[linux-audio-user] That whole mp3 vs. ogg vs. wma vs. yomamma thing

[R Parker]

--- Paul Winkler <pw_lists at slinkp.com> wrote:
> On Mon, Oct 13, 2003 at 08:14:05PM -0400, Taybin
> Rutkin wrote:
> > Well, some friends of mine just signed to Palm. 
> There is still hope of
> > talented, hardworking bands getting signed. 
> Besides, there are always
> > the minor labels.  Thank god for K Records,
> Kindercore, and Barsuk
> > Records.
> 
> The minor labels are probably much better for you in
> the long haul
> as an artist. Being on a major doesn't guarantee you
> anything, in
> fact if you're *lucky* you will merely fail to make
> any money.

For me, the reality of running a sound business hurts
like a hammer slapped upside the head. It's hard to
design and execute any business plan. All I really
want to do is arrange and perform music with my
friends.

I think if all our bands had a Col. Parker (of Elvis
fame) in our camps, we'd never miss the opportunity to
tour into a market where our material is getting radio
play. I don't think the management that comes with a
label contract is the same thing you get from a
personal band manager.

What little I observe of KISS tells me that Gene
Simmons is a hell of a businessman. The guy breeds
success. In fact, it's easy to imagine that he breeds
alot.

My studio business partner experienced some success
while signed to an independent lable. I saw BMI
royalty checks of up to $40,000.00 USD from S. Afrika
to Finland and everywhere inbetween. There were no
mechanical royalties. When they tossed the indie label
owner into prison for embezzlement they seized an
estate that included; large home, sports cars, SSL
mixers, etc, etc. All of it purchased from revenues of
their product. What happened to the seized estate? We
don't know and it's unlikely we ever will.

Related to that deal were publishing revenues
originally owned by Motown but transfered to the major
that purchased them. Several years went by without
anyone even knowing that a publishing royalty existed.
It was discovered by accident during the embezzlment
investigations. Even after discovery it took a couple
years to collect. The label, when asked why the
publishing royalty hadn't been delivered, replied, "we
didn't have your mailing address."

I think bands need talented, trustworthy and motivated
business persons if they want to make money. But my
ultimate point is, I'm gonna go play the drums!

ron

> Some acquaintances of mine put out two records on
> RCA, one in '96
> and one in '98, and despite a great live show, some
> good 
> reviews and some "modern rock" airplay here and
> there, they got no 
> promotional backup - e.g. they'd find out their song
> had been played
> regularly on a radio station in an area they could
> have easily travelled
> to & performed, but they'd be told about this long
> *after* the song had
> been cycled out of airplay. The general impression
> was that nobody
> at the label was paying attention.
> 
> And they got off pretty easy, they just got dropped
> after 
> the second album failed to do much of anything.
> For a real horror story read those prosoundweb
> "mixerman diaries"
> that somebody posted a day or two ago. So horrible
> it's almost funny.
> It could be subtitled "How to fail in the record
> industry by spending
> 2 million dollars on total shit."
> 
> - PW
> 
> -- 
> 
> Paul Winkler
> http://www.slinkp.com
> Look! Up in the sky! It's SILICO PUMA FROM SWEDEN!
> (random hero from isometric.spaceninja.com)


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