Is the old recording industry model dead? What are the repercussions on your work?

[Chuck Ainlay]

It's obvious that the record biz model is in deep trouble and not likely to budge since everyone is so afraid of loosing their jobs if they step out of the mold. Although things here in Nashville seem more stable and the studio business is healthier than the previous few years I don't see it ever going back to the flood of rotating cowboy hat artists of the past. I am seeing more and more indie or self financed projects, of integrity coming through the doors but I wonder how they can ever build a mass marketing campain to compete with the majors. As for the management companys becoming the new gate keepers, I'm not so sure there wouldn't be a conflict of interest here.

Technology has certainly enabled fairly high quality recordings to be done on a lower budget and I totally endorse alternative means to the end but I'm afraid that much is being sacrificed from documentation and archiving to ligitimate engineering practices in many of these recordings. I'm in an enviable situation where I have a full on studio and staff as well as a more buget minded room where I can accomidate anyones budget but I worry how the well established practices and techniques will get passed down to the individuals working on their own in home stuidos.

[gml]

Originally Posted by The Alamo

Hello to all 6 sound musketteers,

I am interested in your POV on the more recent twists and turns the recording business is going through, the power shifts, management companies, the future...
In the last couple of years I've started seeing a lot of movement in the recording business: financial power shifting from major record labels to independent managers, management companies becoming the new record labels, record companies turning into distribution houses. Management companies becoming the new bean counters, not only working with artist's recording budgets, but being involved in the revenues from tours as well.
Anyway, are you also under the impression that the old recording business model as we know it, is dead, or at least, a bit hypoxic? Are you also dealing more with management companies today? And maybe most importantly, does this influence your way of work, your methodology, your approach towards newer technologies?

Thanks a lot,

RR

i may not be answering for the group (i'm in Montreal teaching at McGill), but yes, basically i agree. the record companies, per se, are disappearing. yes, the "record business" as a model is dying or dead. and, yes, management companies, who have more revenue streams to derive income from, are picking up the momentum, and growing. and making better choices, too.

at the same time as far as i'm concerned i'm trying to get the same place, musically and artistically...which is continuing to find ways to improve transparency to the artistic intent.

technologies come and go. methodologies are refined. identifying raw human greed and marginalizing it never goes away.

George

[ghoost]

Originally Posted by Chuck Ainlay

I am seeing more and more indie or self financed projects, of integrity coming through the doors but I wonder how they can ever build a mass marketing campain to compete with the majors. As for the management companys becoming the new gate keepers, I'm not so sure there wouldn't be a conflict of interest here.

Chuck,

Do you think that that new artist's (for the most part) are as concerned about competeing with a major (much less being on one) givin the possibilities of sef distribution through whatever means and being able to garner a much bigger piece of the pie through these channels. Assuming they are with a managment co. worth its salt or very industrious and able to rack up sales, say between 10 - 20,0000 somewhere $10 - $15 a pop.

Even though these are not #'s that most of us would consider a stratospherric success, there are certainly enough "new" artists' out there that would consider this a fairly healthy income even after managements cut and moderate production costs.

In other words ... Do you come across this train of thought much

Thank you

[jpupo74]

Originally Posted by gml

i may not be answering for the group (i'm in Montreal teaching at McGill), but yes, basically i agree. the record companies, per se, are disappearing.

And I'm gonna be there!





Well...next year...at least I cleaned the studio for him and had the chance to say hi!

Pupo