resources to produce, pay licensing fees, pay assistants, make up for other losses. Stepping on toes is alot easier given how subjective music recording law can be. Now here's the $1M question: How can we help the little guy? You seem to suggest it's not possible (in that last sentence), but do we really want to let the system devolve into purely RIAA vs BitTorrent?

Roritharr 10y ago
Wasnt Google offering Google Music for Artists? https://play.google.com/artists/ https://play.google.com/artists/
elcct 10y ago
It works because artists accept it. If artists refused to sign to big labels they'd eventually ran out of content and forced media to look elsewhere to fill space between adverts. Artists have means to self publish, promote and it is easier than ever before, but still big labels have best content and change will take years if not decades.
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  > It works because artists accept it. If artists refused to sign to big labels... No, no no. "If only ${members of group X} all decided to do ${something that goes against individual self-interest of members of said group, but benefits the group as a whole}" is never a solution, because this generally does not happen for groups other than family&friends. Coordination is extremely hard to create, and very easy to destroy - it takes just one person who defects, thinking that "I'll stop doing that agreed-on thing; I'll gain a lot individually, but the group is big, so it won't lose much" - because suddenly you'll have everyone following suit and situation will be back to square one. That's why you always need some changes that make interests of the group align directly with the interests of the individual. (Might be a good time to start again my habit of linking to http://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/. http://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/.)
  - __s 10y ago
    See also: Nash Equilibrium
  - elcct 10y ago
    Yes, you are completely right! It was just wishful thinking on my side.
dilemma 10y ago
>Now here's the $1M question: How can we help the little guy? You seem to suggest it's not possible (in that last sentence), but do we really want to let the system devolve into purely RIAA vs BitTorrent? You can help artists by offering access to your distribution network and your marketing services, likely in exchange for copyright as success is impossible to predict and artists don't have capital. In short, become a record company. The way you actually help is by creating competition to the establishment. It is likely, however, that just like with tech startups you will be bought out by the Big 4, though. To avoid a buy out and ensure you can work for the artist's best, make sure to be profitable.

Roritharr 10y ago

Wasnt Google offering Google Music for Artists? https://play.google.com/artists/ https://play.google.com/artists/

elcct 10y ago

It works because artists accept it. If artists refused to sign to big labels they'd eventually ran out of content and forced media to look elsewhere to fill space between adverts. Artists have means to self publish, promote and it is easier than ever before, but still big labels have best content and change will take years if not decades.

TeMPOraL 10y ago
> It works because artists accept it. If artists refused to sign to big labels... No, no no. "If only ${members of group X} all decided to do ${something that goes against individual self-interest of members of said group, but benefits the group as a whole}" is never a solution, because this generally does not happen for groups other than family&friends. Coordination is extremely hard to create, and very easy to destroy - it takes just one person who defects, thinking that "I'll stop doing that agreed-on thing; I'll gain a lot individually, but the group is big, so it won't lose much" - because suddenly you'll have everyone following suit and situation will be back to square one. That's why you always need some changes that make interests of the group align directly with the interests of the individual. (Might be a good time to start again my habit of linking to http://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/. http://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/.)
- __s 10y ago
  See also: Nash Equilibrium
- elcct 10y ago
  Yes, you are completely right! It was just wishful thinking on my side.

dilemma 10y ago

>Now here's the $1M question: How can we help the little guy? You seem to suggest it's not possible (in that last sentence), but do we really want to let the system devolve into purely RIAA vs BitTorrent? You can help artists by offering access to your distribution network and your marketing services, likely in exchange for copyright as success is impossible to predict and artists don't have capital. In short, become a record company. The way you actually help is by creating competition to the establishment. It is likely, however, that just like with tech startups you will be bought out by the Big 4, though. To avoid a buy out and ensure you can work for the artist's best, make sure to be profitable.