I just read an article entitled Recording Industry Decries AM-FM Broadcastiing as a Form of Piracy (read here). Interesting. I get so tired of the recording industry’s bullshit. They think that each radio station should pay royalties for playing songs from their artists. That is as bad as Jamie Kellner’s claim that not watching commercials is stealing television. (Which is ridiculous…they get paid for the spots whether or not anyone watches them. But I digress..) Time was the radio was seen as a way to get an artist’s music out there and known to the general public. When I was in high school I volunteered for a local radio station. They would get tons of free CD’s from music producers hoping they would promote their artist. When the station gave away free music to the 10th caller, most likely that is where it all came from.
I have a hard time believing that radio play has anything to do with the recording industry’s drop in profits. It used to be that artists were completely dependent on the big recording studios to get their music recorded and out there. Now thanks to the internet and user-friendly digital home recording programs that is no longer the case. There are so many indie artists out there that have hit it big just using the power of things like GarageBand, My Space, CD Baby, and Eventful. And the key to their success? Allowing people to hear thier music for free before they buy it. Take the case of Jonathan Coulton (internet superstar who can be found at http://www.jonathancoulton.com/). He has offered all his music for free, and people like it so much they still buy it. And pay money for his concerts, t-shirts, etc. Entirely through self promotion and hard work this guy has made himself famous.
My advise to the recording industry? Quit sitting on your asses and blaming the other guy for your problems. Start seeing what is working for others and CHANGE. Get with the times and figure out a way to make it work. Thousands of others have.
Tags: indie music, music, piracy, recording industry
