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thedeadhaji
39489 Posts
Reference: previous blog: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=133949
I've been in touch with some people over the past few days which has made me realize that we really are in a transition period with regards to how mediums of "value" are made and distributed/purchased.
Until now, someone created, a different entity advertised it, another different entity distributed, and finally the consumer could buy it.
With the advent of the internet and a bevy of free advertising and communication mediums, the producer can, in essence, bypass all the middlemen and go directly to the consumer - ESPECIALLY when the product is digital.
Yes, digital products are victim to rampant piracy. But I personally feel that that's an INCENTIVE for artists to go even more digital and make their stuff more visible and more readily consumable by the public. People are going to pirate anyways, so you might as well give the small %age of people who are willing to purchase your product the chance to actually do so.
If the RIAA and other related institutions head in a particular direction, I can be pretty sure that the CORRECT direction is the direct opposite.
Consumption and purchasing is going to be driven by the "connection" fans feel to the artist, rather than just the "thing" itself.
Apologies for the rambling, but this is really darn exciting, to be living in a time when "the normal" is being taken apart.
This dynamic of "direct sales" has existed in Japan for quite some time in the form of doujin activity, but it's only in very recent years that the channel has been able to go global.
I must say I'm grateful to know the people I have met over the past year.
 
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I think about this a lot myself. I don't see the point of artists signing contracts anymore when they can basically just rent equipment and produce themselves. It's something I'm considering in my future.
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This is true and awesome, especially so for the musicians and computer game producers. The possibilities to reach the customer without having to get buttfucked by middlemen not only reduces prices for the reciever, but also ensures a far higher earning rate for the producer rather than the distributor.
The music industry specifically can not keep up its abuse of the artists like it's been doing the last 60 years thanks to the internet. Hopefully, more artists will realise their possibilities outside the music industry, and eventually lead to the death of the obsolete middle-man system.
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Agreed. Very interesting to see how this develops. Internet really upsets the way things work. It is possible to make living purely on donations from appreciating customers. The only thing necessary is quality: I guess that will be a shock for the industry.
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It is possible to make living purely on donations from appreciating customers.
That isn't very stable though. Donations may be okay for a person who wants to supplement their income with a hobby, but to be a full-time artist I think will mean either advertising (that is, letting other people advertise on your site for revenue) or resorting to distributors anyway (though with a much better position to bargain from, if you've already got a big name).
I think that's really the biggest change. People can make their own name, but factories that produce physical copies are certainly not extinct.
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If the music "industry" really did follow this direction (on a larger scale than it is already) it would be great. Seeing those truly talented artists able to reach an even larger audience and make revenue directly from the customers without the RIAA/record companies in the way is definitely more ideal.
Unfortunately, like Chef said, those who opted to become full-time artists may find it hard to get stable income while just relying on these direct sales. But if all the "middlemen" are gone, then maybe these artist->consumer connections will become stronger and produce more revenue.
I suppose I'm encouraging the shift as a big fan of doujin/indie artists and buying albums of those I really like, and sharing their music with others :3
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While I think it's great that the all powerful and mighty internet is able to topple the pillars of our economy and build mountains in their place, I don't think we'll see the end of the classic music industry model anytime soon.
The reason is simply the difficulty involved with advertising. Sure, stuff like the Touhou series can strike gold but what about the tons of other indie artists out there on the web? And the more we shift into digital distribution and as more artists sell directly through the internet, the harder it'll be to shift through the quality and the crap, as well as find the rare gems we might treasure that others won't. A move to digital distribution means a much smaller chance for consumers on the mass market to find the hidden star artists while going to the middleman of the industry means plenty of exposure guaranteed to get the word out on your talent... well, get the word out, anyway.
ie. Would "Hannah Montana" songs be as popular among preteen girls as they are now if they were sold through digital distribution from the artist herself rather than through Disney? I highly, highly doubt it.
Of course, this is all speculation and I could turn out to be horribly horribly wrong. Long live the internets.
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On July 12 2010 05:13 thedeadhaji wrote:Yes, digital products are victim to rampant piracy. But I personally feel that that's an INCENTIVE for artists to go even more digital and make their stuff more visible and more readily consumable by the public. People are going to pirate anyways, so you might as well give the small %age of people who are willing to purchase your product the chance to actually do so.
What do you mean exactly? If a record is only available for purchase online, I don't feel like I'm buying a complete product at all.
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On July 12 2010 05:52 Realpenguin wrote:
If the music "industry" really did follow this direction (on a larger scale than it is already) it would be great. Seeing those truly talented artists able to reach an even larger audience and make revenue directly from the customers without the RIAA/record companies in the way is definitely more ideal.
Unfortunately, like Chef said, those who opted to become full-time artists may find it hard to get stable income while just relying on these direct sales. But if all the "middlemen" are gone, then maybe these artist->consumer connections will become stronger and produce more revenue.
I suppose I'm encouraging the shift as a big fan of doujin/indie artists and buying albums of those I really like, and sharing their music with others :3
Mmm... I think the only reason artists get manhandled is because in the beginning no one knows them so the people with money capable of producing them say "Hey, I'm taking a chance on you, and about 50 other people just like you. Only 5 of you are gonna make me any money so why should I give you a great deal?" Which should change to the artist saying "Hey, I already have a big name. I'll go to someone who likes money if you don't want to produce me."
Record companies will seem less like big monsters and more like people who just have to beg big names on the internet to sign a deal with them instead of whoever else is after them.
I think that even though an artist can technically sell digital copies of his works to as many people as he wants and he can run that all by himself, that isn't a totally viable plan. I don't like paying for things I only have a digital version of. I like something physical that I can put in my library. I know a lot of people living with their parents can't relate to this, but when you move out this is how you make it look like you live in a place. Your guests can look at your library, you can admire it... It's just totally different from having a bunch of crap hidden on your harddrive, however more environmentally friendly that may be. So in essence, artists will still need people to take care of that side for them, they just won't get shafted as much. I think the days when studios 'take chances' on artists will disappear and they'll just produce people who are already popular, even if they can't rape them as much.
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thedeadhaji
39489 Posts
On July 12 2010 08:16 JohannesH wrote:Show nested quote +On July 12 2010 05:13 thedeadhaji wrote:Yes, digital products are victim to rampant piracy. But I personally feel that that's an INCENTIVE for artists to go even more digital and make their stuff more visible and more readily consumable by the public. People are going to pirate anyways, so you might as well give the small %age of people who are willing to purchase your product the chance to actually do so. What do you mean exactly? If a record is only available for purchase online, I don't feel like I'm buying a complete product at all.
True X_X
But, even the design / production of physical disks and packaging can be done at the grassroots level without the aid of behemoth companies (which was really really shocking to me, and something I wouldn't have understood had I not talked to composers/designers in person and seen their phsical output).
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