Recording Industry Rant and Ramble

Why does the music industry have to force feed me bad music? The quality of what is on the radio, eMpTy V, and most mainstream sources if aweful. The recording industry forces everyone to listen to the same thing.

Everywhere you turn, its all the same recycled bullshit. Corporate pop took over the late part of the nineties. The formula was simple: a bunch of teenage boys or a teenage blonde girl. Then there were the instances of the sound alike band. Pearl Jam brought us Creed. Incubus brought Hoobastank. As soon as one experiment works, every record company digs up 8 versions of that success. Its made music turn flavorless.

Then, these record companies don't know why their sales are slumping? They blame it on the internet, not the half assed, shoddy product they put out. Instead of fighting computers and the internet, they need to utilize them.

The second a block is put up, a way around it is found. The copy protected CDs don't work. Hold down shift on the keyboard when you insert the CD, and you can copy it. That was millions well spent RCA/BMG. Defeated with the shift key. (Holding down shift disables autoplay, so the blocking program never runs.)

Since the radio stations have turned corporate, I quit listening. I find music by word of mouth, or my own knowledge. This is where we need more independant radio. These big recording companies need to set up their own internet radio stations. They could learn a lot about who listens to what, what people like, and what people would buy.

Apply a ratings system and analyze the results. Keep a demographic on an individuals tastes, so that someone who is only out looking for the next Avril Lavigne doesn't hurt the next Korn's chances, and vice versa. Have your artists catalogue of music available for listening. A couple whole songs, and 1 minute clips. The thirty second ones don't paint a good picture.

Allow one of the songs off the album as a free download, that can be burned and shared. Pick a good song too. I've bought many cd's because of a good song, and a brief sampling. Examples of this (for me) are Mushroomhead, Ben Harper, John Frusciante, Sevendust, and Todd Snider to name a few.

Instead of listener friendly, seeking new music web pages, most artists provide information that only a current fan would be interested in. Disturbed's page is an example of this. I have trouble figuring out when their next CD is coming out from their page. All they show is the band's views on the recording process. I don't care how the recording went, I wanna know when its going to be in stores, and what it sounds like.

An example of a good website would be A Perfect Circles. The navigation is a bit odd at first, but the site provides real info. I could easily find the next release date of CDs. The writing is concise and to the point. They have links to hear new songs, and watch videos. The week before the eMotive cd came out, they had a different song available off the new disc to listen to every day. Its a site designed for the fans, not just for the band to talk nonstop on.

Use the medium of the internet, and all it can offer music listeners. Music fans everywhere turn to the internet to find new music. Make it your best marketing tool. Make it an ally. Don't fight the digital revolution, you'll lose.