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A Call For Assistance in Changing the Music Industry

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I Am Not Amused:
Now, I know this is going to sound self-serving or whatever. However, I am currently a Music Industry student on my way towards graduation this year. For a class project this semester, I am attempting to create a presentation that sets forth a new business model for the music industry that allows for free downloading AND allows artists, etc. to make money.

Basically, what I'll be doing is nothing more than asking questions about what you, as a music fan, would like to see from the music industry and asking if any of the new music industry model ideas that have been put forth (see: Radiohead, Girl Talk, Nine Inch Nails; see: The Future of Music) are of any value to you as a music fan.

So. I've got a facebook group for any of you that use that called "Change the Music Industry." (Admin is Chris Bosman)

If you don't have facebook but would be willing to contribute anyway, send me either a pm on this board or e-mail me at [email protected].

So, sorry you consider this cramping the music board's style or anything. Just looking to gather information from as many people as I possibly can. Thanks so much!

Be My Head:
As a listener I am far more concerned about the trend in decreasing sound quality on albums. Over compression of files and waveforms in order to make music sound more loud and to fit more songs on people's iPod. Not to say downloading isn't an issue, but I would also like to see a return to high dynamic range recordings in types of Rock music.

look out! Ninjas!:
Recording labels are becoming less and less the middle man really, when you consider the mainstream. The label and it's employees will do 99% of the work for the artist, including writing, production and promotion, and they have people employed purely to predict upcoming trends so they can capitalise on the market and have "the next best thing". This is what needs to change, really, but I doubt it ever will.
Radiohead were only able to take a chance with In Rainbows becasue they already have a massive fan base who would pay for the album anyway. Try doing that with a relatively new band. People wouldn't pay nearly as much, if anything. Same with Trent Reznors "Pirate all my shit" tirade. He's set, he's never going to lose money because of merch and touring and the like.
No, the future is with online record stores, as CD sales continue to slow. Eventually more and more artists will forsake record labels altogether, and do their own recording and promotion, and the labels will be left with their mainstream artists that wouldn't exist if it weren't for the label doing the legwork.

billiumbean:
One, make it as organic as possible.  Innovation and originality were never achieved through playing by the rules and following the books.  Don't try to alter their music or make them appeal to a certain crowd, and don't try to pressure them into making a better album than their last (in your standards, at least).

Two, make it as little about money as possible.  It corrupts everything about their artistic ability to produce music, and we will be able to tell that it was on the band's mind.

Three, be alright with downloading music, please.  Accept that it happens anyway and that no amount of encryption will stop us, the masses.  Don't think of it as selling the music, but the CDs that they are on, and that if we want to distribute information that is physically worthless, it's basically free advertising for the artist's concerts.

Four, make moar vinyl.  God, I love me some vinyl.

I Am Not Amused:
Honestly, that's the way things are going, ptommy.

Anywho, this isn't about saying this one specific idea is the future. It's more, "Hey, here's this idea, this idea, this idea and this idea. You tell me how much this idea appeals to you and from that we all kind of decide as a whole group which idea is best. So, there's a lot of ideas being tossed around. Just a couple of examples:

Music as a utility:
Packaged with your internet fee, more than likely. For, say, 10 or 12 bucks a month flat fee, you download all the music you want.

Pay-What-You-Want with escalating incentives:
The Radiohead idea, expanded. Offer incentives to donate money. Higher quality files at $1, bonus artwork at $3, individual tracks at $5, bonus tracks at $10. It doesn't even have to be directly about music. A band could get as creative as they want with this by offering, I don't know, a flash game they made or they could give away autographed vinyl, or a webcam interview with the band, or concert tickets. You know, whatever.

Music taxes:
Kind of a play off of the taxes they have in Germany that keep Opera there running 24/7/365. Built into the federal tax to fund touring musicians in the United States. This is a long shot but, hey, if enough voices got behind this, why not?

Other ideas are more than welcome to be discussed and added. Like I said, this isn't about saying "DO THIS IDEA" it's more, "Here are a bunch of ideas, music industry, you have to change, here are some statistics that back up saying IDEA B is the one most likely to continue making you money, and it would make your disenfranchised music listeners a bit happier."

So, yeah.

Thanks again!

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