Global financial crisis and Music / Mastering

[elchupacabra]

World is going to global financial crisis. Most of companies losts lot of work and orders. Financial crisis maybe hit every sector of business in europe and usa.

What do you think, how is it with music sector ? Are there releasing less music on CDs than some years ago ? Have artists less conerts than before ?

Do you master less music than before ? Do you have less work than before?


Do you think that when global financial crisis will grow up people will have other problems, and they will not have time and money for good music ?
Do you think that you will have less work in next months/years ?


Yes i know that this is not funny theme, not technical, but still interesting. I know that art is not about money, but money need everybody for life including musicians, artists, mixers, producers and mastering engineers too...

[jdg]

its always slow in jan/feb. booked out two weeks now, instead of the usual 4-5weeks.

2008 was a banner year.

i'd wait until 2009 is over before making any snap "speed of the internet" judgments.

[inlinenl]

well it's almost like this now 1$ = 1€ = 1 GBP

prepared for the worst .. hoping for the best ...

[ONDRAY]

when people are down and out of work, it's the glimpse of joy and entertainment that keeps them going. After the war in the ’50;s the silver screen movie entertainment peaked, in the '60 during a time of change, the 'nam war etc... in the '80 recession music sales rose. So let's see what happens this time. Driving people to the drink and entertainment may be a blessing for this biz, and I mean that in the nicest way possible.

[krytikal1]

Originally Posted by elchupacabra

Do you think that when global financial crisis will grow up people will have other problems, and they will not have time and money for good music ?
Do you think that you will have less work in next months/years ?

i agree with ondray. especially in the live music scene, people will be seeking a release. maybe will even see 80's hair metal revival!!

really, i think the record industry has been evolving over the last 10+ (50+) years anyways. from a mafia state, to hopefully something that can reflect true art involved in commerce. maybe this will be the final push that makes it happen.

and don't believe all the hype. this "global" problem in my opinion has existed for quite some time. they have just currently pushed us all to believe it with so much media presence, that now the masses will blindly accept whatever "change for the better" they hand them. (no direct obama pun intended)

k

[Lagerfeldt]

Full speed ahead here, but this is Denmark where there's no major signs of a crisis (yet). So I lost $25,000 on some of my stocks but they'll climb back up I hope.

[macc]

I'm work a day job all day and master all night, building up my business. Since the economic trouble hit I've had less sleep than ever. Perhaps my prices help a lot, but I am absolutely snowed under.

[24-96 Mastering]

So far I can't tell signs of crisis, but the strong changes in currency are having me scared a bit. Sure, a strong Euro is great for buying gear, I'm just a teeny bit worried about waking up one day and finding Bob Ludwig's rates lower than mine

[Jerry Tubb]

Originally Posted by elchupacabra

World is going to global financial crisis.

I think the news media loves to promote the crisis mind set... for profit.

Is there any less money in the world than 2 years ago?

Are there any more people?

I think the three words Made in China are as much at fault as anything.

Greedy corporate execs farming out their manufacturing to Asia, while their own neighbors are getting layed off the job... a real shame.

Do you master less music than before ? Do you have less work than before?

No, we've actually been going in the opposite direction, the last few months have been booked solid.

Steady growth continues each year, we hit the ground running at full speed in January.

Perhaps after Tuesday's inauguration, the dust will begin to settle, life will get back on track, and slow sane growth can resume... replacing all the news media hype.

JT

[elchupacabra]

Any next thoughts ? Please dont be ashamed to tell if your job goes well in time of financial crisis. For me is also interesting to know if now goes well also internet ftp mastering ?

Financial crisis is not only fiction, belive me, many big companies have a big problems !! EU prognosis that economical recession will grow !! Do you think that music business will be furthest prosperous ? Because I m really affraid of that normal people will have money only for standard things like food, living etc. not for luxus like music is

Im asking because now I invested a lot of money in music, so big financial crisis shocked me a lot, and Im afraid a little bit about it. First when crisis began in USA I do not belive in prognosis that this crisis will moved to EU, and now crisis is here and it is bigger than i first thought !!!

Thank for your opinions

[Ben F]

The music industry has been in recession in Australia for 10 years...nothing new, it's just that other areas of business are feeling the pinch and complaining. I don't think it will change studio work much, our business has been fairly consistent so far compared to the years before. People will always love music and want to party. There are more live gigs and festivals than ever, and that's where most musicians make their money.

