actually i think the upshot is that record companies will start supporting bands with complete albums of good music rather than forcing them to make a marketable single.

This would mean something to me if I actually gave a damn about the music scene.

I'm just fine rocking out to my phonograph, thankyouverymuch.

thomps: actually i think the upshot is that record companies will start supporting bands with complete albums of good music rather than forcing them to make a marketable single.

Wishful thinking. They'll blame it on digital piracy and sue your your grandmother for having that rocking Burl Ives ringtone.

thomps: actually i think the upshot is that record companies will start supporting bands with complete albums of good music rather than forcing them to make a marketable single.

There is never an upshot when the record companies are involved.

thomps: actually i think the upshot is that record companies will start supporting bands with complete albums of good music rather than forcing them to make a marketable single.

You funny person.

The 'important people' in the music business move from company to company at such an astonishing rate there is absolutely no reason for anyone to see further than the next quarter.

It's like the Peter Principle on steroids.

thomps: actually i think the upshot is that record companies will start supporting marketing bands with complete albums of good marketable music rather than forcing them to make a marketable single.


better now

Toshiro Mifune's Letter Opener: I'm just fine rocking out to my phonograph, thankyouverymuch.

Phonograph? You're lucky. All I have are these wax cylinders. But you know, I'm happy, though I'm poor. Aye. BECAUSE I'm poor. My old Dad used to say to me, "Money doesn't buy you happiness."

1) "long tail" stank like bullshiat from the beginning. The idea that 100 units sold over 5 years should interest me as a musician/small label owner is ludicrous. Like that $.02 annual royalty check is really gonna do something for me?

2) I hate to break it to album fans, but really for most of the time that recorded music has been around the single is by far the more common release format. This is even true for the period after the LP was introduced. Basic fact of marketing or sales is its easier to get 5000 people to fork out $2 than 1000 people to fork out $10. Rearrange the numbers of people and prices as you like but to match the single/album prices over the years and its still true.

3) Most bands dont have a good album in em, maybe a few EPs during the life of the band. Even fewer bands will last long enough to have a "greatest hits" release. Unfortunately at some point record company execs ignored the logic of point 2 above and decided bands had to release albums. In the digital sales era its easy to stop the customer from cherry picking the songs they like by simply offering an "album only" download sale.