Why do bands need record labels?

[The_Isle]

Seriously. In this day and age why don't more bands distribute their stuff over the internet?

Or just put it up for free download and solicit donations via paypal.

p.s. I realise this is a stupid naive question but seriously i know nothing about the gritty details of the music business and would like a good attempt at explaining.

 

[anonymouswierdo]

When I clicked the link, I was expecting something more to do with genres...


Anyway, I don't really know, and it's almost 11PM, so I think I'll wash and go to bed instead of trying ot think of some reasoning and arguent and supporting stuff.

 

[Nico]

Oh fuck...

...where's Erik?

 

[Erik]

Oh fuck...

...where's Erik?

not in this thread

having this discussion turn into several page flamewars twice in about two weeks is enough for me

 

[cookiecutter]

Metal is already hard enough to make money with, and distributing it free and hoping for donations probably won't cut it. Plus many people, like me, prefer to own CD's rather than just mp3s

 

[CF87]

Record labels pay bands to record and tour. The better label the more money you get to record & the more money to tour. Record labels are far from outdated or useless because mp3s,the internet,myspace,etc..

Some bands drive in vans pulling gear. Some in nice buses(that you don't have to drive).

Some people also do like having CDS too with booklet. Soundquality is better. Who has to have the cds pressed. labels

mp3s,ipod are not going to ruin anything anytime soon.

 

[Pelata]

The internet really IS the way to go for new, original music bands in this day and age. Sweating it out on stage is fun, and certain crowds make it even more fun, but music is a whole different game than it was even 10 years ago w/ affordable home recording, etc. The days of playing shows for 2 years trying to scrape together enough money for 10 hours of recording time at the local 8-track studio are long gone.

My latest project, LINE OF FIRE, has sold nearly 1000 CD's on Tribunal Records to people all over the world and we have never played a single show.

 

[Susperia]

If I was a musician.. I would do it the old fashioned way. Screw the internet. As an artist, I am very wary of ever putting my art onto the internet. I dont' trust people...

And now there's that new "Orphaned Works" law that may be passed in the US. Does anyone know what I am talking about? It states if you find a work of art on the internet and don't know who it belongs to, you can use it for whatever you want =\. Without the consent of the artist.

Bullshit.

 

[Pelata]

Record labels pay bands to record and tour. The better label the more money you get to record & the more money to tour. Record labels are far from outdated or useless because mp3s,the internet,myspace,etc..

Wrong.

Labels front bands money to record that the band has to pay back out of CD sales. Bands (especially in this genre) make little to no money on CD sales because all the money goes back to the label for the labels expenses (recording costs, mixing/mastering costs, artwork/layout costs, CD pressing, advertising, etc).

The labels (most of them) do NOT front money for bands to tour. A booking agent, which the band has to pay, books a tour and sets a rate of pay for the band (ex. $1000 a show) that the CLUB pays to them to book them. The band, out of that per show fee, has to buy gas, food, pay a tech or 3, pay the soundman, pay for whatever vehicle maintenence they need while on the road, and divide up the rest for themselves afterwards, then pay taxes.

Playing live Metal is not a money-making venture. Even "bigger" bands like Iced Earth and Nevermore have "day jobs" that they make thier living at outside of the band. They make enough to add to thier income, but they do not make enough money to live until you start getting up into the Ozzfest level. Most bands do it for the love of the music.

 

[Nico]

And now there's that new "Orphaned Works" law that may be passed in the US. Does anyone know what I am talking about? It states if you find a work of art on the internet and don't know who it belongs to, you can use it for whatever you want =\. Without the consent of the artist.

Bullshit.

Not so easy. You have to prove that you had gone to various lengths to contact the author of the works you wish to use, and if you still can't find them, only then can you use it.

 

[Susperia]

It's still bullshit. People can say they went to various lengths and no one would know, right?

 

[Erik]

that would be a great law to pass

now we just need the complete and total abolishment of the concept of copyright

 

[Erik]

People can say they went to various lengths and no one would know, right?

yeah that would hold up in court

NOT

!

 

[The_Isle]

snip

I recall reading about this somewhere which just makes my question more pertinent. Apparently there is no equivalent of a guild or union for musicians. So when you sign a record contract all you're really doing is just getting professionals to promote and distribute your band nay?

Both of which could be done on the internet by word of mouth. I mean making the band pay for tour expenses is just BULLSHIT. I think some contracts out there even screw bands deeper into debt. (no idea if this is true though).

 

[anonymouswierdo]

I recall reading about this somewhere which just makes my question more pertinent. Apparently there is no equivalent of a guild or union for musicians. So when you sign a record contract all you're really doing is just getting professionals to promote and distribute your band nay?

Both of which could be done on the internet by word of mouth. I mean making the band pay for tour expenses is just BULLSHIT. I think some contracts out there even screw bands deeper into debt. (no idea if this is true though).

We live in a capitalistic world. The only objective is t omake money. It is easier to make money out of bands if they are your slaves, that way they can't really say "no" to anything, unless they're willing to sacrifice various things.



Call me cynical or a liker of the concept of socialism, there both more than slightly true. Unfurtunately, I don't think humans can co-operate well enough for a socialism or communism* to work.


*China is not a communism, and the USSR wasn't either, really.


EDIT: quick thingo, calling China a communism is like calling... ummm (damn my lack of knowledge about more mainstream music).... the white stripes metal

 

[V.V.V.V.V.]

We live in a capitalistic world

*capitalist

*country (US or some of Western Europe etc. I guess)

also

From wikipedia:

Since its founding in 1949, the PRC has been led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) under a one-party system.

 

[anonymouswierdo]

Since its founding in 1949, the PRC has been led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) under a one-party system.

Dear me, I forgot, saying in your name that you are something means you are irrefutably that thing. Like nu-metal.


[/sarcasm stuff]

EDIT: http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=define:capitalistic&btnG=Search&meta=

 

[Thraxz]

*capitalist

*country (US or some of Western Europe etc. I guess)

also

From wikipedia:

Since its founding in 1949, the PRC has been led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) under a one-party system.

Nice google, faggot. Talk about another typical know-nothing response to something they know nothing about.

 

[Flaming Death]

I used to know a few guys on Tribunal records bands. Darkness Remains to be exact. Jon Fralick is pretty awesome.

 

[Rive Haven]

So when you sign a record contract all you're really doing is just getting professionals to promote and distribute your band nay?

Both of which could be done on the internet by word of mouth. I mean making the band pay for tour expenses is just BULLSHIT. I think some contracts out there even screw bands deeper into debt. (no idea if this is true though).

Yea major record labels will eat you alive if you dont have a music business lawyer but thats common knowledge isnt it? Just remember there's a big difference between GROSS and NET payment and dont give up the rights to your originals...but thats common knowledge to isnt it? It's possible and often better to live as a musician without a record label. DIY.