WHAT IS A MUSICIAN TO DO?
From my Home State no Less: The Raspberries!
Edgar Bronfman Jr.(Photo: Courtesy of Warner Music Group)
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Years ago author Harvey Mackay wrote a best-selling book called "Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt". In that spirit, one has to wonder how musical artists are surviving in today's commodity-driven economy. Now comes Edgar Bronfman, a venture capitalist (by the way that does not make him a bad guy) who has served as both Chief Operating Officer and CEO of the billion dollar Seagram's whiskey business, among other ventures. He has hired on Jim Griffin, a former Geffen Music recording industry executive to spearhead yet another business move to make CD's obsolete. Namely, by bundling a monthly fee into consumers' Internet-service bills for unlimited access to music. He touts this plan as an initiative to keep the wounded record labels afloat. His goal is to create a business model to return money to music artists and copyright holders alike. Even if Edgar is on the level (I've yet to meet him) I counter that he may as well purchase caskets and burial vaults for the music industry and in particular, musicians. Here's what I back my statement up with.
The recording industry has shrunk from a $15 billion business in 1998 to a $10 billion business in 2008 as CD sales plummet. Many of you may not recall the short-lived band that is a favorite of Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and others (myself included) called "The Raspberries". In just 3 years of their existence they had huge hits such as "Go All the Way", and the rock anthem "Overnight Sensation (big hit record)" before lead singer and guitarist Eric Carmen went solo in 1974 and and had two singles: "All By Myself" and "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again". He later penned and performed "Hungry Eyes" for the movie Dirty Dancing. When The Raspberries reunited in October, 2005 for a concert at The House of Blues on L.A.'s Sunset Boulevard, Eric Carmen was asked if the band would tour and record. He answered cautiously, "We have to be realistic". Eric pointed out that when the band hit it big in the 1970's, vinyl LP's were all the rage. He went on to question how viable it is for The Raspberries (or any music artist) to tour and record when the public can download their music for free? Granted, CD sales account for a small percentage of an artists' take. I'm always surprised at how my own favorite artists tour so vigorously. The sad truth is that after the show, those tents and tables you see with people hawking T-shirts, caps, koozies, coffee mugs and online memberships at $29.95 annually and higher is how musicians are making their money as they struggle to adapt to a "commodity-driven" economy. Witness a friend of mine who was with Sony/BMG Entertainment as a Pubic Relations professional. She was laid off and hired back as a "consultant". First, she's a smart girl who saved her money. Secondly, the bad news is that she is no longer among a staff of Public Relations colleagues. Those staff members are gone! She now provides her own health insurance and is in charge of getting 40 artists (including Norah Jones and Rod Stewart) airplay on FM stations. So, she talks to FM station Production Manager's (my old PM was on the "turnaround team" I headed up, so I know their job descriptions well). Listen to what Griffin recently had to say about U.S. record labels trying to stay in business.
"Today, it has become purely voluntary to pay for music. If I tell you to go listen to this band, you could pay, or you might not. It's pretty much up to you. So the music business has become a big tip jar" he said.
Griffin calls the industry's plight "Tarzan economics" and I quite agree. The industry needs a new business model. I don't think any musician disagrees with this as an obvious point. But what is the answer? Sony BMG Music Entertainment is trying to develop an online music subscription service that would give users unlimited access to its catalog. Apple is negotiating with major record labels to offer consumers free access to the entire iTunes library in exchange for paying a premium for Apple hardware. My view is one of skepticism that $5 a month can equate into a projected $20 billion annual take in exchange for the right to download, and burn CD copies free of restrictions? I don't see the feasibility in this kind of thinking. This isn't a business model; it sounds more like a weak prayer! In 1994, Aerosmith's "Head First" became the first song available on The Internet. My question is: With everyone I know who is a professional musician recording and marketing themselves exhaustively on Indie (Independent) labels, how will they become empowered to make a living? Think about it.
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The recording industry has shrunk from a $15 billion business in 1998 to a $10 billion business in 2008 as CD sales plummet. Many of you may not recall the short-lived band that is a favorite of Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and others (myself included) called "The Raspberries". In just 3 years of their existence they had huge hits such as "Go All the Way", and the rock anthem "Overnight Sensation (big hit record)" before lead singer and guitarist Eric Carmen went solo in 1974 and and had two singles: "All By Myself" and "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again". He later penned and performed "Hungry Eyes" for the movie Dirty Dancing. When The Raspberries reunited in October, 2005 for a concert at The House of Blues on L.A.'s Sunset Boulevard, Eric Carmen was asked if the band would tour and record. He answered cautiously, "We have to be realistic". Eric pointed out that when the band hit it big in the 1970's, vinyl LP's were all the rage. He went on to question how viable it is for The Raspberries (or any music artist) to tour and record when the public can download their music for free? Granted, CD sales account for a small percentage of an artists' take. I'm always surprised at how my own favorite artists tour so vigorously. The sad truth is that after the show, those tents and tables you see with people hawking T-shirts, caps, koozies, coffee mugs and online memberships at $29.95 annually and higher is how musicians are making their money as they struggle to adapt to a "commodity-driven" economy. Witness a friend of mine who was with Sony/BMG Entertainment as a Pubic Relations professional. She was laid off and hired back as a "consultant". First, she's a smart girl who saved her money. Secondly, the bad news is that she is no longer among a staff of Public Relations colleagues. Those staff members are gone! She now provides her own health insurance and is in charge of getting 40 artists (including Norah Jones and Rod Stewart) airplay on FM stations. So, she talks to FM station Production Manager's (my old PM was on the "turnaround team" I headed up, so I know their job descriptions well). Listen to what Griffin recently had to say about U.S. record labels trying to stay in business.
