What the Music Industry and the Credit Crisis Have in Common

Posted on 10. Aug, 2009 by refe.

10

I stumbled on an interesting animation that attempts to explain the United States’ ongoing credit crisis in easily understood terms. It’s a great video, which you can see in its entirety here. At a certain point in the video the narrator begins to explain the problem of sub-prime mortgages. Basically, the banks and investors were [...]

Continue Reading

Deconstructing the Week in Music 7.20 – 8.2

Posted on 02. Aug, 2009 by refe.

0

Here’s a recap of what went on in the music industry this week. Make sure to check out anything you might have missed and leave your comments. Know something we don’t? Submit a story.

Continue Reading

This Business of Music

Posted on 31. Jul, 2009 by refe.

0

Art and business are not incompatible, but they do make an odd couple. One constantly pulls at the other as both try to achieve their own distinct goals and serve their own purpose. Just like in any relationship, there are times when common ground allows for beautiful things to happen. Other times their differences threaten [...]

Continue Reading

How a Subscription Model Can Enhance Your Release Strategy

Posted on 27. Jul, 2009 by refe.

4

It seems redundant by now to say it, but the new music market that artists face today is a lot different than at any time in the past. The way people enjoy music is different, and the way music is purchased is different. I wrote recently about ways artists can respond to these new market [...]

Continue Reading

Radiohead Manager, MAMA and Nettwerk Team Up to Create New Alternative to Record Labels

Posted on 08. Jul, 2009 by refe.

4

Radiohead manager Brian Message has reportedly teamed up with MAMA Group and Vancouver-based Nettwerk Music Group to launch a new kind of record label, called Polyphonic. Polyphonic will allow artists to retain their copyright, and will give new artists a fifty-percent share of profits. Established artists may earn an even higher percentage, with hints of [...]

Continue Reading

Listener Value vs. Commercial Value

Posted on 29. Jun, 2009 by refe.

3

What makes music valuable? And who is it valuable to? I recently had a discussion with a musician who is convinced that new business models – specifically those involving free or open licenses, such as Creative Commons – “devalue music.” The spirit behind his position is simple: the less control he has over the tracks [...]

Continue Reading

How Creative Commons Can Enhance Your Business Model

Posted on 22. Jun, 2009 by refe.

3

Recorded music – aside from being a powerful art form – can be an incredible promotional tool. Now that recorded music as a product is declining in value, its role has transitioned even more toward the promotion of other revenue such as live performances, merchandise, licensing, etc. Unfortunately, traditional copyright law has not quite caught [...]

Continue Reading

3 Ways to Make Music Worth Paying For

Posted on 08. Jun, 2009 by refe.

5

The future of the music industry as we know it will depend on how it responds now that the product on which they’ve built their empire is no longer profitable. While the major players are intrenched in red tape and beauracracy, independent artists and record labels have an incredible opportunity to adapt and thrive under the [...]

Continue Reading

Album Sales Continue to Drop – Down 18% In May

Posted on 05. Jun, 2009 by refe.

6

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone at this point, but album sales were down 17.8% in May over the same month in 2008, and 37.7% lower than May 2007. Not a great start to the weekend. This is bad news for the recording and music retail industries because there are still precious few within them who have truly begun exploring business models that rely less heavily on the sale of CDs and digital downloads.