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Ignoring blips like Google's current bender of destruction of advertising revenue streams for small labels, I can see larger labels becoming a thing of the past
by btown 12y ago
Ignoring blips like Google's current bender of destruction of advertising revenue streams for small labels, I can see larger labels becoming a thing of the past. What is the purpose of a label in the digital age, now that it can no longer include physical manufacturing and physical distribution in its value proposition? To consumers, it's quickly becoming no more than a guarantee that associated artists are curated and are of "high enough" quality to the ears and eyes of some hidden tastemaker. And to producers, they're increasingly a glorified PR firm. The largest labels' business models don't match up with these value propositions; they function as gatekeepers in an age where unlocked gates are plentiful. This is not to say that all labels will disappear; smaller, niche labels such as Monstercat, Neon Gold, and even Roadrunner Records (in the 90s) function[ed] like well-branded aggregators, exactly meeting those needs and having a well-defined target audience. Perhaps we'll see small labels turn to subscription models, allowing access to exclusive content from their members? Imagine iTunes with tons of small label-run channels one could subscribe to for a monthly fee, and get access to all the music within? Lots of chicken-egg problems here, but it's interesting to think about.
- louhike 12y agoLabels are useful for recording,, mixing and marketing. They are not just factories of CDs. Artists may manage without them but it is quite complicated as it costs a lot.
- Exenith 12y agoWhen it comes to a lot of electronic music, there is no recording necessary and the artist is the person who mixes/masters. No need for money there Side ramble: I've never understood why people paint "real" bands as being lo-fi, guttural, punk and romantic. It's a goddamn privelege to afford all that equipment. Here's your true punk: pirate Ableton and upload a tune to YouTube for free. Back to the point, for a lot of styles, the only point of a label is marketing. But this can be a very useful tool -- even just acting as a quality filter is useful.
- louhike 12y agoYou are wrong on the fact that musicians doing electro do the mix/master. I know people doing electro, and they pay people to do this job. It is really hard to do it correctly. Even people like DeadMau5 and Daft Punk do not do the mix/master by themselves. They just monitor the people doing it (look at some of their interviews).
- TarpitCarnivore 12y ago> Imagine iTunes with tons of small label-run channels one could subscribe to for a monthly fee, and get access to all the music within? This is happening on Bandcamp already. A smaller label called Jade Tree put their entire catalog up there and as a fan of the label it was awesome to see them do this. Back to your point with labels, they do benefit the artist despite it seeming like they don't. While 360 deals may be worse for the artist the labels provide them with a recording studio, mixer, producer, distribution, endless supply of industry contacts, merchandising companies, etc.