[Alécio Costa]

" this global problem in my opinion has existed for quite some time. they have just currently pushed us all to believe it with so much media presence, that now the masses will blindly accept whatever "change for the better" they hand them "

I agree 100% with the thought above.

I also agree that the (cheap) crap that mostly comes from the MADE IN CHINA issue is one of the most important we have to worry about.

[heathen]

I agree the toxic crap made in China has had a lot to do with our economic problems, we run on a false economy, not much is manufactured anywhere else these days, I'd rather pay 10X more for something made in Australia.

Also the free trade agreements have screwed thing big time too, nothing worse than walking into an Aussie store to find "American grown onions" or any produce grown anywhere else.

Americans don't want see the same either, why the hell should Aussie or American farmers see a product grown in another country for sale when they can grow the same things. Tariffs should be brought back to protect countries from rampant importing of things made or grown elsewhere unless it's impossible to manufacture at home.

The internet has provided massive loopholes for tax evasion, I can buy anything from the USA or anywhere for that matter under $1000 and get it here without paying any tax, I like it for me but it's not helping my country. With our old tax system it was just not worth importing things with massive import duties.

Australia survived the last 5 years on a mining boom, infrastructure was left to deteriorate, so were hospitals the transport system all the while being told how well we were all doing. America was in recession 3-4 years ago, you just never knew it.

But yeah it's the average Joe with a missus kids and a small business who'll suffer the most, not the idiots who brought us to where we are.

As for the music industry who knows, people are always gonna want music, as said after the hardest times people will still want music there to make them forget all the bad stuff around them.

The Blues will be back and bigger than ever.

Anyway I'm glad to see that Bush moron gone and a good man now running the USA, he has a big job ahead of him.

[heathen]

Originally Posted by Alécio Costa

" this global problem in my opinion has existed for quite some time. they have just currently pushed us all to believe it with so much media presence, that now the masses will blindly accept whatever "change for the better" they hand them "

I agree 100% with the thought above.

I also agree that the (cheap) crap that mostly comes from the MADE IN CHINA issue is one of the most important we have to worry about.

The media makes it worse for sure, they have to hype everything up.

[oudplayer]

Was just in Istanbul for a few weeks - the music industry there has collapsed, for all intents and purposes. The result on mastering? Many fewer projects are sent out for mastering than were a few years ago (2004-6). The mixing engineer is asked to "do mastering," which means taking the stereo mix and slamming it with a L2.

[Jarp2600]

I am having more clients than ever, so I won't complain!

[DSD_Mastering]

Originally Posted by Jarp2600

I am having more clients than ever, so I won't complain!

Same here.. I don't know where they're all coming from! I'm booking March/April now! What crisis??


Regards,

[DaveC]

Same here.. I don't know where they're all coming from! I'm booking March/April now! What crisis??

Ain't no crisis, it's just a financial game, as part of a much bigger game,
that's been going on for centuries.

Anyway I'm glad to see that Bush moron gone and a good man now running the USA, he has a big job ahead of him.

You just missed the big picture, didn't you?
I just watched Obama today, and I must say that it was a well rehearsed show!
And that's what it is; a variety-program for young and old, with everyone fooled at the end.
Take care of yourself and your family, that's all I have to say.

[heathen]

Originally Posted by DaveC

Ain't no crisis, it's just a financial game, as part of a much bigger game,
that's been going on for centuries.



You just missed the big picture, didn't you?
I just watched Obama today, and I must say that it was a well rehearsed show!
And that's what it is; a variety-program for young and old, with everyone fooled at the end.
Take care of yourself and your family, that's all I have to say.

Ummmm McCain or Obama? I know who will probably do less damage.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

The media are the ones that tell us when we have a recession or are doing well. I guess if they didn't tell us we would never know.

I do know things are changing in America and hopefully now that the previous administration is out of office things will change for the better.

I do see some changes in the media. The local radio stations are mostly a satellite dish, a small audio console and a microwave to the transmitter. There are no local DJs anymore and most of the stations are programmed from a master studio in California. They do local news (one person newsroom) and local breakaway spots pre programmed from a computer but mostly it is network radio.

The local TV stations are running commercials for things like colon cleanser during the six and eleven o'clock news which they would never have done before and more and more of their commercials are the same ones you see late at night on the cable channels. These commercials are not what most TV stations want to air but they have to in order to stay in business.

