October 2016

Are Major Record Labels Dinosaurs?
The major music industry labels are at least three years behind the curve... and is Apple's possible 'new' music label about to sleigh the dragons?
Article By Steven R. Rochlin

WARNING: The below article might piss off a few people, and major players, within the music biz. It is called the music BUSINESS, folks, and so let the big boys wear the grown-up pants as the childish whiners can safely go back into their sandbox and bury their head.

Here's some music, hit playa read on.

Make no mistake, the major music labels and recording artists might be crying about the lack of revenue from their content, yet is the real problem their lack of adapting to the modern (and future) music landscape? If you're a longtime music artist and don't like the 'rules of the game' that were made up decades ago, then what are you doing to change the game? The same goes for record labels, as they seem to be extremely slow to modernize and adapt. Dare we even try to imagine them taking risks to be at the forefront of (r)evolution. As a small side note, major labels like 'ready-made artists', just as some people like microwaveable meals, so it seem that nowadays it may be too much to ask for a record label to develop an artist (added costs, higher risk, etc).

Apple is (probably) soon going to be a music label. They already have major artists in the pocket. Apple also has concerts and a massive consumer base. Sure TIDAL might think that exclusives and video support = something special, but it is old hat in 2016. Apple is doing that and so much more, plus they have the connections, large audience, deep pockets, imagineers, and depth of human resources to support their next music initiative. So remind me again what does TIDAL have other than racking up $2,000,000 in debt a month for the past year?

So you want to be a rock and roll star?
Then listen now to what I say.
Droppin' an album and getting a bit of promotion is so 1970s. Adding a video or two is, like, you know, so 1980s. If, as a musical artist, your music contract reflects 19XX thinking then don't cry about the lack of revenue within the 2016 world we live in. Furthermore, you need to be independent and creative, or be extremely careful about what record label you choose to sign with, plus of course the scope and duration of the contract and who exactly owns those master tapes. Have heard that some artists have chosen the business end where their album is just a tool within their overall promotion of videos, touring, merch sales and 'other things'. Am being vague by saying 'other things' because there are those who are busy developing techniques to better engage and collaborate with their audience.

Popular music artist Drake has just celebrated over 1,000,000,000 streams, a first by Apple Music. So yes, his recent album Views is Apple's biggest streaming / money maker to date. Drake also took home over $5,000,000, which is a nice payday by today's standards. Of note is that Apple reportedly paid Drake $19,000,000 in 2015 for a multimedia deal. Remember when I said that droppin' just an album is so 1970s? Apple has someone with great vision on their staff who is years ahead of many within the music business. Audiophiles might be cool with having a Hi-Res Music download by some obscure artist on a website or two, yet that doesn't really mean much in the big scheme of things and does virtually nothing to promote Hi-Res Audio.

Speaking of Hi-Res Audio, yeah, guess I'll have to mention that it's been over three years since my Memo To The Industry. Nothing much really going on in a major way to promote that and, well, Apple already has much of their music catalog in Hi-Res Audio and all they need to do is 'turn on the water spigot' as it were. But why bother talking about ideals that are so three years ago, as I'd rather focus on future developments. Sure we have VR and augmented reality, and it is nice to see companies blossoming with monetizing live streaming music (also an idea that is oh so three years ago).

Right now, today, there are a variety of untapped revenue streams that both musical artists and major record labels are missing out on. Worse still, opportunities of engaging their audience are being 'left on the table', and like food if you wait too long it gets old and moldy. Hmmm, maybe that describes…. Naa, better not say more as that'll really piss off a few people within both the high-end audio and music business industries.

Ask yourself, what are you doing to innovate?

OT: Does your high-end audio product have an app for control? Was asking manufacturers about that four or five years ago at RMAF.

BTW, Drake's just-released 23 minute video "Please Forgive Me" is as an Apple Music exclusive that goes along with his album Views, which has held Billboard's #1 spot for 12 weeks in a row and reportedly sold more than 1,400,000 copies within the USA.

www.HighEndAudio.com Is Now For Sale
Am a bit embarrassed to say that I'm simply too busy to do anything with it as am developing for….  If you want to own this industry's namesake you now have the opportunity to greatly profit from this key URL www.HighEndAudio.com then let me know. I'll be at RMAF, make me a realistic offer.

As always, in the end what really matters is that you...

Enjoy the Music,

Steven R. Rochlin