strangegrey wrote:These days, bands are given ONE album to come out of the gate swinging...if they aren't an overnight success, they are discarded and tossed by the side of the road. The problem with this mentality, is that these bands (since they no longer have a few albums to develop) they either have to do it before they release an album (which, I feel is very hard to do) or trust a label picked 'cant miss' producer, that comes in with not only a handful of songs, but songwriters, side musicians, etc. All one has to do, to see this first hand, is to watch how Bo Bice was manhandled by his label, during the recording of his debut album. He was given one song on the album, (which is, sadly, the best song on the record), the pile of songs he brought in were imediately discarded by the producer (who was one of the principle songwriters on the album
), his band was shoved aside for a label picked group, etc, etc.
Given the above thoughts, it's hard to imagine that there isn't at least a large pile of bands that are now gone, that were given their one album...and then shitcanned....that, if given the opportunity to release another album or two...would have really broken out and shipped high numbers. So you have to look at record companies these days, pissing away opportunity cost...The way they do business suggests that theres alot of potential sales that don't get realized because the business is not long-sighted, but short-sighted.
Unfortunately, record companies will NEVER admit this. Instead, they look to rediculous excuses as the reason why album sales are down, ie file sharing, etc. But the fact of the matter is that in the early 90s, when record companies purged their A&R staffs to bring in college kids that they thought were more in touch with grunge and other slacker crap that they were pushing then....they got rid of people that really KNEW the business and KNEW how to develop artists.
It's not a fluke that there hasn't been one single long lasting, several-album rock artist (that got his/their start post mid-90s) that has maintained serious, broad, long-reaching success.
Perfectly put Frank.
And this is what I said about the sitatuion in Jan 2006:
What is seriously alarming right now is the lack of any real guidance from the major labels. A&R guys were once famous for discovering and nurturing talent and helping them develop through the early stages of their career. The 3 album deal is long gone.
The powers that be now demand instant gratification and if an artist can't deliver a hit album and single first go, then it's out the door with you...
Such policies are killing artists and giving this generation no hope of ever having the pleasure of growing up with an artist. Remember buying a debut album during the 80's and anticipating what might come of the second album, then the third and forth and even fifth release! And remember marveling to yourself how the artist had developed and matured with each release and then debating the merits of these?
Remember listening with amazement as the artist changed styles and blew you away all over again? Will our kids ever have that to look forward to? Will they care? I know our kids will, but will the general public's kids?
Sometimes it's just easier to take what is on offer, but fine music lovers like us love the hunt and the current business climate is making that hunt less and less possible.
This whole transition period comes at a time where no real trend exists - grunge, nu-breed, modern rock, pop, - nothing besides rap has any sort of foothold and rap is a format that really doesn't cross too may boundaries.
One problem now is labels are in a position where they almost can't afford to foster new talent. They continue to throw the public any number of generic acts with no effort and just hope that one or two of them stick. In the meantime, no label wants to put money into an act that will sell only 25-50,000 units!
Damn, they should be so lucky....indie labels would kill for such figures and would operate contently under those conditions if given half the chance.
Sony shut Portrait Records down a couple of years back because their acts were only cruising at around 75,000 - 100,000 units - what arrogance!
A good deal of our beloved music is appearing thanks to the European melodic rock / hard rock labels, but they can't afford to get artist penetration beyond their own shores. Wider sales are happening thanks to the Internet and individual local distributors. But without major backing, this is all very hard work and a step by step process.
At least these records are still getting made...no one is making any real money off them, but thankfully the art is still there for some. Where will this all end?
We are at a point in time where we must wonder if there will ever be an era of super-groups again. Will there ever be another Led Zeppelin? Will there ever be anything like Van Halen, The Stones, The Police, The Eagles, Bon Jovi, Rush, or artists like Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Prince?
What about those closer to home - will there ever be another artist allowed to develop like Rick Springfield? How about Harem Scarem? Night Ranger, Toto, Survivor, John Waite, Journey or even Foreigner?
These guys are all getting older each year and when some bands take 3 years to put out a new record (sometimes more) - how many new albums do you think we have left to look forward to?
We need to develop new talent and we need to look to some youthful talent.
Once a label would only sign an artist if they saw potential for growth. They would sign only if they saw the number of original songs the artist had written and together they would map out a long term plan for the second and third albums. Now you get one chance and if there is not a satisfactory result, then no option is taken and the artist is shown the door.
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:19 am
