For decades the tight iron grip of the music industry has controlled artists and the American public who has bought the albums at some points for very unreasonable prices. I think I remember at some point in the mid to late 90′s CD’s costing around 16 to 17 dollars at most records stores and cassettes costing around 12. Since 2000 and the invention of the MP3 file, the music industry has fought back with lawsuits and threats of jail time for people who illegally downloaded copyrighted material but have found micro success in their efforts. Can you really feel sorry for a multi combined corporation that controlled prices and exploited their own musicians for all these years and even worse if an artist didn’t reach a certain amount of album sales one release they would be dropped entirely from the label. Talk about cold hearted and cruel Columbia, Capital and Sony BMG but it looks like the shoe’s on the other foot this time and the artists and consumers are the one’s fully taking advantage of your misfortunes. Artists that have the status are producing, mixing and distributing their music on their own through a small contract between distribution labels and touring more then ever to make profit and not just relying on album sales. Consumers are searching the internet for early leaks of the albums so they don’t have to pay for it or so they can just get a first listen until their preorder comes (if they are loyal enough for their bands). Needless to say the evil empire is in a struggle and has taken severe profit losses in the past decade and it’s not looking much better for them but I have a solution for them that their thick marketing skulls won’t be able to grasp.
When an album is mixed and mastered over for completion it is technically ready that day and can be released for production. However they put these albums on hold for sometimes up to 4 months since they’ve been completed in the studio to make room for the marketing, promotions and dry releases to various companies and people who review the album for the general public. This is an unneeded delay in the release of the album and if your on a major label you don’t really need the promotion and exposure because in today’s world you have already made it. The only delay that could possibly be of a factor is the actual pressing of the CD’s and vinyl in the factories to be sold at stores but their is a solution to make sure people purchase the album before the hard copy comes out. “Hello, McFly!” it’s called the MP3!, it’s ruining your company because people are illegally downloading the album months before the album comes out. If the album is mixed and mastered put it into MP3 format immediately and throw that shit on iTunes to be sold. People who really want to hear the album will buy it for 7 or 9 bucks, or whatever it costs if it’s available hours after it’s finished and for people that want the hard copy, make a deal that if they preorder the album right then and there, they get the MP3 until the production of the albums are finished and ready to be shipped. Am I crazy or something? Indie bands have been doing this the past year! Portugal The Man’s album doesn’t come out for another month physically but if you preordered the album you could get the MP3 for download free! The major labels and evil corporations are too thick headed to think of this as a possibility becasue it’s all about media exposure and marketing in today’s world so of course they won’t accept this idea. I just don’t understand how this isn’t a viable option in their mind and I hope they pay dearly for it and the artists go back to the way it was where they did and made everything themselves. Pure examples of bands on major labels that have had their albums leak months before release just in the past few weeks, Deftones and Against Me! Deftones album didn’t even have artwork for it yet and it was leaked 2 months early and the same with Against Me! Take my advice or leave it but I feel this would greatly increase the sales in the short term market and obviously once the major amount of downloads were released it would still leave room again for illegal downloading but this is a much simple solution to the long delay that causes albums to be leaked way before release.
Brent,
I enjoyed reading your thoughts on this. As someone who works in the music industry, I can vouch that album sales are heading towards irrelevance. Touring and merch sales are becoming more of the primary focus when it comes to making money; this being the reason some labels are looking to have a “360″ hold on an artist in an attempt to make up for their lack of profit in the album sales world.
While I understand your concept of getting music out as quickly as possible, I do have to say that the “set up” for an album release is an extremely valuable process. Marketing, press, radio, etc and the timing of these exercises do have an effect on how the public receives an album. In regards to “leaks,” I can’t help thinking that maybe some are caused purposely for a stab at promotion. Albeit it strange, there is proof that fans will purchase an album after receiving it for free. Especially if these leaked mp3′s are of low quality.
I liked that you used Portugal The Man as an example. I see they are using an approach much of the industry is beginning to embrace – “direct to consumer.” If you notice, you’re not leaving their site at all to purchase anything, and you’re supplying your email with your order, and unknowingly, your IP address. Down the line you can be strategically targeted for a promotion they feel you’d jump at. My point in this is that there was a timeline and set up for their release as well. By offering the download exclusively from their site for a month, they’re gaining much more information than someone downloading the album through a third party (ie iTunes) and a direct lifeline to the consumer. I think this approach will have a huge impact on the way things are done in the future.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I enjoyed the insight.
Best,
Kate
Those are some interesting points and I definately agree that touring and merch has become a bulk of the income. I agree the leaks tend to be pretty low quality especially the new Deftones album but surpsingly some are decent which I thought Against Me! Had pretty good quality on their leak but MP3′s in general downgrade the overall sound compared to physical copies. I just don’t understand the 3 month period to release an album for marketing purposes but I’m also impatient to hear the new music. Thanks for writing and putting in your input.