--- In audities@yahoogroups.com, "Kevin" <oddsmusic@c...> wrote:

> > then please do tell me the magic formula that Aimee
> > Mann, Ben Folds and Pearl Jam could have used early in their
> > careers without being on a major label first
>
> is this where i'm supposed to chime in and say:
>
> a. I heard of Pearl Jam/had demos of them before their first album ever
> came out on Epic, by way of word of mouth and amazing concert reviews?
>
> b. I had Ben Folds Five's first album before they were on a major label,
> from seeing them on tour?
>
> I can't comment on Aimee Mann, because I hadn't heard of her until she
> was touring with 3/4th the Grays.
>
> This is my point...if the music is good and the desire is there, than
> the music WILL find its way and "make it" into the hands of the fans.
> People will seek out music.

I'm afraid I have to disagree with you here, especially when the discussion
is pitched at "the major label level".  The people who the major labels
*really* make their living from, the people I just saw at the restuarant I
ate at last night, at the supermarket I shopped at, at the car wash, movie
theatre, mall, etc...those are the people from whom they make a living.
Those people, with very few exceptions, don't actively seek out music, but
will lap up most of what is thrown at them on mainstream radio, newspapers,
magazines, and television.

The music buying habits of Audities members, including me, Kevin, and the
rest of us, involve *way* more obsession, experimentation, and fanatical
behavior than just about everyone else in the record buying world.  Yes
Kevin, the music would have fallen into your hands, whether or not the
aforementioned artists (and many others) had been signed to a major.
However, people like us represent such a miniscule percentage of the record
buying public that, like it or not, major labels' interest in us rates at
just a shade above zero.
Obviously, our interest in them is being reciprocated at a higher level, so
we're peeved when the majors feed us "monitored" CDs, high prices, and
mostly low grade material.

This, in no way, means we as music fans can't take the power...and I don't
mean just us, but the mainstream record buyer.  Twenty years ago I woudn't
have felt this way, but with the advent of the internet, a bit of ingenuity,
and lots of work, I believe it can be done.

My thoughts on this started last year, when the impending threat of a
baseball strike came about.  There had been a few strikes over the past 10
years and fans were feeling fed up.  Many of them would say "hey, if they
strike this time, that's it, I'm never coming back to the ballpark!"  The
players, as well as the owners of the teams, took this as an idle threat
because fans always say this, and then when the strike is over they always
return.

What could have been done, via the internet, was to have a cross-network of
all the baseball-oriented websites and chats, and have a unified effort
where a particular pre-strike date could have been agreed upon (and there
are thousands and thousands of members of these lists), and an announcement
could have been made to the baseball hierarchy which said "on August 10
*we're* going to go on strike and not come to the ballpark.  This will give
you a taste of what will happen if the players go on strike".  Can you
imagine how much revenue the baseball teams would have lost if thousands of
people didn't come to games for even one day?  Not enough to put them out of
business, but enough to make a strong statement.  The media would have gone
balls-out covering this, would then in turn have created a synergistic
effect which ultimately would have empowered the fans.

No, this wasn't done, and baseball never did go on strike, so you can choose
to see my rant as a moot point, but...

If enough organized efforts are put forth, via the internet, fans can grab
back much of the power from the majors.  What would this accomplish?

1. It would put the majors on notice that we're not happy with the way
things are going, and that we're not going to take it anymore.

2. It would enable us to create a forum by which we could air our specific
issues, complaints, wants, and needs.

3. It would show artists who had felt dependent upon majors as the only
vehicle through which they can make a living that, with an identifyable fan
base out there, these artists might have another option.

4. It might serve as a catalyst for some maverick, free-thinking,
enterprising business people to start indie labels that really would be
artist and fan friendly.

5. Most importantly, it would prove that there can be a unified, organized
body of music fans out there who are ready to take action.

And, no doubt, if we showed our mettle, the media would be all too happy to
get behind this, big time!

Admittedly, the above model is about as broad as can be. *A lot* of work
would need to be done in the fine-tuning of it, as well as in its
implementation.  However, with a concerted effort by some sort of committee,
as well as all the people out there who want more, it could be done.  And
yes, if it's done right, the mainstream record buyer could be reached!   The
computer is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity, and most mainstream record
buyers are online at least some portion of the day...and they *can* be
reached by this unified body, at very little cost (in the past this would
have had to have been done via newspapers and TV, making it cost
prohibitive).  I'm not saying this would be easy, given the large,
fragmented, and largely apathetic mainstream music community, but with the
right plan in place and implemented, it can be done.

If you feel as if I'm being hopelessly naive, please feel free to attack
some or all of everything I've stated here.  However, sometimes a little
well-intentioned naivete is the best way to get a ball rolling.  :-)

Viva la internet!!!

David