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Paying the Artists Directly for their Music
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| tribu |
One thing I've never realized with the recent proliferation of digital download sites is why music artists dont eliminate the middle man and simply allow people to send them money directly in exchange for music. I realize that in many cases artists own the labels on which their songs are pressed, but this must only be true for a minority of artists. So, why not simply set up a paypal account, post a snail mail address, or find some other way to allow the customer to pay for the music they want without enriching a company or group like a label?
I would gladly paypal an artist money for a burnt song on cd-r. However, I feel reluctant to pay for digital downloads when (as it has been discussed on this site many times) the artist will not see most of or all of that money. So if there some kind of reason that artists dont use this course of action? Is it something simple and correctable like time restraints? Is there some kind of legal interference (not as in a label owning the rights to an artists name, as this can easily be bypassed)? Anyone have any suggestions or know something I dont? |
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| Floorfiller |
| i know exactly what you are saying because i've asked myself the same thing. i think that the only reason artists aren't doing that is because the added marketing value of belonging to a label. i mean, we look to labels to suggest material to us. lets say you make a song and put it on your site for download and 50 cents a download. Well how the hell are you gonna get your name out there being a nobody going into it? you're not. you won't sell very many downloads. Now lets say you are recently signed to Armada. Well now...everyone that likes that armada sound is probably gonna take a listen to what you've got and there you go... |
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| Nell |
| what about already established artists? :) |
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| Floorfiller |
| quote: | Originally posted by Nell
what about already established artists? :) |
well obviously they could get away with it hehehe. and then of course someone like tiesto or armin also own their record labels so they aren't gonna throw that away and just sell their own tracks...
and other established artists are already signed to labels...so they just can't take that alias and start doing it themselves... |
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| flavdave |
| My guess is most artists wouldn't have the time to deal with the administration of their own download sites, and I doubt some of them are knowledgable with things such as the script for the site, security, encoding, etc. If they want their own website to sell mp3/wav, they're going to have to hire someone to create and manage it, so not all of the money will go directly to the artist that way either. |
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| DC- |
| Profits from digital music download sales are split 50/50, which means the site gets 50% and the label gets 50%. The 50% that label gets is then in turn split into 2 additional halfes, which in most cases is 50/50 once again, so who gets the bulk of the money? The site itself. |
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| Billabong |
You have to remember for new artists making their first splashes into the music world, it can be a daunting place, this is obviously a given. Signing to a record label gives them some direction in which to go. Helps them develope their career, and gets their music out to a wider target audience, that are possibly looking for similar themed music, and would be likely to stumble across their work.
It also gives them a great chance for colloborations with other artists that the label might have, helping them develope and maintain, in most cases a consistant quality of music, and better their portfolio.
Just think of it in the vain of a football club that takes in young players and helps develope their talent. |
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| Subtle |
| quote: | Originally posted by DC-
Profits from digital music download sales are split 50/50, which means the site gets 50% and the label gets 50%. The 50% that label gets is then in turn split into 2 additional halfes, which in most cases is 50/50 once again, so who gets the bulk of the money? The site itself. |
why not just make an own site then :rolleyes: |
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| paranoik0 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Subtle
why not just make an own site then :rolleyes: |
because it takes skills to do, it takes time to mantain, and you'd hardly get as much exposure as in an already established site
i've said it before, one day there won't be no labels, just sites ;) but in the near future that won't happen in the electronic dance music scene, people still need physical releases, and that's the only thing that gives credibility to the artist |
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| THE_Chris |
| Or if artists had a voluntary donation thing on their website for people who feel guilty for downloading their tracks off p2p's :D |
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| tribu |
| quote: | Originally posted by THE_Chris
Or if artists had a voluntary donation thing on their website for people who feel guilty for downloading their tracks off p2p's :D |
Interesting idea that I hadnt thought of. It might actually make me increase my mp3 dowenloading though :p
I understand that new artists might have a difficult time establishing themselves with the kind of system I talked about, but what about shows like ASOT, GDJB, and the many other EDM shows that exist out there? Many new artists debut on these shows well before their tunes are pressed or even signed to a label. This kind of increased exposure could help new artists get their name out to the public without having to enrich the label or a site. Just a thought... |
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| davepiazza |
In reguards to EDM these are my thoughts on why labels make sense.
