Continuing from the last post, I decide to compare music to another fluid often spoken about in conjunction with water: wine.
Hugh Macleod, of GapingVoid, says a lot of smart things in his post wine as commodity (as he often does in others too). The most interesting (and useful, for my purposes) point was about what he thinks of Stormhoek, the wine company he works for: they’re not in the wine business; they’re in the decommodification business.
Now, take a look at the music industry: anyone and their great-aunt can record a half-decent track, production-wise. A certain brand of computers comes with its own recording software included with the OS, other recording apps exist for free. Music recordings have become commodities.
The sooner labels realize that their recorded music is just as special as others’ recorded music (answer: not very), the sooner they can start taking Macleod’s advice: “be interested in the actual people [listening to] it.”
The first label to win will be the first that gets its own anti-Christ.
June 17, 2008 at 11:22 am
Hello Aidan,
I definitely agree with your point about how labels need to realize that aren’t as important as they once were. Artists aren’t as reliant on labels anymore and the labels are slowly realizing this. Great points, I enjoy reading your blog!
Bryan
June 19, 2008 at 10:32 am
Awesome post. I’d love to start a wiki on how to decommodify the music (or any) business, especially from the artist’s seat.
I’ll let you know when it’s open…
Also, I’d like to take this opportunity to completely agree with everything Bryan H just said.