That is genius.

Is it that we're indifferent to new songs, or that there's so much more out there that we're exposed to because of widened availability? With everyone turning to the interwubs to check out new bands, bands need to get creative to get their sound out there. If they're confident in their stuff, then why not try out a marketing scheme like this? Their story made the front page of SG, regardless of the "new low" slant the article took, and that's a lot more than most bands get.

I miss the days of going to CD and record stores, now there are so few left. I too miss the days of saving up cash to buy an album, actually looking forward to the album art. etc~

They must think this will work, and maybe it will. who knows. If anything, it gets them noticed more. It doesn't matter if you are getting good or bad attention. Attention in general is good stuff.

Enh. Pay to play has been around for ages.


In other non-formulaic music industry news: Crooked Fingers finally released Reservoir Songs II, in vinyl and download only. Vinyl comes with a screenprinted sleeve by chicago poster legend Jay Ryan. There's tiered payments, plus a really odd ad for it here:


Crooked Fingers Reservoir Songs II super-limited vinyl and download — Kickstarter

if that's the song they'll need to pay me a bit more....

I would pay a lot of money to NOT have to hear certain acts (Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry come to mind).

You can do that for free, you know.

oh absolutely, i could turn the channel/dial/page/site when they're on. but that doesn't stop them from saturating the market, which in my opinion, discourages a more balanced coverage of artists and genres.

what i meant to say, is that i would gladly pay them to stop making music altogether.

Yeah, this is really nothing new.

Jay Ryan is awesome. Love me some Dianogah, and his posters are awesome as well.

Why do we need new bands? Everyone knows rock attained perfection in 1974. It's a scientific fact.

I do not know enough younger (i.e. under 25) people to say this definitively, but the ones I do know have no problem stealing music - not the slightest qualm. In no way do they connect their actions with the possibility that there's music they might never get to hear because of this. Of course, if this trend continues they have nothing to worry about.
It was upsetting for a while, especially combined with some polling that shows the vast majority of kids cheat in school as well. I pondered this, and concluded that young people are preached to constantly by those who do not practice what they preach. Where would a young person get an example of moral uprightness? Our political leaders? Athletes? Business executives? Entertainers? Priests & ministers & rabbis & mullahs? Are you laughing yet?
So if kids follow the rules, they feel like suckers...and maybe things have gotten so bad that that's true.

so... its a worldwide problem... the musical mafia, im a musician from mexico, y play in a thrash metal band (www.myspace.com/metaldamage) and we, over our dreams, play for the cause... even when we charge, consider all the time and transportation costs just for going to practice, you dont have to listen to us, but consider that next time you're gonna download a son from a p2p program... thats piracy, and not because of the law, but for ethics... c'mon... if you're gonna enjoy a song, be prepared to pay the price, mostly its a lot cheaper than the work that really takes... maybe if were born as a "ray cyrus" i wont worry, most of the work has being did by someone else, and i'll still rich.. hehe... as i said... take some things in consideration, listen more live music, buy cds, stop stealing... lets stop the industry, and keep the art alive.

p.s. i like early 90's better ...

oh... im sorry for my bad-english... my french sucks too (and maybe my spanish)

This.

The music industry is doomed. Because of the fact that kids will steal anything that's not nailed down and feel entitled to it, you can kiss the more indie labels goodbye in a little while. And when the big labels realise The Latest Legal Attempt To Write Laws That Force People To Pay won't work, they'll cease investing in anything that isn't complete lowest common denominator garbage.

"What soundtrack can we license this to" will be the new mantra.

Of course you have on the other side of the coin the fact that a lot of SHITTY bands have now got themselves the same factors of production as what used to be only offered to the best bands. In the old days, to record meant expensive equipment and engineers, and you got access to those IF YOU COULD PLAY. Now you have tone deaf singers and players with relatively little talent FLOODING the market (in the same way that shitty graphic design flooded once Corel Draw! came out, and shitty photography once you had photoshop) expecting payouts, too.