The other day, I happened to read a blog post that was in response to another blog post by an intern at NPR's All Songs Considered. Her name is Emily and she claimed that she only ever bought 15 CDs in her life while her iTunes library contained over 1500 songs. She also stated that while she worked at a college radio station, she ripped some 11,000 more songs.
She' 21 and doesn't feel that there was anything wrong with how she got the music. After the great war on file sharing, I can imagine that there are millions more just like her. She also said that she would like to have a Spotify style catalog of all the music ever recorded, with royalties payed to artist on a per play count basis. She wanted access to what ever she wanted when ever she wanted.
Quite a few have responded to her blog post. Some were surprised that the "culture of free," still persists, and obtaining free music continues to be one of it's principle objectives. I was a little surprised that Emily was a college DJ but didn't want to pay for the music of her favorite artists.
With all that is going on with regard to the changes that are taking place within the music business, I guess that we've all kind of tuned out the issue of how to transition from the current physical model to a truly all digital model. I think that a complete transition will probably never really happen. That there will always be some tangible fixture that will allow individuals to purchase their own copy of an artist's recorded music. If not the CD, then the Thumb Drive or maybe some other form of portable memory storage device.
As an artist, I have no problem with paying for the music of those other artists whose music I admire. Having spent a good bit of time making and releasing my own music has given me an even deeper respect for what it takes to record a single or an album. There's a lot more to it then just setting up a microphone and pressing the record button.
First, you have to have the song or songs that your going to record. If you don't write, then you'll have to pay someone to write the songs for you. If your're not a musician, then you would have to hire some one to play the music. Your songs will need to be arranged so that they make a coherent and complete sound as a composition. This is the producers role, which could be you, or you could hire some one to arrange the songs for you.
You will either have to buy recording gear, if you don't already own some, or you would have to rent a studio which could be costly, depending on how long it takes to make your recording. Recording a song or an album could take several hours, days, weeks, months, or even years to finish.
Someone would have to engineer your recording, if you don't know how to do so yourself , or hire someone to engineer for you. Also, you or a friend, or maybe someone that you would have to hire, would have to sing the lyrics, unless your song is an instrumental.
Once the song is recorded, it would then have to be mixed. This could be done by your recording engineer. After your project is mixed, you may want to send it to be mastered, if this is not something that you or your engineer feels comfortable doing. Many mastering houses can master your finished recording for a price starting around $45 to $349 and up, depending on the number of tracks to be mastered and who you get to master it. Mastering gives your music that ready for the radio sound and is often an expense many independent artists and bands forgo for fear of exceeding their budgets.
If you choose to release your music as a CD then you will have to have it replicated. The price for replication has dropped considerably with the rise of digital distribution. A small run of about 100 CDs with jewel cases and a one or two page insert can cost about $200 to $300 dollars. Some replicators are offering free websites or release to CD Baby as part of a package deal.
Once your project has been mastered, it's on to the distributor. Digital distribution is probably the cheapest and quickest way to have your music released. Prices vary with each distributor. A single track may cost you $9.99 and up while an album may cost you $49.99 and up depending which distributor you choose. A digital distributor can get your music into emusic stores such as iTunes.
You will need a photo or cover art that will be used to reference your finished music in the emusic stores. Some distributors may offer this for a small fee, other wise, you'll have to either make it your self or pay to have it done.
All of these things cost the artist time, and/or money. Then there's promotion. If you're signed to a major label then this it's likely to be included in your contract. If you're an independent, it's all on you. I didn't list the price of everything that is involved in making a record, but the above should give you some idea of just what it takes.
I don't know about anyone else, but when I see my favorite song available for .99 cents or my favorite album for $9.99 and I either don't have a copy or my copy is either lost or destroyed, I tend to see this as a bargain. What's more, some emusic stores offer deep discount prices that allow you to download sings for as little as .49 cent while albums may go for as low as $4.99.
To me, that's cheap... a mere pittance. So, why is there still a problem.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Solid State, anyone?
I heard a few years ago that at some point the computer hard drive, as we know it, was going to go the way of the dinosaur. While that hasn't quite happened yet, the Solid State drive is gaining in popularity as the technology is being more readily employed by computer manufacturers.
