OFNR – Support Independent Music

There is simply no question that the music industry has changed and dramatically. In musicSubmit’s July newsletter Kevin Lyman founder of the Warped Tour, was quoted as saying, “Major labels have nothing to offer 99.9 percent of you [Bands] at this point.”

Investigate that statement for a moment. Regardless of his audience, this is POWERFUL. Powerful because it’s true.  The evolution of home studios has grown to the point where most hard working independent artists have a PC or MAC.

With that, more and more musicians are becoming proficient in Pro Tools, Cubase Adobe Audition & Garageband.  Not only because it’s necessary, but because this IS the digital age. That removes the power of producers from the hands of the Majors Labels. That’s not to say that home engineer’s know it all or could not benefit from sitting down with a professional engineer. That’s just a different discussion.

Seems that the Major labels are quickly running out of selling points. CD sales are at all time lows and steadily declining, (not that bands really make money this way). Why? Because distribution is happening through ITunes, the #1 music download store according to Nielsen SoundScan. Well, with 100 million current Itunes users, according to Research analyst Shaw Wu, of the market research firm American Technology Research, it’s really a no brainer as to why CD Sales are in a tailspin with little to no chance of recovery.

So long distribution!!! Whats left? Manufacturing? Weren’t you paying attention? Everything is DIGITAL!

Oh that’s right marketing and promotion, almost forgot about that! Wait, no…. Facebook, Twitter, Reverbnation, the list is practically endless. The underground took over the information super highway and can deliver their message to actual fans.

Sounds like the death toll is ringing for the major labels. Or is it?  It sure is a hell of a lot of work for people who are suppose to be playing music!  Regardless, make no mistake, the sound scape is changing, & the labels know it. Now the question is will they change too?

For me, as far as THE MUSIC INDUSTRY is concerned; viva la INDEPENDENTS!