Paul Stanley on JRE

[Seshmeister]

Interesting seems more decent than Simmons, complains a lot about illegal downloads.

[Nitro Express]

Illegal downloads destroyed the recorded music industry. Now acts have to go on the road to make money and they have to find their own financing to go on the road. Sure there was a lot of corruption in the recording industry but the labels financed the tour, took care of the payroll for the crews and even provided insurance benefits. I think it all boiled down to how good of a negotiator your manager was and without a good manager you were screwed as an act.

Now these television shows that find and promote new acts take a bigger chunk of the profits than the record labels ever did. They take 90% or more. A big part of the game is public relations and marketing. You can have all the talent in the world but who's going to know? Who's going to promote you?

[SilvioDante]

Illegal downloads destroyed the recorded music industry. Now acts have to go on the road to make money and they have to find their own financing to go on the road. Sure there was a lot of corruption in the recording industry but the labels financed the tour, took care of the payroll for the crews and even provided insurance benefits. I think it all boiled down to how good of a negotiator your manager was and without a good manager you were screwed as an act.

Now these television shows that find and promote new acts take a bigger chunk of the profits than the record labels ever did. They take 90% or more. A big part of the game is public relations and marketing. You can have all the talent in the world but who's going to know? Who's going to promote you?

I agree with this theory, but it think the record industry drove people to illegal downloads. Forcing the changing of formats was one way. I mean how many times do I have to buy Abbey Road or Fair Warning? I just downloaded a free copy of stuff I already bought. Add that to people paying $15 for a one hit wonder cd several times and free looks like a good idea.

[Kristy]

Illegal downloads destroyed the recorded music industry.

WRONG! The shitty muszak they industry keeps churning out is what's destroying "da biz."

[Nitro Express]

I agree with this theory, but it think the record industry drove people to illegal downloads. Forcing the changing of formats was one way. I mean how many times do I have to buy Abbey Road or Fair Warning? I just downloaded a free copy of stuff I already bought. Add that to people paying $15 for a one hit wonder cd several times and free looks like a good idea.

Free? You mean stealing. The songs are copyrighted. They are property. Looting becomes easy when everyone is doing it.

[Nitro Express]

WRONG! The shitty muszak they industry keeps churning out is what's destroying "da biz."

Hmmmmm. Maybe you would think differently if you were on a road crew getting a pay check from Warner Brothers with benefits and now you just get paid like a Manpower temp.

[Nickdfresh]

Since when did the vast majority of artists ever make much money off their records?

[SilvioDante]

Free? You mean stealing. The songs are copyrighted. They are property. Looting becomes easy when everyone is doing it.

And you are 100% right. I stopped illegally downloading years ago. It is wrong just trying to show the mentality of someone that does.

[Nitro Express]

Since when did the vast majority of artists ever make much money off their records?

All negotiable. If you were a poor negotiator you probably didn't. If you were, you probably made good money as long as the album sold. It's called a record deal and some artists negotiated good ones and others got took. Record companies were much like doing business with the Chinese. If you are stupid you get taken to the cleaners. If you are smart you can make money.

[Nitro Express]

And you are 100% right. I stopped illegally downloading years ago. It is wrong just trying to show the mentality of someone that does.

The bottom line is someone controls the gateway to mass exposure. Sure you can make an album without renting studio time and you can put it out on the internet. But who's going to find it? Who controls the gateway to the mass media is who is in control. Right now it's television shows and getting songs on commercials. Many people who listened to major radio stations a few years ago no longer do anymore. Technology has complicated the marketing of music and made making any money with it challenging.

[Nickdfresh]

All negotiable. If you were a poor negotiator you probably didn't. If you were, you probably made good money as long as the album sold. It's called a record deal and some artists negotiated good ones and others got took. Record companies were much like doing business with the Chinese. If you are stupid you get taken to the cleaners. If you are smart you can make money.

Artists only negotiated a "good" record deal after having sold God knows how many records! Otherwise they had no leverage whatsoever...

[Nitro Express]

Artists only negotiated a "good" record deal after having sold God knows how many records! Otherwise they had no leverage whatsoever...

That's called paying your dues. Name one business where you start at the top. Most businesses fail. The music business is no different. Business is business. If you are one of the few who make it then like you said, you have more leverage. Welcome to planet earth.

[Kristy]

Hmmmmm. Maybe you would think differently if you were on a road crew getting a pay check from Warner Brothers with benefits and now you just get paid like a Manpower temp.

Yeah whatever, hippie.

[Nickdfresh]

That's called paying your dues. Name one business where you start at the top. Most businesses fail. The music business is no different. Business is business...

Yeah, largely run into the ground by ineffectual jerkoffs trying to gouge every last cent out of CD's, even as the costs of production had fallen rapidly. They dug their own grave in the early 1990's by blatant price gouging and idiotic, short-sighted greed. But I guess the cunt execs couldn't maintain their coke and whores while charging a few buck$ for a CD instead of nearing $20 a copy!

[Nitro Express]

Yeah whatever, hippie.

Hippies wear Rolex watches?