The important principle to grasp is that DJ's are the vital players for EDM whilst other music forms the radio listener is. Why?It is the culutre of EDM and the DJ. EDM historically and even today is distributed via mixes produced by DJs either on the radio, in a club, or at a party. This is extremely important concept to understand.
Thus the DJ is for EDM the middle man. He/She is the means for the music to reach other people. They manipulate taste, introduce new songs, have a follwoing, etc. AS a result the DJ is the prime target of EDM artists ; NOT A RADIO STATION, NOT A MAGIZINE, NOT A WEBSITE. In order to get big in EDM you need to get the appeal of the DJs. This is in stark contrast to pop culture music which does not revole around a dj. The DJ historically in EDM is ever changing. One becomes popilar one day and the next day someelse takes over. Good for listeners and artsits but bad business. Thus the instability and constant change in EDM is as why pop culture with its icons and stars could never understand. One -hit wonders and rotating djs is a expected standard in EDM. Now that you undertand mpiont of view with EDM lets dig into the culture of EDM.
EDM has a culture with promotes the establishment of labels. DJ's start labels, DJ's go to record stores and buy vinyl (i.e. labels), DJ's use turntables,DJ's prefer vinyl, labels are identification for DJ tastes etc. In effect the role vinyl plays with DJ's is part of the reason why "labels" exist. Labels are the distribution center for artists to dj. Remeber that in EDM its artist to DJ not artist to people. DJs are a different culuture and breed of people than say your regualr clubber or thurs. night trance music radio listener. They manage,promote, sell, hype, etc an artist.And the method chosen for ditribution from artist to DJ over the last 50 years is vinyl to record store.And this is the method 98% of DJs world wide use. why? becuase they are djs and this is the dogma we follow. Its like religion. Dont ask questions, just have faith.
Thus labels are a medium for the artist and the DJ. Artists know inorder to rack in $$$ theu need to sell to DJ's not MP3 swappers.
NOW HOW CAN LABELS BE ABADONED??
SIMPLE.
DJs ( the center of EDM ) stop using vinyl and its inhert sub-culutre ( i.e. record stores, turntables,etc ) as the primary means of playing the music. If DJ's became 98% digital rather than 98% retro than the label as we now it today would have no use. Meaning DJ's would have to spin alot of MP3, prefer cd decks,prefer MP3 over vinyl, were web savy , used forums as the digital recod store, etc.
Artists would then sell their music via the web through mp3s. Becuase the DJ now demanded it and was a poplular method to reach all DJs. Would the you need the mass financial power of the "LABEL" to finance the making of a record ? NO. Would you need the finacial power of the "LABEL" to ship the record all over ? NO.
BUT That where the traditional role of the label stop. However, the digital role of the label begins.Meaning label companys would than adopt to the MP3 trend and create label forums, label online shops, etc. They would still be a marketing machine. This will always exist no matter what form takes hold. Artists need support groups( labels) to hype and encourge djs to play their tune. But in an all digital age the bedroom artist has a greater shoot of becoming discover quickly. REguardless if they are "promoted". Becuase the tune will be in the format a DJ prefers to play and if a DJ has the tune thats all that an artist hopes for.
In EDM ( as hard as it is to swallow) the DJ not the trance addict listener is king. What they want and what they prefer artists and labels will deliever.
At this piont it seem that vinyl and its traditonal role ( i.e label -->artist----> vinyl--->promote---->record store--->DJ) is still a dominate theme in EDM and as a result your hope of an truely independent EDM artist via MP3 downloads is still quite a ways away. |
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