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I'm the CEO of a small independent record company so of course today's topic is heart beat of my business. As small label owner the Internet is the backbone of my marketing strategy and the best way to promote my artists for the best money. But, I don't know if it helps or hurts the industry as a whole.
In the past the major labels (Sony, Universal, Warner, etc...) had such a strangle hold on the music industry that if you didn't have a record deal with them you didn't exist, period. This was because advertising was so expensive that only the big companies could afford to do it. That shut the door on the hopes of any small business hoping to grow.
Along came the Internet. A phenomenon that instantly leveled the playing field for all record companies both big and small. The Internet is so inexpensive that a one person label can advertise their projects right next to the big boys and no one knows the difference. This angered the majors but makes the indies happier than ever.
But, there's the case and problem of piracy. Everyone is stealing music off of the Internet because they can, simply put. If there was no way to steal it they would just pay for it without any complaint like before. This of course hurts the industry as a whole because it raises the prices of upcoming albums, there's legal ramifications and the music quality is watered down because artists and labels know that their music is going to be stolen before it is sold so the energy, excitement and desire to create a good album is non existent.
In the past the major labels (Sony, Universal, Warner, etc...) had such a strangle hold on the music industry that if you didn't have a record deal with them you didn't exist, period. This was because advertising was so expensive that only the big companies could afford to do it. That shut the door on the hopes of any small business hoping to grow.
Along came the Internet. A phenomenon that instantly leveled the playing field for all record companies both big and small. The Internet is so inexpensive that a one person label can advertise their projects right next to the big boys and no one knows the difference. This angered the majors but makes the indies happier than ever.
But, there's the case and problem of piracy. Everyone is stealing music off of the Internet because they can, simply put. If there was no way to steal it they would just pay for it without any complaint like before. This of course hurts the industry as a whole because it raises the prices of upcoming albums, there's legal ramifications and the music quality is watered down because artists and labels know that their music is going to be stolen before it is sold so the energy, excitement and desire to create a good album is non existent.
