BigChampagne's Ultimate Chart (a/o February 10th):
1. “What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger),” Kelly Clarkson
2. “Set Fire to the Rain,” Adele
3. “Turn Me On,” David Guetta
4. “Rack City,” TYGA
5. “Good Feeling,” Flo Rida
6. “Smooth Criminal (Glee Cast Version),” Glee Cast
7. “Young, Wild & Free,” Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa
8. “Domino ,” Jessie J
9. “Sexy and I Know It,” LMFAO
10. “Ass Back Home ,” Gym Class Heroes
It's been theorized that the music industry could never make another Prince. Or Jay-Z, Kid Rock, Metallica, AC/DC or the Beatles, for that matter. The media landscape is simply too decentralized, music fans too distracted, recording valuations too depressed to produce such mega-superstars again. History will judge that theory, but in the here-and-now, stars-of-old have to make some serious choices about their legacies.
Who knew that Prince was so out-of-touch. But outside the superfan contingent, hardly anyone knows that a new Prince album even exists. And perhaps that's the point. Sure, iTunes is not sending Prince a hefty advance for 20Ten, they take a handsome piece of the sale, and they offer only modest amounts of consumer data. But they'll definitely make it easy for fans to find the album, and they just might promote the release as well. It will exist.
So why restrict? Certainly, it's more profitable to sell a traditional CD or site-served album download. A covermount deal has an advance. But just like the old days, music remains an impulse buy, and that impulse often strikes in Apple's home court. The content has to be everywhere, even if the terms are unfulfilling - or nonexistent - over there.
Newer artists play the iTunes game, simply because they have no other choice! The hounds of obscurity will consume anyone that demands premium profit over presence. But wait: superstars-of-old face the same reality, at least if they want to continue to build their musical legacies.
And, there's no better time to start a band or release new material than right now, simply because there's no other time available! Want to wait until 2015? It rarely works that way, so artists had better maximize their prospects now while the creative energy is highest.
Then again, not everyone is fighting the tide. Radiohead and Trent Reznor are still innovating, so why can't Prince move beyond the covermount?
Too bad, because Prince - and any artist with an older core - has it relatively easy. Sure, younger fans will steal the album, cherry pick a few tracks if they pay, balk at expensive tickets, and plop Prince into a collection of 20,000 MP3s. But older fans will purchase an overpriced disc, and those whose mortgages are still intact might even attend a show or buy a DVD.
In fact, that's the saving grace for many older acts. Susan Boyle only has a modest presence online, but her disc sales are fantastic. Who says the album bundle is dead? Turns out that the artists enjoying that rare combination of mainstream awareness and older interest are the real winners right now. At least until this industry figures out how to create another generation of Princes.
Paul Resnikoff, Publisher.
Comments Closed
DontJump Thursday, July 08, 2010
Sad but true! Susan Boyle is one of the only artists that can totally sell in tonnage! 50-somethings are just more likely to buy a CD at Best Buy.
alden Thursday, July 08, 2010
So many artists forget why they're so big, or are too clueless to recognize the reality that a totally different industry created them. You know, there was a good point here - because I hadn't even heard of the album before all of this. It would have been released in the middle of the night, while everyone snoozed on it.
zog Thursday, July 08, 2010
Prince is very smart and clever he has never stopped using controvery to get his message across and sell music. By making these comments he has been able to gather the attention of the world media to annouce that he has new music to sell.
Prince understands that nothing is new, so to say the internet is dead will have the same reaction that LP'S are dead and that the internet is the NEW.
Your correct he knows his audience will buy CD's and LP's right off the bat because there millions upon millions of people with CD players in thee car's,go for your audience first.
Thanks for being part of Prince and his message machine I'm sure he loves you for it.
bydesign Thursday, July 08, 2010
sorry ZOG, not buying the publicity stunt argument! He just looks totally out of touch, sure maybe I've heard of that album now but that's it. And it's not even available where i want it.
tonio Thursday, July 08, 2010
You're absolutely right. People are underestimating Prince and saying that he's "out of touch". Quite the opposite actually. Prince is very smart and like you said, by making these comments, he's earned FREE worldwide promotion of his new album. Also, by limiting his album to a physical format, he's creating a huge demand for his music. Prince has millions of fans, so many of them will buy the CD if they have to. Obviously this isn't the case for up-and-coming bands who depend on impulse sales. Prince is not out of touch, he's harnessing his power and some people don't understand it or like it.
bydesign Thursday, July 08, 2010
@tonio @zog
I hear the argument you guys are making, but not so sure. why get up and say 2+2=5 for a publicity stunt? Why not do something that doesn't make you look like a total idiot?
also @tonio
yes, restricting iTunes may boost album sales, but at what longer term cost? are you cutting more fans out from discovering?
Visitor Thursday, July 08, 2010
@bydesign
You make good points but I still think Prince knows what he's doing and isn't "out of touch".
"I hear the argument you guys are making, but not so sure. why get up and say 2+2=5 for a publicity stunt? Why not do something that doesn't make you look like a total idiot?"
1. Prince doesn't care what people think about him.
2. Not everyone thinks he's an idiot because of this.
3. I'm not saying it's a stunt for sure (I have no idea). However, by protesting iTunes and other digital services, he's maintaing some control and also creating a buzz. It's a win-win in his particular situation. To me, this makes him crafty, not an idiot.
"yes, restricting iTunes may boost album sales, but at what longer term cost? are you cutting more fans out from discovering?"
That's my point: Prince is in a different situation than most musicians. He isn't worried about "longer term cost" - he's set for life. He also has millions of fans that will still buy his music on CD. In addition, new fans can still discover him through word-of-mouth and traditional media (just like they did before the internet)
iDream Studios Thursday, July 08, 2010
Great article.
I wish I had written it and appreciate your industry knowledge and perspective.
You might have read my "The Happy Decline of the Music Industry" lately? In it I discuss how the new world of music will look and point to a couple of visionaries who are making it happen: among them DJ Parker of iDream Studios. DJ has been there and done that and came up with a great business model that has investors interested and artists lining up for new value and new lives.
Here's my article: http://idreamstudiosinc.com/articles.htm It actually landed on the WSJ online page so I appreciate your comments.
Here's more information on iDream:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/iDreamReacher
Web Site: http://www.idreamstudiosinc.com
Press Box: http://pressroom.prlog.org/iDream_Music_Studios/
LinkedIn Music Exchange: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3111224
Be sure to opt-in to be notified of each launch as it happens!
Yours in hope and Dreams!
~Angela
spirit equality Thursday, July 08, 2010
the music paradigm has completely shifted. that's why it's time for a new golden era! to view the perspective of an indie label vet/entertainment attorney and get a peek at some of the future in music, check out http://newgoldenera.com
Will Thursday, July 08, 2010
He'll sell a ton in France. It's on a few front pages here including Le Parisien that he wants to come and live here. Oh.. the French'll love that. Cheese eating surrender....
Suzanne Lainson Thursday, July 08, 2010
Add me to the group who thinks Prince is smart. He's just said "God is dead" to a generation of people can't conceive of life without the Internet.
He doesn't need to make his music available online (it will get there anyway through pirating and after he has gotten his upfront money).
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