Question is, right now anyway, are we ready for that? Fact is, Solid State memory has been used in computers for years. It's what's know as static memory and most computers make use of it for RAM or random access memory. Solid State memory has no moving parts and there fore has been perfect for use as the systems random memory. Meanwhile, the traditional hard drive, consists of several rotating disks with a read and write head mounted on an arm that etches data on to each plate. This has been the industry standard for larger amounts of memory storage.
What's been keeping Solid State or SSD from being fully implemented has been the cost. The prices of such memory have been dropping steadily. Still, SSD drives can cost as much as $400 t0 $500 more that of a standard hard drive. But, that hasn't stopped Dell, Fujitsu, and Toshiba from placing the technology into their laptops.
Solid State Drive are faster than Hard Disk Drives because there are no moving parts. No moving parts means that there are no disks or platters that need to spin up and there are no read or write heads or arms to get stuck. The capacity of an SSD has been increasing slowly. It's possible to get a 1 terabyte SSD while the capacity of a Hard Disk Drive can go up into the multiple terabyte range.
While this is not exciting stuff, it is something to think about when considering your next computer purchase. There's no doubt that with the rapid pace in the growth of computer technology, it may not be long before all computers will come with either both a hard drive and a solid state drive, or just a Solid State Drive alone.
With today's need for speed, it may just be what we've all been waiting for.
Question is, right now anyway, are we ready for that? Fact is, Solid State memory has been used in computers for years. It's what's know as static memory and most computers make use of it for RAM or random access memory. Solid State memory has no moving parts and there fore has been perfect for use as the systems random memory. Meanwhile, the traditional hard drive, consists of several rotating disks with a read and write head mounted on an arm that etches data on to each plate. This has been the industry standard for larger amounts of memory storage.
What's been keeping Solid State or SSD from being fully implemented has been the cost. The prices of such memory have been dropping steadily. Still, SSD drives can cost as much as $400 t0 $500 more that of a standard hard drive. But, that hasn't stopped Dell, Fujitsu, and Toshiba from placing the technology into their laptops.
Solid State Drive are faster than Hard Disk Drives because there are no moving parts. No moving parts means that there are no disks or platters that need to spin up and there are no read or write heads or arms to get stuck. The capacity of an SSD has been increasing slowly. It's possible to get a 1 terabyte SSD while the capacity of a Hard Disk Drive can go up into the multiple terabyte range.
While this is not exciting stuff, it is something to think about when considering your next computer purchase. There's no doubt that with the rapid pace in the growth of computer technology, it may not be long before all computers will come with either both a hard drive and a solid state drive, or just a Solid State Drive alone.
With today's need for speed, it may just be what we've all been waiting for.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Big Deal...
The other day I read a blog post about a new site that wants to do for Radio what the DVR has done for Television. The blog proposes that people could really benefit from recording radio content, either for later listening of for sharing through social media.
The site is called DAR.fm. The blog mentioned primarily talk radio, but when you visit the site you have several other choices that include music and sports. While every radio station isn't yet available, there is a catalog of about 5,000 stations to choose from.
The sites founder, Michael Robertson who is also the founder of Mp3.com, hopes to make Radio visible to the internet. He says that most of the content on radio just fritters away into space. He's hoping to change all of that by giving individuals a chance to record their favorite Radio programs for use to share with others like you would a video or music file.
I wondered how this would work so I went to DAR.fm. Once there, I registered my email and started an account. The site really pushes talk radio, but you can find stations that play your favorite music even if your local station is not yet listed. after I started my account, I went to upper right of the page to the menu bar and clicked on record. This gave me a drop down menu that listed talk, music, and local guide. I clicked on music and got a list of alternatives and genres. Next I clicked on Jazz and a list of stations from around the country opened up. I chose WYEP out of Pittsburgh. After clicking on it, two recording options are given, you can either record for a specific amount of time and start the recording manually, or you can establish a day and time for the recording to start in the future. There's also a dialog box to add the email address of a friend that you might want to send the recording to.
It's an interesting concept. Clearly, it's geared toward talk radio, but there are a lot of music station on that 5,000 station list. If someone should record and share a musical event that was something new and refreshing, I could see how this could really catch on. However, if it's used just to post negative comments made by talk show hosts, I could see how the internet might be given it first "Jerry Springer," moment. And, just when the internet was doing so well. The best way to know for sure is to visit DAR.fm and try it out for yourself. Who knows? This might just be, a big deal.
