The music industry is in a horrible place, that is if you are a record label. I saw this week just how far out of touch the current industry is with its audience by the release of the Beatles catalog on Itunes. I understand that the Beatles are very important to music and it is some what of a big deal that their music is now digitally available, but so much of this just hit a sour note for me. First of all, the Beatles not including their music on Itunes was not a moral stance, rather it just took so long for the controlling parties to come to agreements on royalty share. Secondly, their song prices are $1.29 which is way above the industry average. This seems like an attempt to squeeze every last bit of profitability by targeting older Beatles fans who will for sure be buying the albums for years to come. This just came off looking desperate to me.
This is why the music industry is in the best shape it has ever been in. There is a connected global audience tuned in 24/7 sharing music, videos, ideas etc.. and talent is everywhere. The playing Field is level to anyone willing to work and put time in and I think now more than ever being genuine counts. The tools and resources the independent musician has at their disposal are unreal and people that can harness all of that are beginning to make livings for themselves.
We are at a time prior to some sort of musical revolution and we have to make the most of this time. Something big is going to happen soon, because the current industry can't survive and sustain at this rate. Itunes has made it so easy for musicians to track their accounting and this scares an industry that blew up on endless recoup-able fees and crafty accounting.
I think John Lennon said it best, "I don't believe in the Beatles, I just believe in me."
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