Glimmer of hope

By now, even someone who has been living under a very big rock will be aware that Radiohead made their current album available for download on the internet and asked their fans to donate what they felt was the right amount. Reports vary as to how much the band earned (or didn't earn), but there is no doubt that the traditional major label model is nearing the end of its days. Will electronic music follow the same route as the Radioheads of this world? It's hard to say yet: given the popularity of Beatport etc, and the fact that the artist album as a concept and a format seems to be in decline in electronic music anyway, maybe DJs and producers will stop releasing long players alltogether. However, maybe some will follow the example of Belgian duo The Glimmers. Instead of charging punters, they are giving away copies of their next artist album - which features collaborations with Optimo, Arthur Baker and Princess Superstar - for free with the February issue of DJ Magazine. The Glimmers will also be asking promoters for a slight increase in their DJ fee, and will hand out free copies of the album to everyone in the audience at their gigs. Some people may question them for creating an alternative distribution network with a structure that relies in part on a print magazine, part of 'traditional' media, but their ability and that of the magazine's to think outside the box (the arrangement is likely to boost DJ Mag's circulation) is laudable. Wonder who will come up with the next alternative to the label-distributor-fan model?

Comments

[jig]

me thinks that radiohead's doner album was just a cunning marketing ploy
it was released as a low bit rate mp3 and has now been released in c.d quality on eh um c.d

[jig]

not that it wasnt a novel idea but just think of the interest the band have generated with the publicity of the doner download. this and they left EMI so they didnt have the same amount of major mucle pushin this album

[sergej]

cool option with concerts - it should be standard - these days to produce cd cost less then euro, and to include it with ticket should be standard...

[Sotek]

@jig: "me thinks that radiohead's doner album was just a cunning marketing ploy
it was released as a low bit rate mp3 and has now been released in c.d quality on eh um c.d"

I feel exactly the same way. It was a scam but a huge blow to the record executives. There's no doubt in my mind that the traditional music industry format is broken, but I'm not sure if that affects EDM on a large - if any - scale.

I personally have no problems paying for music and support the artists I like. However, I'm pretty sure that folks like me are in minority. People just think they're fucking entitled to everything - for free.

[Sotek]

@jig: "me thinks that radiohead's doner album was just a cunning marketing ploy
it was released as a low bit rate mp3 and has now been released in c.d quality on eh um c.d"

I feel exactly the same way. It was a scam but a huge blow to the record executives. There's no doubt in my mind that the traditional music industry format is broken, but I'm not sure if that affects EDM on a large - if any - scale.

I personally have no problems paying for music and support the artists I like. However, I'm pretty sure that folks like me are in minority. People just think they're fucking entitled to everything - for free.

[gnippiks]

How about RCRD LBL?
http://rcrdlbl.com/faq
It's a network of "ad-supported on-line record labels" that offers free and legal mp3 downloads and artists get paid.

[B]

Honestly I think the Glimmers are making a wise decision. It is likely they'll get a small share of the profits from that month's DJ Mag sales. More importantly however they're counting on greater demand for gigs where they'll be charging a bit higher DJ fees. At each of these they'll hand out more CDs to increase their audience further and thus generate more hype and more demand for DJ-bookings...Doesn't sound like a bad plan at all to me! This is especially prudent for more "niche" and undeground acts like them whom likely have much more to gain from an increased audience than the small revenues given up on physical CD sales...Would be interesting for someone to run some (realistic) math on this and see the estimated Present Value of both alternatives...Wonder where the break even is? Ie. How much do they have to grow their audience size and thus their DJing revenues to make-up the (presumably low) cost of foregoing CD sales?