The site is called DAR.fm. The blog mentioned primarily talk radio, but when you visit the site you have several other choices that include music and sports. While every radio station isn't yet available, there is a catalog of about 5,000 stations to choose from.
The sites founder, Michael Robertson who is also the founder of Mp3.com, hopes to make Radio visible to the internet. He says that most of the content on radio just fritters away into space. He's hoping to change all of that by giving individuals a chance to record their favorite Radio programs for use to share with others like you would a video or music file.
I wondered how this would work so I went to DAR.fm. Once there, I registered my email and started an account. The site really pushes talk radio, but you can find stations that play your favorite music even if your local station is not yet listed. after I started my account, I went to upper right of the page to the menu bar and clicked on record. This gave me a drop down menu that listed talk, music, and local guide. I clicked on music and got a list of alternatives and genres. Next I clicked on Jazz and a list of stations from around the country opened up. I chose WYEP out of Pittsburgh. After clicking on it, two recording options are given, you can either record for a specific amount of time and start the recording manually, or you can establish a day and time for the recording to start in the future. There's also a dialog box to add the email address of a friend that you might want to send the recording to.
It's an interesting concept. Clearly, it's geared toward talk radio, but there are a lot of music station on that 5,000 station list. If someone should record and share a musical event that was something new and refreshing, I could see how this could really catch on. However, if it's used just to post negative comments made by talk show hosts, I could see how the internet might be given it first "Jerry Springer," moment. And, just when the internet was doing so well. The best way to know for sure is to visit DAR.fm and try it out for yourself. Who knows? This might just be, a big deal.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
There And Back (Part VI)
The early 1990s saw Rap and Hip Hop reach to new heights as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences continued to add new Grammy honors to it's growing list of presentations. After giving Rap it's first Grammy in 1989, the door was wide open for the sound of the street to flow freely across the air waves, as cash registers rang all around the globe (ca ching!). Rap got an additional boost from award winning Producer Quincy Jones. His album, Back On The Block released that same year, seemed to serve notice that Rap was not only worthy of greater attention, but was also a viable musical entity within the recording industry. It wasn't long before established artists from almost every genre were incorporating Rap into their own sounds.
The hard sound of Gangsta Rap soon made it's way up from the under ground and into the mainstream. Fueled by an aggressive rhythmic attack and explicit lyrics, the music quickly grew in popularity as a conflict loomed in the background. Over time, a supposed rivalry between East Coast and West Coast Rappers boiled over, culminating in the death of two of it's biggest stars, Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G
The feud was said to be just media hype designed to sell more records. However, the Black community was not amused and filed protests with the recording industry over what it felt was exploitation of urban misery and violence in the name of profit.
Needing to keep it real, the industry began to recruit and sign Rap artist who were still very much a part of the Rap subculture, but whose approach was more musical, with lyrics more reflective of who they were and where they were from. But, what's more, the early to mid 90s saw the introduction and rise of the Boy and Girl bands.
Some of the more familiar names are Backstreet Boys, Nsync, 98 degrees, Spice Girls, Expose, and All Saints. What made these groups different from their 50s and 60s counterparts is the way that some of them came to be. Many of the Boy and Girl bands of the 90s were the result of ads placed in news papers or large trade publications by producers who were looking to form such acts. Those that answered the ads would audition for a chance to be chosen, in the hopes of achieving stardom. Several members of the Backstreet Boys actually met while auditioning to be a part of other such acts. Here at last was the very situation that the music industry big wigs had been trying to get back to since the days of Disco.
Members of acts formed in this way more often then not were hungry for stardom and eager to sign on the dotted line. They no doubt had no qualms about what rights they may have been signing away. Once they were signed, they were fast tracked to the top.
The sound was a mix of Pop, R&B, and Hip Hop blended into a homogenized confection designed to catch the attention of the target audience of 14 to 24 years old. A strong emphasis was placed on appearance. It's just my opinion, but having good looks appeared to be more important than having the ability to sing, write, or play an instrument. Once signed to a major label, in house writers and producers went to work on designing a sound to fit each band's image. Big money from the majors insured that they would be guaranteed to get their fair share of media exposure.
By the mid 90s, these groups were hot, though rarely did they appear in public performance playing instruments. The Economy was booming, as the nation was in the middle of it's longest period of economic growth in it's history. Many people had jobs who never had them before. Disposable cash allowed potential record buyers within the target demographic to indulge in their favorite bands. Over time, the sound of the music began to exhibit a certain bland and repetitiveness that left it less than memorable. Some critics even considered it to be as "disposable," as the money that bought it.
