Aussie indie music ‘thriving sector’
p2pnet.net News:- The ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) says in 2004, wholesale recorded music sales in Oz decreased by almost 4% in volume to 63.1 million units, and decreased by 6% in value by 6% to $607 million.
The Big Music enforcement organization attributed this poor performance to competing entertainment products, “the increasingly competitive retail environment”, and the increasing take up of broadband resulting in more internet based piracy, says Australian IP expert and music industry commentator Alex Malik in a new report
But, he says, “In their analysis of their 2004 sales performance, ARIA failed to attribute the ‘reversals in the industry’s fortunes’ to a significant reduction in the number of titles released by their member record companies in 2004.”
The members of the Big Four record label cartel, Sony BMG, EMI, UMG and Warner, released 1,574 fewer albums, singles and DVDs in 2004 compared to 2003. And, says Malik, the majors released 2,906 albums, singles and DVDs in 2004, compared to 4,480 albums, singles and DVDs in 2003 representing a reduction in the number of titles released by the majors of over 35% in a 12 month period.
“The biggest decrease in release numbers by the majors was in singles,” Malik continues.
“Singles releases by the majors decreased by 42% from 769 singles in 2003 to 446 singles in 2004.
“Album releases by the majors decreased by over 39% from 3198 albums in 2003 to 1938 albums in 2004.
“There was a small increase in DVD titles released by the majors – from 513 in 2003 to 522 in 2004, but this increase was not enough to compensate for the reduced number of album and singles releases by the majors.
His study is based on information supplied in the ARIA Report produced and distributed every week by the ARIA Chart Department.
“This study suggests that in 2004 Australian music consumers had less choice than ever before in available titles, and this is a likely partial explanation for disgruntled former music consumers turning to competing entertainment products, including games and DVDs, as well as authorised and unauthorised downloads,” states Malik.
Malik also suggests large recording companies operating in Australia are investing less money in developing new artists, and are releasing and marketing fewer new titles including titles by Australian artists.
With the recent Sony BMG merger, and reports of many established recording artists being “dropped” by the majors, this deliberate and targeted contraction by major labels is likely to continue in 2005, Malik predicts.
But, he adds, “2004 was not all gloom for the Australian recording industry. The study demonstrates the existence of a thriving and expanding Australian independent music sector.
“In 2004 independent record companies released 1219 albums, which was almost double the number of independent albums released in 2003.
“Independent record companies also released more singles and DVDs in 2004, and while this growth did not make up for the diminished number of new releases by the ‘Majors’, it still gives hope that a thriving independent sector will continue to support and nurture Australian recording artists.”
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March 18th, 2005 at 7:03 pm
“With the recent Sony BMG merger, and reports of many established recording artists being “dropped” by the majors, this deliberate and targeted contraction by major labels is likely to continue in 2005, Malik predicts”
Guess all theose annoying artists were getting in the way of the real bussiness of suing their cusomers.
March 18th, 2005 at 7:04 pm
I really can spell… realy I can.
“With the recent Sony BMG merger, and reports of many established recording artists being “dropped” by the majors, this deliberate and targeted contraction by major labels is likely to continue in 2005, Malik predicts”
Guess all those annoying artists were getting in the way of the real bussiness of suing their customers.
March 18th, 2005 at 7:34 pm
Maybe the indies WILL save the music industry after all!
March 19th, 2005 at 9:17 pm
We’re already doing it very strong here in the US. I have been able to develop quite a following in my indie music by writing a daily political blog and integrating the news topics (and my sick, sarcastic take on them) with song lyrics. Radio stations won’t touch it, MTV and public video channels won’t touch it with the our paranoid President & his Christian Right censoprship BS… so Indie nd digital distribution is the only way to go.
Check out http://www.news.noparachute.net and use this blog as you would your own to integrate into top US political and news story discussions. Plus damn good music… Check it out and join in. Want to hear from you before I come back to Australia this spring.