Myspace to Sell MP3s From Unsigned Bands 253
soldrinero writes "Yahoo! news is hosting a story about a new competitor to Apple's iTunes Music Store. Nearly all the other iTunes competitors have been strongly controlled by the music industry, shackled in DRM, and giving little back to artists. The new MySpace music store will feature vanilla MP3 downloads at prices set by the individual bands (3 million of them!), all or nearly all of whom are unsigned musicians with no industry affiliation. Is this the example we have all been waiting for of how the Internet will obviate the business model of the recording industry?"
No, because ... (Score:2, Insightful)
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Re:No, because ... (Score:5, Insightful)
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bullshit (Score:2)
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the general public might not really know what drm actually is or what it stands for (they don't know what mp3 is either) but more and more people are learning that it is something they don't want.
the sony drm thing left the IT department and went out into the streets, it was regular ass people fearing that they had installed something horrible.
and for those who DON'T know they don't want drm just yet, when myspace says that their downloads are drm free, they will learn.
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You must remember that most people don't know what internet explorer is. They have their blue "e", or "the internet", but internet explorer?
They don't know what mp3 is, at all. To them, it is music not on a CD.
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1. They will say that because MySpace accepts any artist and music without a real screening process, it is promoting sexualy explicit and violent messages in music, and that we have to do something about it. (This will get the support of the religious right and fearful parents).
2. They will say that because MySpace accepts any artist and music without any rea
Re:No, because ... (Score:4, Insightful)
ROFLMAO! You obviously don't waork in the industry. I work for an indie music distro and do A/R for a couple of labels. I can't even describe how _terrible_ most bands are. MySpace is like a meeting place for all the bands that send their demos to every label on Earth and just can't figure out why no one will sign them (because they are absolutely awful). These bands aren't on iTMS because most labels don't care about bands that would sell maybe one download per year.
Re:No, because ... (Score:4, Insightful)
And of course the established music industry only signs really, really good bands to contracts.
</sarcasm>
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Re:No, because ... (Score:4, Insightful)
Sarcasm noted. However, I think you should watch the American Idol auditions to get an idea of what he's referring to. If MySpace's music gig turns into a big joke because it's bombarded by crap (as it already has a reputation for in other areas...), what does the RIAA really have to worry about?
Re:No, because ... (Score:5, Interesting)
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FatPhil
Re:No, because ... (Score:5, Insightful)
i assumed that no one was thick enough to make a "myspace is for emo kids only" joke anymore
Re:No, because ... (Score:5, Funny)
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While this might be true in the short term, think about how many are actually good at it that the music industry ignores? This will catch up with the music industry who often with money propel people to the top of charts that couldn't sing without electronic assistance if they tried.
Similarily, TV. A group of people could create a series of SciFi, comedy even sitcomms without a billion dollar
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Why would they fear looking into the mirror anyways...
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Oh wait, that would apply to them too...
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anyone can get enough money to record and tour, you just have to be determined enough. distribution is the hard part, but if a band builds a fanbase up from nothing like this, they will have the negotiation power to sign a decent contract and get some cds in stores.
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Why? It will turn out to be a good deal for them - someone else does all the upfront leg work and spending to put out a product - if they develop a hit, the big media companies can come in and sign them. It removes a level of risk from their business - as long as they have a lock on the major distribution channels they control the serious money. Indie films and music have been around for a long time - and media companies do a good job of co-opting the
Re:No, because ... (Score:5, Insightful)
Because it threatens their business model, and they are scared shitless of change.
It will turn out to be a good deal for them
That's irrelevant. Radio was a good deal for them, and they fought tooth and nail because it threatened their business model. VCRs were a great deal for the movie industry, and look how hard they fought that.
It removes a level of risk from their business - as long as they have a lock on the major distribution channels they control the serious money.
First of all, they don't want control of the "serious" money, they want control of *all* of the money.
Second, your condition ("as long as they have a lock") is not at all assured. What happens when major artists discover they no longer *need* the "major" distribution channels?
Third, record labels make millions of dollars from artists just starting out that are willing to sign contracts for what can only be charitably described as indentured servitude. When these artists see "hey, I'm paying for this myself anyway, why don't I keep all the money", the big record labels lose a major source of revenue. Steve Albini wrote an excellent essay entitled "The Problem with Music" - it's a must read if you want to know how the music industry works - which you need to if you want to understand their motivations and why they're so scared of the internet.
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Never underestimate the power of teen fanboy(|girl)ism.
Personally I think this idea might work out well for Myspace. Certainly they have little or no risk / cost. And since it's non-DRM'ed mp3's, I really have no objection to it.
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Multi Search [friskr.com]
I disagree (Score:3, Interesting)
Most of the bands that I hear through indie Podcasts have Myspace pages, and that would make it a *lot* easier to pick up their songs as MP3's - especially if they were decent quality (like 192 or above).