The local music scene is not doing well and even though my city has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame there are no world class recording studios here (even though a couple of local studios say they are) and no "A" list recording artists call Cleveland home. The studios here that are SSL or NEVE equipped are selling time at $35.00 per hour which is far from their advertised rates.

Our business is going well but we are not booked months in advance and it is not like the gravy days of the middle 90's.

I think things will get better but it may take a while. I know my 401K suffered a big loss and there are 90 homes in my town (POP 7500) that are up for sale or in foreclosure which seems like a lot.

President Obama has his work cut out for him and his administration and from all accounts have their collective sleeves rolled up and are hard at work already. I was buoyed up by his inauguration speech and hope it is not all talk and he can really do what he says he can do. The US of A is in the worse shape monetarily as is has been in the past 50 years and SOMETHING needs to happen to make people feel good about themselves and start spending again.

Lets hope that this thread is ancient history in a year however the DOW dropping over 300 points is NOT a great way to start.

[Adam Dempsey]

Originally Posted by elchupacabra

What do you think, how is it with music sector ? Are there releasing less music on CDs than some years ago ? Have artists less conerts than before ?

Looking forward to seeing Neil Young here very soon.
And literally thousands of gigging artists & bands playing in town here - any night of the week. They just have to enjoy it & not count on being the 1% of 1% of musicians & troubadours able to earn a living from it, and radio here needs to - and could - support far more Australian content. And listeners should demand it.

Originally Posted by elchupacabra

Do you think that when global financial crisis will grow up people will have other problems, and they will not have time and money for good music ?
Do you think that you will have less work in next months/years ?

History has tended to show that in tough times more people turn more often to entertainment and creativity. And booze. Enjoying and making music has been in humankind's making from way, way back. I think it will always find its way.

[kjg]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

The media are the ones that tell us when we have a recession or are doing well. I guess if they didn't tell us we would never know.

Same goes for wars, btw. Ever though of that?
Free press is a good thing. It is pretty much the only thing that stands between freedom and a dictatorship. Don't get cynical about it. If you do, buy a better news paper, switch to a different channel etc.

"The media" does not exist. It is not one entity that is out to get you, to enslave you to corporations, or (insert other conspiracy theory here).
If you really believe they are all corrupted and evil, then it is time to start your own paper, blog, channel etc and tell your truth.

Think independently and choose (or even create) your news sources.

regards,
Klaas-Jan Govaart

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by kjg

Same goes for wars, btw. Ever though of that?
Free press is a good thing. It is pretty much the only thing that stands between freedom and a dictatorship. Don't get cynical about it. If you do, buy a better news paper, switch to a different channel etc.

"The media" does not exist. It is not one entity that is out to get you, to enslave you to corporations, or (insert other conspiracy theory here).
If you really believe they are all corrupted and evil, then it is time to start your own paper, blog, channel etc and tell your truth.

Think independently and choose (or even create) your news sources.

regards,
Klaas-Jan Govaart

Bad news sells papers. Good news maybe makes people feel good for a while but doesn't sell newspapers.

I have a degree in Broadcasting with a minor in Journalism and worked as a weekend radio news director and as a feature writer for a once a week newspaper so I know what sells papers and what does not. I usually read the New York Times and the BBC website. The media today are a lot different from when I worked in news in the late 60's and early 70's and today everything is sesationalism and tabloid type news reporting. The uglier the more profane is what is on the front page and TV has reduces everything we do to a 30 sec sound bite. The average Joe Blow does not care to read about the Uganda problem or the Piracy off the coast of Africa UNLESS it impacted him in some way. He is more interested in who is screwing who in Hollywood than the millions of children who are starving in the world today. IMHO the media today reports what they think will sell papers or commercials and gives a rat's a$$ about real news reporting. YMMV

[kjg]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

Bad news sells papers. Good news maybe makes people feel good for a while but doesn't sell newspapers.

Bad news sells tabloids. Good, clean information sells quality newspapers.
At least, where I live it does. Always has.

The average Joe Blow does not care to read about the Uganda problem or the Piracy off the coast of Africa UNLESS it impacted him in some way. He is more interested in who is screwing who in Hollywood than the millions of children who are starving in the world today.

And you think this was different 20 or even 50 years ago?

IMHO the media today reports what they think will sell papers or commercials and gives a rat's a$$ about real news reporting. YMMV

The media don't exist. Different media for different groups. Or do you feel "the media" is one entity in US? If you do, maybe it is time to get out of there. Is Fox the same company as the NY times now? Publishing censored info and propaganda straight from the government?

