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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | AdamGhost@aol.com |
| Subject | Re: eMusic |
| Date | Fri, 11 May 2007 23:32:34 EDT |
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Hey Ron...
I don't know that I'm advocating activism so much. I mean, everyone does
whatever they're comfortable with. It's more pointing out that there's a cause
and effect to how we relate to our art. Part of the new equation is that
people derive their living much more directly from their audiences than they
used to. I got motivated to response because I felt -- perhaps unfairly --
that a few people were saying in effect, "the hell with the bands. I just want
the music." Because I've seen this attitude manifested repeatedly up close,
and heard these frustrations voiced privately by musicians and indie label
owners, I felt inclined to jump into the conversation.
Personally, I think if you're on emusic, and you like it, go for it. The
bands and labels that are on there made a business decision that works for
them, so good on them. I jumped in because I felt that people were critiquing
Jaimie's decision not to participate in emusic because it just wasn't
convenient for them that his stuff wasn't on there. Jaimie laid out the business
basis -- which people don't want to think about -- for his reasons, and I thought
they were sound.
I should make clear that even though I'm drawing on personal experience
here, my own calculus is that I'm going to be putting out a compilation album
later this year that's going to have 20 tracks and list for $5.99. I have had
music people argue with me passionately that that's undervaluing my own music,
but I don't see it that way. I think consumers are looking for value and a
low price is a gateway to getting a lot of people through the door and
getting people to check out a band that they might not want to spring $14 for. So
as for me personally, I've already accepted the argument that the price of
music has to come down, and it's part of a wider set of new rules that have
come into play; some are good, some are bad. But I've been a full-time musician
and run an indie label, and I am very sympathetic to the frustration with
people that claim to love the music but don't feel any need or responsibility
to support it.
Adam Marsland
www.myspace.com/adammarsland
<<It seems like you advocating
activism among fans in ways other than merely spending. Somewhat of
different point from Jamie, but I see the overall "big picture." In this
context, do you think less costly services such as eMusic are detrimental to
the artists and labels? If so, are you suggesting that this detrimental
effect can be offset by the types support you suggest?
I think one of the harder things to understand about the calculus of this
debate is the notion that despite the labels and artists agreeing to make
their products available on eMusic, we as fans should not purchase from said
service.>>
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