torrents keeping music alive (sensible descusssion please)

[Miec]

There is a really good blog post on The Cynical Musician that takes a look at web based distribution from an artist's point of view: The paradise that should have been

I'm not quite sure what to think about the numbers (and it would be interesting if someone could give som insight on beatport in comparison), but it shows on how money earned via digital sales is distributed

[MiL0]

its really hard to actually get real figures as most of these companies move money around to avoid paying taxes.

so you're saying that the charts posted in this thread are inaccurate because companies have started to move money around to avoid taxes? but they've only started avoiding tax since the turn of the century? (when sales took a dive)

doesn't really make sense...

[tombruton69]

its flawed tho because label revenue is different for each artist, and again you see from there calc record companies making more money than artists. back in the day when you needed a million pound recording studio there was no now you can setup a decent studio for 20 grand that can put out better quality recordings than back in the 80's.

Yes artists are getting ripped off cuz thats how the fat cats of the record industry work. A independaNT record label should start there own online store with each artist having a page with there stuff on lets say u buy there album for 10quid, u then get access to a page with hq pics of the artist plus all the instrumentals and accapellas of that album

[MiL0]

its flawed tho because label revenue is different for each artist, and again you see from there calc record companies making more money than artists. back in the day when you needed a million pound recording studio there was no now you can setup a decent studio for 20 grand that can put out better quality recordings than back in the 80's.

That may or may not be true but the point of this thread is to discuss whether or not torrents are a good thing for the music industry as a whole. Whether or not its cheaper to record an album nowadays isn't going to change the fact that downloading music/films clearly has had a noticeable effect on revenue over the past 20 years (if we disregard your unsubstantiated tax evasion theory). Besides, most big bands still record in very expensive studios... a Pro Tools rig costs not much less than a whole bunch of classic analogue preamps. And pro plugins aren't cheap either.

And I would argue whether recordings made in the 21st century sound better than stuff made in the 60's to 90's. It's certainly louder but my ears prefer dynamics. and less brickwall limiting/compression.

But that's a whole different discussion!

[tombruton69]

And I would argue whether recordings made in the 21st century sound better than stuff made in the 60's to 90's. It's certainly louder but my ears prefer dynamics. and less brickwall limiting/compression.

But that's a whole different discussion!

ok the ability is there for it to be better im fully aware of this rubbish that our track needs to be louder. Im pretty certain most hifi's have a volume knob if the user wants it louder. torrents are not destroying the record industry just like the tape recorder didnt. record companies spin stuff its hard to get sympathy wen you have record profits.

[MiL0]

torrents are not destroying the record industry just like the tape recorder didnt. record companies spin stuff its hard to get sympathy wen you have record profits.

It's difficult to discuss this properly unless you can back up your points with some facts or sources. Am I being trolled?

As you doubt the legitimacy of the IFPI reports above, let's go on personal experience instead. My time in the dnb scene suggests the exact oppposite of what you're saying. For me, releasing a record and not dj'ing would be the fastest path to ruin & collecting a Job Seekers Allowance cheque. Back in the 90's it wasn't common for a producer to also be a dj. Nowadays, it's a mandatory requirement.

My first release sold around 1000 copies on vinyl. This was in 2004. Last week I read that Subtitles are going to stop releasing vinyl because they struggle to sell even 800 records. That's a ridiculously sad state of affairs... Subtitles is a well respected label with some major artists on their roster. The label owner has categorically stated that digital sales don't make up for the loss of vinyl sales. Why would they lie? Some sort of marketing strategy? To make people feel sorry for the label so they buy more mp3s? That doesn't make any sense.

As a punter, I know for a fact that I spend a lot less money on music/films than I used to. Buying the odd track on Beatport isn't quite the same as buying 4 or 5 albums on cd every month. Spending £5.99 on Netflix every month is nothing compared to the 3 or 4 dvd's I would buy every month a few years back. You argued that the cost of music production has gotten cheaper. Are you also saying that with the advent of digital technology it's cheaper to make a Hollywood film as well?

[tombruton69]

In theory yes its cheaper but in reality people are pushing special effects further and further. However look at the avengers the highest grossing film for a 1st week ever. I think artists are making less money but record companies are making more. DJ's used to be more important tho they actually made things a hit.

We are both people who love music and have alot of it, so you dont mind a trip to the shop to get that new record, however for alot of people they would have to wait to the weekend then if they got sidetracked wouldnt get it and would forget about it. However with the internet one click you have got it. So its enabled impulse buying 24 hours a day. remember most people only ever owned about 40-50 records

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...United_Kingdom

as you can see best selling albums in the uk is all over the place will adels album coming in 5th place from last year, record companies also drop ppl alot quicker they really dont want to put rescources into ppl unless there profits are super high.

back onto topic adel came in 3rd for most pirated album, those torrent obviously destroyed her album sales lol!

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-10-...torrent-today/

remember record companies sell so much other stuff aswell even more than ever. i just had a look at sony music's public records but so much money going everywhere ul never know how much they make.

[JasonBay]

In theory yes its cheaper but in reality people are pushing special effects further and further. However look at the avengers the highest grossing film for a 1st week ever.

But that fact is so skewed though because it doesn't factor in inflation and how much the average ticket is to go see a movie these days ($10+ dollars at some spots). I'm always hesitant when I see commercials and advertisements using that as a promotional tool because they aren't giving all the facts.

[tombruton69]

But that fact is so skewed though because it doesn't factor in inflation and how much the average ticket is to go see a movie these days ($10+ dollars at some spots). I'm always hesitant when I see commercials and advertisements using that as a promotional tool because they aren't giving all the facts.

oh yea for sure I get that, the cost of going to the cinema at least in the UK has raised well above inflation. Same with the music figures if you factor in inflation we are sposed to beleive the record industry is making a 5th of what it did in the 90's behave.

You also have to look at as I said before the westernisation of the world, more people now have access to western film and music