texafana wrote:So....you peeps would be ok if you created something to sell that is either viewed or heard, and I placed it on a website where peeps could hear or view it for free without even giving you a cent? If you're ok with that, then carry on.
I take your point, but I also think the issue is about 'old media' thinking and 'new media' thinking. Record companies have been trying to shut down people making copies of bought music since audio tape became affordable, and still haven't managed it. What they've never bothered considering is how people actually behave with music: finding it, sharing it and buying it. If I walk into a music store, I'm not going to buy an album from a band I've never heard of, let alone listened to, based on it being on the shelf, or on special, or because of it's cover, although I might do that with a book, because books have this convenient thing called a blurb on the back, which gives me an idea of what I'm buying.
I've bought a few albums based on the reviews they got, but those are in the minority. The bulk of my rather large music collection was bought because I heard at least one track by someone and liked what I heard, then decided to invest my money in a copy of an album (not necessarily one with the track I've heard). Some of those songs were heard on the radio, but most of it was because friends made me a copy of something they had discovered and thought I would like. Some of them I liked but not enough to spend money on, but those are also the tapes/copied CDs I don't listen to. The ones I do like, I've gone out and spent money on, and wouldn't have otherwise. I've also bought other albums that I haven't heard before, because I've got a copied album from the same band/artist that I like.
The change has come now because of downloads and digital files, and it's changing how people relate to and buy music. I'll still buy a physical album rather than download it, because I value the complete package of art work, liner notes, etc, but I recognise that's partly because of my age and my past history with music (I miss full sized LP album art!!) Younger people's experience of music tends to be digital, download and track based, so that's not an appeal, and that's where the music companies are suffering the most. What they're missing with YouTube is exactly what they were missing in the 70s and 80s when they were up in arms about recordable audio tape, and then later with burnable CDs - it's a great way to share music. When I want to share with a friend music that I like, the easiest thing for me to do these days is send them a YouTube link. Just look at how many threads are here on MR that are base on exactly that thing. And I've easily bought 50 CDs in the last year that I would never have bought if I hadn't clicked on a link, listened to a clip on YouTube, thought 'that's pretty good' and then bought the album when I've found it later in a shop.
But that mentality doesn't fit into how recording companies think, because it isn't based on new releases, it isn't based on controlled radio airplay, it isn't based on latest trends or advertising, or any of those things that they currently use to try to sell music. It's based on people talking to other people and following what they like, not what they are told to like, or told is trendy/popular/etc. The problem is, digitisation and downloads has ensured that this is the future of music, not the 'traditional' ways the record companies are clinging onto. Herbie said in one interview that his experience of record companies was that they didn't have a clue about how to market music. It was true in the 70s and 80s when he was getting Journey heard by getting their music played in stores and shopping malls, and it's true now with file sharing, internet social networking and YouTube.
If the issue with YouTube was people making playlists, as has been suggested, then surely the answer would be to ask YouTube to get rid of playlists, instead of the same old short sighted, money grubbing thinking that has been shown.
This rambling, slightly incoherant message brought to you by the Long Winded Thought Company Why treat life as a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in an attractive & well-preserved body? Get there by skidding in sideways, a glass of wine in one hand, chocolate in the other, body totally worn out, screaming WOOHOO! What a ride!