Some groups will stop buying/reading if the "news" gets to difficult with info on foreign countries, and not enough entertainment.
Some groups will stop buying/reading if there is not enough good, opinion free, cleanish information anymore (whether it is "good" or "bad" news - it should not even be labelled as such), and as soon as a medium starts reporting on "celebrities".
That is the whole point. The media are free to cater to different groups. Intelligent people take their info from multiple sources (that includes history, literature, science etc), think for them selves and create their own individual complete picture/truth that way. Nothing new under the sun. Except that you have access to more sources these days. Which is a good thing IMO.

I don't believe the media or politics are worse now than 50 years ago, but maybe I'm naive ? Could be. But then again, I don't see how being cynical without acting makes anything any better. Vote with your dollar/euro, and with your actual vote of course.

regards,
kjg

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by kjg

Bad news sells tabloids. Good, clean information sells quality newspapers.
At least, where I live it does. Always has.

And you think this was different 20 or even 50 years ago?

The media don't exist. Different media for different groups. Or do you feel "the media" is one entity in US? If you do, maybe it is time to get out of there. Is Fox the same company as the NY times now? Publishing censored info and propaganda straight from the government?

Some groups will stop buying/reading if the "news" gets to difficult with info on foreign countries, and not enough entertainment.
Some groups will stop buying/reading if there is not enough good, opinion free, cleanish information anymore (whether it is "good" or "bad" news - it should not even be labelled as such), and as soon as a medium starts reporting on "celebrities".
That is the whole point. The media are free to cater to different groups. Intelligent people take their info from multiple sources (that includes history, literature, science etc), think for them selves and create their own individual complete picture/truth that way. Nothing new under the sun. Except that you have access to more sources these days. Which is a good thing IMO.

I don't believe the media or politics are worse now then 50 years ago, but maybe I'm naive ? Could be. But then again, I don't see how being cynical without acting makes anything any better. Vote with your dollar/euro, and with your actual vote of course.

regards,
kjg

kjg,

I spent a couple of weeks in your wonderful county in 1990. I was coming back from the Concertgebouw to my Hotel on the Herengratz which is a distance of about 2 km or so. It was at 2 am in the morning and I would never do such a thing in America but I felt perfectly safe and met some amazing people who offered me smokes, beer, grass and wine as I walked along the streets. It was something I will never forget. The people of the Netherlands are some of the most wonderful, welcoming, level headed people I have ever met. You are indeed fortunate to live there. I also enjoyed watching TV where I saw Alice's Restaurant in German with Dutch Subtitles and reading the English version of the Dutch Newspapers. I thought the news was very unbiased and very to the point. I assume it is still that way. Anyway I envy you living in such a wonderful country with GREAT people all around you.

[Edward_Vinatea]

I've been there in 2002 {Amsterdam} and was constantly followed by people of Afrikan appearance. Turns out they wanted to show some weed. Then when I visited the Red District I saw a lot of characters of shady appearance, of course, going there by myself was asking for trouble, but I thought nobody would want to mess with a 6'2" New Yorker. I was wrong! Regardless, Loved spending Christmas in Holland, especially Eindhoven and Madurodam! Great Country.

[kjg]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

I spent a couple of weeks in your wonderful county in 1990. I was coming back from the Concertgebouw to my Hotel on the Herengratz which is a distance of about 2 km or so. It was at 2 am in the morning and I would never do such a thing in America but I felt perfectly safe and met some amazing people who offered me smokes, beer, grass and wine as I walked along the streets. It was something I will never forget. The people of the Netherlands are some of the most wonderful, welcoming, level headed people I have ever met. You are indeed fortunate to live there. I also enjoyed watching TV where I saw Alice's Restaurant in German with Dutch Subtitles and reading the English version of the Dutch Newspapers. I though the news was very unbiased and very to the point. I assume it is still that way. Anyway I envy you living in such a wonderful country with GREAT people all around you.