But, this is what Disco had become, before it's demise. Mass produced like fast food and just as easily disposed of. However, music fans and consumers were behind the revolt that lead to the fall of Disco. While by the late 90s the blandness of Pop music was being called into question, most of which remained as just questions. Questions as to why the bands were having such huge success while no one within the bands were writing or playing on any of their major hits. There was a low rumble but nothing near the revolt that lead to the demise of Disco. The machine produced hit after hit until sales peaked in 1999. Some have said that the decline that followed into the 21st century, was due in part to the mass produce mind set. This may or may not be true, but there are some other factors that came into play as well.
Once again, the Rap and Hip Hop merry-go round was employed as a new group of stars that included P-Diddy, J Z, and Kanye West came onto the scene. But, by the late 90s, just as the major labels dreams had come true, a new nemesis for the music industry would arise in the guise of the Mp3 and internet file sharing.
The hard sound of Gangsta Rap soon made it's way up from the under ground and into the mainstream. Fueled by an aggressive rhythmic attack and explicit lyrics, the music quickly grew in popularity as a conflict loomed in the background. Over time, a supposed rivalry between East Coast and West Coast Rappers boiled over, culminating in the death of two of it's biggest stars, Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G
The feud was said to be just media hype designed to sell more records. However, the Black community was not amused and filed protests with the recording industry over what it felt was exploitation of urban misery and violence in the name of profit.
Needing to keep it real, the industry began to recruit and sign Rap artist who were still very much a part of the Rap subculture, but whose approach was more musical, with lyrics more reflective of who they were and where they were from. But, what's more, the early to mid 90s saw the introduction and rise of the Boy and Girl bands.
Some of the more familiar names are Backstreet Boys, Nsync, 98 degrees, Spice Girls, Expose, and All Saints. What made these groups different from their 50s and 60s counterparts is the way that some of them came to be. Many of the Boy and Girl bands of the 90s were the result of ads placed in news papers or large trade publications by producers who were looking to form such acts. Those that answered the ads would audition for a chance to be chosen, in the hopes of achieving stardom. Several members of the Backstreet Boys actually met while auditioning to be a part of other such acts. Here at last was the very situation that the music industry big wigs had been trying to get back to since the days of Disco.
Members of acts formed in this way more often then not were hungry for stardom and eager to sign on the dotted line. They no doubt had no qualms about what rights they may have been signing away. Once they were signed, they were fast tracked to the top.
The sound was a mix of Pop, R&B, and Hip Hop blended into a homogenized confection designed to catch the attention of the target audience of 14 to 24 years old. A strong emphasis was placed on appearance. It's just my opinion, but having good looks appeared to be more important than having the ability to sing, write, or play an instrument. Once signed to a major label, in house writers and producers went to work on designing a sound to fit each band's image. Big money from the majors insured that they would be guaranteed to get their fair share of media exposure.
By the mid 90s, these groups were hot, though rarely did they appear in public performance playing instruments. The Economy was booming, as the nation was in the middle of it's longest period of economic growth in it's history. Many people had jobs who never had them before. Disposable cash allowed potential record buyers within the target demographic to indulge in their favorite bands. Over time, the sound of the music began to exhibit a certain bland and repetitiveness that left it less than memorable. Some critics even considered it to be as "disposable," as the money that bought it.
But, this is what Disco had become, before it's demise. Mass produced like fast food and just as easily disposed of. However, music fans and consumers were behind the revolt that lead to the fall of Disco. While by the late 90s the blandness of Pop music was being called into question, most of which remained as just questions. Questions as to why the bands were having such huge success while no one within the bands were writing or playing on any of their major hits. There was a low rumble but nothing near the revolt that lead to the demise of Disco. The machine produced hit after hit until sales peaked in 1999. Some have said that the decline that followed into the 21st century, was due in part to the mass produce mind set. This may or may not be true, but there are some other factors that came into play as well.
Once again, the Rap and Hip Hop merry-go round was employed as a new group of stars that included P-Diddy, J Z, and Kanye West came onto the scene. But, by the late 90s, just as the major labels dreams had come true, a new nemesis for the music industry would arise in the guise of the Mp3 and internet file sharing.
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