I don't know if it's even wise to start in replying to this, but I have
been around the block a few times on this ...
A record label is an entity that represents specialization of function.
The label finds artists, arranges production and distribution, and handles
promotion.
It's easy to recognize that someone who makes music doesn't necessarily know
anything about how to mass produce their CDs or records. Music making is
a different sort of activity than the industrial production of standardized
products. It's also true that if a musician has a bunch of money, say $1500
they can find someone on the internet to do that work for them. A record
label that produces many products can take advantage of economies of scale
to lower the cost of production. Anyone who's ever actually had a CD or
Record of their music pressed can tell you that even if you sell all the
copies, you're not making anything near a living wage.
And promotion is another activity of which musicians may not have a serious
grasp. They may be downright horrible at it. They may have trouble convincing
their friends and neighbors to listen to their music, much less a sufficient
quorum of strangers. People who are good at promotion, and enjoy it, may have
no musical talent!
The ideal situation is for people to specialize in the things for which they
have a talent, and work together towards a goal. The most successful and
long lived labels are those run by businessmen, not musicians. Businessmen
who may have an ear for music, but more important, a talent for organization,
promotion, and persuasion.
If you can do that all on your own, more power to you. But I have a hard
time coming up with one person who really has done it all themselves.
On Fri, 17 Jan 2003, Brett Dietsch wrote:
quoted 12 lines On Friday, January 17, 2003, at 02:18 PM, svin wrote:>
> On Friday, January 17, 2003, at 02:18 PM, svin wrote:
>
> > i dont really know why i need labels if all you
> > need to produce and sell -
> > is
> > a)computer
> > b)web
>
> and all you need to fix a car is a screwdriver and a hammer.
>
>
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