Getting that record contract, the goal of many a musician. Why do artists seek this? For a while it was the only way to really get out there. Well a while has come and gone, and somehow the goal of getting signed still remains for some.
What is a record label anyways, and how could an artist benefit?
A record label is a brand created by companies that specialize in manufacturing, distributing and promoting audio and video recordings, on various formats including compact discs, LPs, DVD-Audio, SACDs, and cassettes. The name derives from the paper label at the center of a gramophone record (what is also known as a "phonograph record" in American English). From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_label
Let's look at the keys here: Manufacturing, Distributing, and Promoting.
By manufacturing, they're talking about getting music to tape (studio time) and getting it to a format for the consumer. Just to hit that point - CDs are over. Some may think it's cute to carry these around - pop them in your car, your Discman (smug chuckle), or your old school stereo system - but these belong in museums.
Back to manufacturing, labels provide assistance and financing which was a great idea back when the recording studio was a laboratory of complicated and expensive machines requiring a white lab coat for operation. Today anyone can create and record music in their apartment, spending something between nothing and a couple thousand dollars depending on what they want to do. If they can't afford that, there's thousands of people who have a set up in their own place more than willing to record music for free or a small fee.
Distribution? This one's pretty obvious. There's thousands of sites for the artist to upload there songs, where they can choose to sell them or give them out for free, like Music Slice. They can upload for free, or they can even create their own site and buy hosting to do it on their own terms. Where can't they get as easily? Brick and mortar CD retailers. So what's that mean? The last of the CD hauling public won't have their preferred access to your music. Anyways, you'd only be encouraging them.
Promotion is all about getting your music to as many people who enjoy it as possible, and it's a big one. Many labels have mistaken this for getting music to as many people as possible, regardless if they enjoy it or not. What's happened? They throw music at the major sources of promotion, and hope it sticks, wasting millions of dollars in the process. You wonder why channels like MTV play songs that all sound the same, it's because one channel can only cater to one taste in music and maintain steady viewers. Sure they can have different time slots for different styles of music, but music needs to be on demand.
What if your music was recommended to those prone to dig it, based on their prior listening habits, and a slew of other circumstances affecting music they may like? Not just an off hand "you should listen to this tune, check it out if you can remember", but actually having it mixed in with their daily listening, presented to them while they're online or on the go with instant access to not only listen to and download the song, but see who else is listening to it, what they have to say, see associated art work, lyrics, and all kinds of interesting information. That's something you don't need a label for, and far more valuable and effective. Could a label do this, and are they starting to? Of course! They're trying, bless their hearts, but do you need a record label to help you put your pants on, and then ask for 90% of the money you earn that day? After all, they did help you get dressed for work.
At Music Slice, our goal is to empower artists, making it even easier to get their music to their fans and their fans to their music, even fans they never knew they could have. The transitional state the music industry has been going through the past decade or so is rapidly coming to a close. Music Slice will be right here, marking the end of the old and solidifying the new. The future will bring many more changes to the dynamic; we'll adapt to and even instigate these changes to simplify and expand the musical lifestyle held by artists and fans everywhere. Good times.
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2 comments:
ok but what about labels that specialize in a certain genre, or are known for their collection of artists? if i'm someone who wants to form a stable of good music, is there a way for me to do that with music slice?
"if i'm someone who wants to form a stable of good music, is there a way for me to do that with music slice?"
-says matt verzola...
Of course! There's plenty of ways you can do that with whatever software you're using now, it's called a playlist.
The benefit from music slice is the sharing of playlists. This allows you to make your playlist visible to your friends, and the general public if you choose.
You can even assign people with similar taste in music as an influencer, meaning their taste in music will have an impact on your recommendations, and you can better keep up with good tunes they find and love.
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