p2pnet - rss feed: Radiohead and the one-trick pony
p2pnet news | Music:- Last week EMI’s new owner and top executive, Terra Firma’s Guy Hands, told staff in a memo that record labels have to get more creative with digital opportunities and rely less on CD sales if they are to survive.
Labeling Radiohead’s industry model-busting pay-what-you want digital launch for its new album In Rainbows as a “wake-up call” to the music industry, Hands suggested that labels must now act more like venture capitalists.
Rather than paying artists huge upfront advances recoupable against future sales, labels should provide funding for recording and touring in return for a share of profits. (Er, wasn’t that EMI’s strategy with Robbie Williams?)
“Rather than embracing digitalization and the opportunities it brings for promotion of product and distribution through multiple channels, the (music) industry has stuck its head in the sand,” he wrote, echoing criticisms made against major labels for over a decade.
Instead of listing a price for the 10-track In Rainbows, Radiohead - like Canadian singer/songwriter Jane Siberry a few years back - had announced on its website that it was up to fans to pay whatever they wanted for it. Its release, however, may not have set a precedent for challenging the cost of musical product. It may not even be a strong follow-up to the band’s 2003 Parlophone album “Hail to the Thief.”
But its launch has garnered enormous publicity.
So far, Radiohead hasn’t revealed how many people signed up for its album nor what they have been paying under the band’s “honesty box” pricing policy - although sources indicate that customers seem to be choosing to pay $10 for the download edition.
It is not just Radiohead that are intent in moving forward in finding alternative ways to distribute and market music.
Prince made headlines recently for being the first artist to agree a give-a-way deal with the Mail on Sunday newspaper which gave copies of his album,
“Planet Earth” away with the publication. The agreement proved to be very lucrative for both parties, with the paper selling 2.8 million copies - its second-highest sale in 10 years.
However, at the time, HMV’s chief executive, Simon Fox, said the deal was “devaluing music.”
Paul Quirk of the Entertainment Retailers Association in Britain added, “It is an insult to all those record stores who have supported Prince throughout his career. It is yet another example of the damaging … culture which is destroying any perception of value around recorded music.”
Meanwhile, the Charlatans have announced a deal with UK radio station Xfm that will allow fans to download their forthcoming new album via the station’s website for free. As well, such leading artists as Nine Inch Nails, Jamiroquai and Oasis plan to bypass major labels for such direct Internet distribution.
“I’ve waited a long time to be able to make the following announcement: As of right now Nine Inch Nails is a totally free agent, free of any recording contract with any label,” Trent Reznor recently posted on NIN’s website.
“I have been under recording contracts for 18 years and have watched the business radically mutate from one thing to something inherently very different and it gives me great pleasure to be able to finally have a direct relationship with the audience as I see fit and appropriate. Look for some announcements in the near future regarding 2008. Exciting times, indeed.”
However, Interscope holds the rights to release a NIN “greatest hits” collection and a remix album “Y34RZ3R0R3MIX3D” is still on the books for release this year.
What is being overlooked by many over Radiohead’s launch is that this is not a business model that can workable across the music industry nor even one that can work repeatedly for an act.
It’s a one-trick pony.
It is possible, in fact, only if the act controls both its master and its publishing. Publishers and songwriters not directly affiliated aren’t going to go play along if they have songs represented.
Plus it works best primarily with an established act - ironically one that have been exploited by the major label system so scorned - and where there’s a storm of media surrounding the release.
Jane Siberry, oops Issa, please call home.
Larry LeBlanc
[Journalist/broadcaster/historian Larry LeBlanc has been a leading figure in Canadian music for four decades. To be added to this email list write: LJLE @ aol dot com.]
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October 12th, 2007 at 11:40 am
We are not going to let these bastards corporate criminals go away with all the crimes they comited against our soxiety and the pople of this country. Ever the market or the justice will or we will.
October 13th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
” What is being overlooked by many over Radiohead’s launch is that this is not a business model that can workable across the music industry nor even one that can work repeatedly for an act.
It’s a one-trick pony. ”
Really ?
Why ?
It all depends on how you define success for yourself.
If ’success’ means mega millions, a huge house, ‘bling’, etc …
No, this model is not feasible.
Actually, even with the Record Label ‘model’ such success is rare .. very rare.
If success for you means a decent income, people hearing your stuff and knowing
your name, and a good draw for live performances, there i sno reason this can’t
be a ’successful’ model for any GOOD artist.
don’t allow yourselves to be convinced that the Label route is the only route,
and this isn’t feasible.