The off topic thread

[bok_party]

How good is "An Otherwise Disappointing Life"!! Such a brilliant song, and those lyrics are fantastic. Its a slow burning album but I am starting to really enjoy it

It's definitely a slow burner! I've really picked up on different aspects of songs each time I listen. Haven't felt good about a new album for a long time.

 

[Cooldude]

I'd argue it's easier for artists to be found these days than it used to be. So many avenues to be discovered such as through streaming sites, social media, tv shows and film etc. instead of people just hearing at their local store for what's hot or listening to the radio constantly. Sure more of a decrease profit wise in the way of album sales but more of a chance of making it semi big.

Even streaming services give very little royalties to anyone but the big artists, even James Blunt is getting 0.004 cent per click on his songs (then again it's Jame Blunt and he deserves it)

It's not viewership that's the problem with lesser known artists but actually making a buck from it, it's frightening how little they actually get rewarded for a lot of the stuff that they do, unless you are one of the big ones like Bieber of course

 

[SM]

Even streaming services give very little royalties to anyone but the big artists, even James Blunt is getting 0.004 cent per click on his songs (then again it's Jame Blunt and he deserves it)

It's not viewership that's the problem with lesser known artists but actually making a buck from it, it's frightening how little they actually get rewarded for a lot of the stuff that they do, unless you are one of the big ones like Bieber of course

Again, those artists need to get exposure, and then make money through merchandising and concerts. Barely anyone, as you say, makes money through their actual songs.

Surprised that that's really that different to back in the day when people would record songs off the radio onto tape decks and things like that.

 

[bok_party]

YouTube is a huge one I would think.

Yeh I classed it in with social media but YouTube is fantastic for artists to be found.

 

[bok_party]

Even streaming services give very little royalties to anyone but the big artists, even James Blunt is getting 0.004 cent per click on his songs (then again it's Jame Blunt and he deserves it)

It's not viewership that's the problem with lesser known artists but actually making a buck from it, it's frightening how little they actually get rewarded for a lot of the stuff that they do, unless you are one of the big ones like Bieber of course

Yeh it sucks for the artist but like I said, it's about getting the exposure so you can sell out your shows and sell merch. If argue that that is far more important than album sales now because people want an experience more than something tangible.

 

[Cooldude]

Yeh it sucks for the artist but like I said, it's about getting the exposure so you can sell out your shows and sell merch. If argue that that is far more important than album sales now because people want an experience more than something tangible.

Never argued that shows and merchs are how they can actually make the money nowadays but it still isn't enough for a lot of them to make enough, some are better off just doing a normal job. Which is sad coz music's brilliant and anyone who can make great ones should be adequately rewarded which I don't think most of them are anymore. If Nirvana comes on the scene nowadays I don't think they get anywhere near as big as they did 25 years ago or become the overnight multi-millionaires that they basically became

 

[SM]

Never argued that shows and merchs are how they can actually make the money nowadays but it still isn't enough for a lot of them to make enough, some are better off just doing a normal job. Which is sad coz music's brilliant and anyone who can make great ones should be adequately rewarded which I don't think most of them are anymore. If Nirvana comes on the scene nowadays I don't think they get anywhere near as big as they did 25 years ago or become the overnight multi-millionaires that they basically became

I'd argue the definition of 'adequate reward'. Plenty of authors who write brilliant books aren't 'adequately rewarded' on the same scale as musicians, even if their books are read by similar if not greater numbers, and they would spend as much if not more time slaving away on manuscripts.

 

[Cooldude]

Don't see how book writers are suddenly relevant to the discussion, but I'd argue they should get a bigger cut, too.

 

[Loonerty]

Thinking about movies from last year, there were a few good original stories.

Ex Machina, Hateful 8 and Sicario in particular.

 

[SM]

Don't see how book writers are suddenly relevant to the discussion, but I'd argue they should get a bigger cut, too.

Relevant in relation to artists creating works and not being paid for it. I'd suggest the definition of adequate reward is purely relative. You seem to be making the case that musicians somehow deserve to be millionaires because someone has subjectively deemed their music good. If enough people also deem it good they will sell out shows and become commercially successful, in the same way books are adapted into movies making those authors successful.

It's a fascinating discussion but I'm not sure in which era musicians made millions purely off record sales?

 

[Cooldude]

Actually I didn't say they "deserve to be millionaires", a lot of them can hardly even make an acceptable wage every year compare to a normal job actually. Should do a little research on why it's harder and harder for musicians nowadays because loads of them are simply getting crushed.

And I already made the point that for quite a few of them even if they sell out their gigs locally they still don't actually make that much, yet again have to do some research on how the cut's distributed first before commenting.

I don't see how people can get so argumentative over just a simple "artists who create great work should be adequately rewarded" statement, because actually a lot of them aren't

 

[Art Vandelay_]

YouTube is a huge one I would think.

J Biebs... Forever Youtube's biggest crime

 

[SM]

J Biebs... Forever Youtube's biggest crime

He's starting to warm on me with his latest album. Love Yourself is decent. Surprise surprise because it's stripped back.

 

[Jatz]

Oh boy! Cruyff and 1D, SM and Biebs?

 

[bok_party]

Oh boy! Cruyff and 1D, SM and Biebs?

Bizarro SM and Bizarro Cruyff?

 

[bok_party]

I also think the music environment these days allows bands to still have careers after albums deemed "flops".

 

[Cooldude]

I also think the music environment these days allows bands to still have careers after albums deemed "flops".

Big bands or small bands?

 

[SM]

Oh boy! Cruyff and 1D, SM and Biebs?

Cruyff was the one who forced me to listen to it. Insisted it was brilliant.

 

[bok_party]

Big bands or small bands?

Both. I can't think off the top of my head but I remember seeing many bands who had a solid/good first album follow them up with stinkers only to still churn out album after album with moderate success.

 

[SM]

Both. I can't think off the top of my head but I remember seeing many bands who had a solid/good first album follow them up with stinkers only to still churn out album after album with moderate success.

Panic! At the Disco are a decent example.

 

[jd2010]

Panic! At the Disco are a decent example.

They had a decent album?

 

[SM]

They had a decent album?

You didn't like their first album? Brilliant album.

 

[Cooldude]

Both. I can't think off the top of my head but I remember seeing many bands who had a solid/good first album follow them up with stinkers only to still churn out album after album with moderate success.

With indie labels they are probably fine with it coz they didn't shell out a lot for production and marketing to begin with so they can probably break even somewhere else

If you're a band that just signed to a big time label they're probably less forgiving, although labels nowadays sign solo artists instead of bands if they could coz of various reasons so that scenario probably doesn't happen often

Bands are probably just better off with an indie label anyhow, big time labels are just slavers

 

[jd2010]

You didn't like their first album? Brilliant album.

It was ok never thought much of them. Couple of good songs

 

[SM]

It was ok never thought much of them. Couple of good songs

Fair enough. Thought their third album was brilliant too. First was fantastic.

How about The Killers?