__
"Today, it has become purely voluntary to pay for music. If I tell you to go listen to this band, you could pay, or you might not. It's pretty much up to you. So the music business has become a big tip jar" he said.
__
Eric Carmen was referring to the rise of what is called "peer to peer file-sharing networks". For years, digital-music listeners have argued for the right to make copyright law obsolete and free music distribution universal. In 2007 alone, the Recording Association of America, sent 5,400 threatening letters to students at more than 150 university's, and reached settlements with more than 2,300 of them. RAA also filed formal lawsuits against the 2,465 others, who blew off their letters and did not respond.__
Griffin calls the industry's plight "Tarzan economics" and I quite agree. The industry needs a new business model. I don't think any musician disagrees with this as an obvious point. But what is the answer? Sony BMG Music Entertainment is trying to develop an online music subscription service that would give users unlimited access to its catalog. Apple is negotiating with major record labels to offer consumers free access to the entire iTunes library in exchange for paying a premium for Apple hardware. My view is one of skepticism that $5 a month can equate into a projected $20 billion annual take in exchange for the right to download, and burn CD copies free of restrictions? I don't see the feasibility in this kind of thinking. This isn't a business model; it sounds more like a weak prayer! In 1994, Aerosmith's "Head First" became the first song available on The Internet. My question is: With everyone I know who is a professional musician recording and marketing themselves exhaustively on Indie (Independent) labels, how will they become empowered to make a living? Think about it.
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Note: After last weeks film festival here on the BLOG page, I'm taking a break (just this week) from our "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" feature. FMSN will return next Thursday night!
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This is a Radio Interview with what has been called "Arguably, the most influential Power- Pop group ever to emerge from West of The Atlantic"--Entertainment Weekly. Pull it up and enjoy!
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http://www.raspberriesonline.com/mini_audio1.html
HAVE A NICE DAY!
http://www.raspberriesonline.com/mini_audio1.html
HAVE A NICE DAY!
posted by Michael Manning @ 12:01 AM
11 comments
links to this post
11 Comments:
An interesting post :)
Michael,
Nice blog and I have to agree with some of your points. By the way, the link for the audio file was not correct so here is the link that should work. If not, just scroll down the home page for the interview.
http://www.raspberriesonline.com/mini_audio1.html
JB
I have never really understood how the artists do make their money. I miss the old days of vinyl!
Casdok: You have an interesting blogsite yourself. I like it! Have a nice day! :)
jb: Hey, Many Thanks! That way I can fix it!!!!
Morning Patti:, Ah, but let me remind you of the "snaps", "pops" and skipping lol! :D
I like to pay for my music, because I believe it's the right thing to do. The frustration I have is at least half the music I want to buy isn't available on iTunes. Maybe I'm idealistic, but it shouldn't be a problem to have an extensive library of music available on-line for those who wish to buy it. The music selection is too narrow, and good luck finding alternative cuts or vintage songs.
Good music shouldn't have an expiration date.
I'm gonna have to give a lot of stuff away to sell enough CDs just to break even on my present project. That's the wy it works right now.. But the incentive to make anything that gooid again is quickly dwindling because of all that you point out. So I suspect we will see a new mediocrity in music followed by an artist or artists who rise above that so far that there will be a revival. Just the natural cycle of things.
Bud: I blame the greed of the corporate fat cats at the major labels. I realize that the game has always been about "feast or famine", but when an established band like Grand Funk continues to write new material and perform better than ever and yet can't get air time if they produced a CD is sad. I agree with them. Why bother? Apple and Sony/BMI are living in an illusion! There's no way to "put the Jeannie back into the bottle".
And who suffers? The artists like YOU who have paid their dues. It is frustrating and nuts! I admire you for your determination to forge ahead, Bud!
I will come back and read this more carefully... Beware the naked man who offers you his shirt is a great book title. I'm here to say beware the featherless Raven who offers you an award... Check out the post called Honored... at my nest.
Raven: I will! Of course, I am Honored whenever you stop by!
I completely understand and agree with everything you stated in your response to Bud!
I believe I may have a Raspberries "LP" :)
Carolyn: My Sister-In-Law was a big fan. You'd love the Live set from the House of Blues on Sunset Strip!
BTW: I saw a dog hanging it's head out of the back of an SUV who reminded me of Daisy! :)
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