With the digital revolution at hand (well its been going for about 5 years now actually), we've already seen two of what was the five major record labels (Sony and Bertlesman) merge to become the massive revenue-raising pop-idol machine that has become Sony-BMG. And now, after all this time and many years of trying, it looks like Warner are finally about to merge (or buy, as the bigger ones do) with EMI. Why are these once powerful forces of the industry relying on each other for survival? Just over a week ago EMI released its P/L statement showing a massive sales collapse in the US. The primary cause of which is online music distribution (free and licensed). Its taking the necessity off CD's and other physical media and hence the money out of the wallets of these labels.
The interesting statistics of 1. how much will EMI cost? and 2. who stays and who goes (rumours are that robbie williams will get the flick - OMFG!) are still yet to be revealed but this will all be in the works as soon as this time next month.
And if any of what I just said makes sense, or you are compelled to learn more about the current state of the companies BEHIND the people behind the music, then I IMPLORE YOU - READ THIS article it could very well open your eyes.
Everyone knows who Will Ferrell is. If you don't, you're quite stupid or you've been living under a rock for quite a while now, regardless I doubt you'd be able to afford a movie ticket and if you did I dont doubt that you would be ejected by the end of the opening credits for your foul smell and generally disorderly conduct as well as dishevelled recluse-esque appearance and dress sense.
But anyway, the man is loved and hated by many. Some people see him as a poor actor who gets laughs out of toilet humour and infantile jokes about penises and basically playing an idiot. What people dont understand about the man is that he is a very character-based actor. From his early SNL material to the Producers (which I havent even seen) and of course to Anchorman he shows that he can really play a part. Its just unfortunate he's chosen some bad parts to play. Not, however, the role of Harold Crick.
I went and saw Stranger Than Fiction the other night and hence ended up seeing one of Ferrells best performances to date. The amount of parrallels this film provides are sure to make it standard viewing material for English classes to come for many years. Treading the fine line between comedy and tragedy he plays a man who has lived his whole life by an absolute routine every day, until, of course that whole routine gets shaken up and his life is never the same. Im not going to tell you much about the film apart from the fact it gets a positive recommendation from me and the fact that I think its ironic that Ferrells most reserved character to date is easily one of his best.
Oh, and one more thing
Now thats rock n roll..
Until next time
7 comments:
interesting shit man
why thankyou.
i sometimes wonder if this is even the stuff blog-readers care about but its relevant info nonetheless.
your degree in music business is a real asset man.
always good to hear a behind the scenes-behind the scene look at the music industrys scenes behind the scenes, an aspect chris briefly touches upon and a subject i completely overlook.
poor typology aside, quite thought provoking indeed.
yeah especially in the current climate issues with the way labels are (poorly) dealing with the current business climate these topics are extremely interesting and pertinent. i'm enjoying seeing the downfall of these behemoths despite my love for capitalism.
that brian setzer video is fantastic...what a cool dude he is
i dont think capitalism is a concept that should benefit record labels. capitalism should benefit great musicians (as im sure u do also). ofcourse there are exceptions with labels like DFA, Kitsune & Modular really showing you can make a buck with not just quality bands but using new forms of media like blogging and what not as a friend not foe.
I can think of countless labels including Modular, Dew Process, Kitsune, DFA, Regal Label Uk and many more who I personally have dealt with at some point (in blogger capacity only) and there take on blogging has seen them stay at the top of the game.
leave capitalism to the endeavours outside music, business is business.
music is a business, you are naive if you think otherwise. there is money to be made in music and I dont begrudge labels from making money, as it is because of their risk taking and entrepreneurship that they have formed a business and have managed to make handsome profits through economies of scale, astute a&r and the ability to service a mass target market. In doing so as well they have benefited the artists they have on their roster financially. Their artists might not always be great, but people want safe music and that sells. However that was the past.
I do think however these major labels in recent times have lacked vision and have been caught out by new, savvy players delivering better content in new media forms. Indie music is no longer the domain of the music nerd because these avenues, mostly through the internet, have made it more accessible, hence the decline of the major label monsters with their CD singles and predictable artists. Buyers are becoming far more discerning and the majors have been slow to react.
music is an art, its a trade, its entertainment and its a business. these things aren't mutually exclusive.
yay for making money out of music, nay for incompetent and inert management.
oh yes i almost forgot...major labels have also failed because they got greedy...why buy a 25 dollar cd when you can download it for half the price or even free?
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