Hi Thomas,

I'm very glad you have had such good experiences with Holland and the Dutch during your stay in Amsterdam. Of course, like New York is not the USA, Amsterdam is not really Holland, but the picture you paint still seems representative. You could have experiences like that anywhere in the country, I guess. Walking the streets at night, meeting friendly Dutch. You could also meet stupid, rude, ignorant, insanely drunk morons, but that goes without saying.
The past 8 years you could have even met people giving you personally a hard time for electing (whether you voted for him or not...) a president that hasn't been very popular here. My girlfriend is from US and she has experienced a lot of (extra) rudeness by Dutch people just for having an American accent, if you ask me. There has been a strong anti-American sentiment here. Well, there has been in lots of countries. But to take it out on individual Americans is just silly IMO.

People offering you weed and wine while walking the canals... Only in Amsterdam probably...

But over the past 8-10 years the vibe has changed somewhat, the general mood is more xenophobic and negative. What used to be "tolerance" seems to have changed to "whatever, but not in my back yard."
Also, the Dutch seem to be focused on what is not going well at the moment instead of counting their blessings and looking forward. Some problems with the immigrant population, economic decline. Nothing dramatic really.
What is probably part of it is that the world has turned into a scary place for such a small country. We experienced the first murder on a politician in centuries (not really a political murder though - the guy was upset about animal rights, but still), and of course the terrorism and general islamofobia... Holland kind of lost it innocence. Some people are still in a state of shock now they've realized we're actually not an island.

Generally I think there are no structural problems, and democracy seems to be functioning fine. I expect the mood to cheer up once the geopolitical and economic situation stabilizes.

But Thomas, do you really think the media are such a problem in the US at the moment? Is it so hard to get somewhat unbiased information? And is it really all entertainment, sports and celebs? I find that hard to believe.
Independent media are very important for a democracy to stay healthy, don't you think? So are the media currently a problem in the US in that sense?
There is a small intelligentsia keeping the quality news papers afloat, and independent, right? And isn't the election of Obama a sign of democracy not being practically dead, but effectively somewhat working? Seems that partisanship is the main problem, isn't it?

Maybe this is all a bit too much OT... Sorry for that.

regards,
Klaas-Jan

[kjg]

Originally Posted by Edward_Vinatea

I've been there in 2002 {Amsterdam} and was constantly followed by people of Afrikan appearance. Turns out they wanted to show some weed. Then when I visited the Red District I saw a lot of characters of shady appearance, of course, going there by myself was asking for trouble, but I thought nobody would want to mess with a 6'2" New Yorker. I was wrong! Regardless, Loved spending Christmas in Holland, especially Eindhoven and Madurodam! Great Country.

Yes Edward, in some areas of Amsterdam you will just be recognized as non-local and shady types will try to sell you weed/coke/x etc.
Also, 6'2" is not really that tall here. More like average height

Glad you enjoyed your stay nonetheless. It is interesting that you mention Eindhoven. Not really a pretty place, but typical I guess. Not many tourists there, and a real working class town. Should be mostly warm and friendly.

regards,
Klaas-Jan

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by kjg

Hi Thomas,

But Thomas, do you really think the media are such a problem in the US at the moment? Is it so hard to get somewhat unbiased information? And is it really all entertainment, sports and celebs? I find that hard to believe.
Independent media are very important for a democracy to stay healthy, don't you think? So are the media currently a problem in the US in that sense?
There is a small intelligentsia keeping the quality news papers afloat, and independent, right? And isn't the election of Obama a sign of democracy not being practically dead, but effectively somewhat working? Seems that partisanship is the main problem, isn't it?

Maybe this is all a bit too much OT... Sorry for that.

regards,
Klaas-Jan

There are some very good very well run fact based newspapers, however I saw on the net recently that one out of every three newspapers now in the US will be out of business within 10 years so the future does not look good overall and the Christian Science Monitor just went to all internet with no printed media and that is a BIG CHANGE.

One the radio and TV side PBS and NPR are good sources of news and seem somewhat unbiased. When NPR was getting heavy government funding they were less free to say what they wanted to say.

I read a lot of world press, I read a lot of underground news sources and try to stay an informed citizen of the world but I think it is getting harder and harder to find out the truth. Many papers in the US are so sensationalized that their front page looks more like a tabloid than a "newspaper". USA Today is the newspapers version of the 30 second news bite. You are very correct in that an informed citizenry is the best but people are so jaded that they watch "reality TV" instead of going out and doing things with friends.

Sorry to hear that Holland is changing. I really wanted to go back there and meet some of the friends that I knew from before. I was up in Groningen with some friends who were going to the university and I always enjoyed going out into the square at days end and tipping a few.

How is the music scene in Holland? Are you getting enough work to do this full time? I hope so.

Take care.