So I'd say that while the amount of music won't be as high as, say, Britney, for some bands i
Re:No, because ... (Score:4, Informative)
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http://technology.guardian.co.uk/weekly/story/0,, 1 781879,00.html [guardian.co.uk]
What actually happened is they gave their music away on good old fashioned CDs at their gigs. So yet again, the #1 way of independent bands getting successful turns out to be "doing gigs". Plus ca change
Same Model As Netflix... Almost (Score:4, Interesting)
The real key? Once on Netflix, they get pushed as a new release over the recommendation mechanism. So, heard of or not, they get exposure and an audience quickly.
MySpace has nothing like that to push unsigned bands, except to offer a sales/download link from all pages using the song. Also, Netflix hand picks each indie film, whereas MySpace is not hand picking indie bands and their songs.
Honestly, I don't see the advantage here from the band's perspective. Selling a Vanilla mp3 is not hard for even the least qualified web tech using any e-commerce storefront. There's no DRM to fool with, so all you have to do is take an order, and offer a random url download or e-mail the MP3 directly to them. But, since its on the honor system, why not just let everyone download all the mp3's, and put up a paypal link as a "Tip Jar".
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Really? You don't think that an additional level exposure to millions of MySpace users wouldn't help? How is some random site going to make money if there's no one promoting it?
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Like any band,, they already have a free MySpace page now. Of course, they're not allowed to sell anything from it, unless they pay MySpace for advertising space. But, it's not all that hard for a band to put a link to their domain in their MySpace account, and do sales there.
Joining MySpace obviously is a big help to them. The part that really doesn't help the band is the teaming up with them on sales.
But you hit a key point, promotion. Netflix does
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This is just the rollout phase. Soon they'll be selling Chocolate mp3s, which is a whole different ballgame. And then what about Strawberry? Your average web tech just isn't waulified to be handling material like that.
Yes and no (Score:3, Interesting)
Wrong (Score:2)
So I would have been happy to buy their stuff, and way more than
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I Disagree (Score:2, Interesting)
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memories (Score:3, Funny)
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IUMA.COM (Score:2)
Looks like its finally down, although it still shows up on Google. (note, I went to school with some of the guys who started the whole thing way back before MP3s even existed)
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You remember stories like these because they make you feel good, not because they are true or even plausible.
The Original Amatuer Hour (The American Idol of 1935) had a twenty year run on radio and TV, of the 15,000 or so who made it to broadcast only Pat Boone and Frank Sinatra emerged as significant talents.
Three million unsigned bands buried within a community the size of MyS
Artic Monkeys were a fluke (Score:3, Interesting)
No, it is well known in most advertising circles that word of mouth advertising is the most effective around. Especially, when dealing with the rebels, a real advertising campaign smacks of effort (he tries too hard, whatever !). If you're thinking of anything other than teen-pop (of the Hillary Duff flavour), that's probably half your market. And it does work too, very well.
All in all, myspace is looking for ways to leverage the community network. And IMHO, iTunes has proved that the first requirement for a store is a player :)
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This is great news (Score:4, Insightful)
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Personally I can't stand MySpace, but this might even drag me to it.
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What will be really interesting is whether some major names [musiccreators.ca] decide to jump ship from the traditional music industry and move to MySpace.
Vanilla Mp3 (Score:3, Funny)
I guess that means Non-DRM'ed MP3...
Re:Vanilla Mp3 (Score:4, Funny)
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I guess that means Non-DRM'ed MP3..."
Nope, they left out the key word: ice...
Brilliant!
all the best,
drew
(da idea man)
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/85937 [ourmedia.org]
Uh-oh (Score:2)
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There are plenty of less trustworthy sources than MySpace to get MP3s, and so far to my knowledge, no one has ever gotten rooted by media content downloaded from P2P networks, they have onl
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Someone is already doing this (Score:2)
In case you haven't heard of it, there is http://www.podshow.com/ [podshow.com] selling tracks at 99c a throw. There is a huge amount of stuff in there. Some of it is good but someof it does not appeal to me at all!Maybe it is bad, or maybe it's just not my taste.
Or are people here avoiding it because Adam Curry is not suitable for nerds? I like his show anyway.
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Typical misunderstanding of DRM (Score:5, Insightful)
This is a perfect horrible example of a 'innocent' slip which conflates DRM with copyright; it cooperates with the corporate worldview that DRM is necessary to protect copyright. I don't know how to get in touch with the author but I would really love to set this kind of thing straight.
RMS may be a freak but I think he's right in that we have to be careful about the language we use; it defines and affects the thought patterns of both speaker and listener.
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RMS isn't the first to expound this idea, either. In 1984, George Orwell made the point that controlling language meant controlling thought, thus the party in power created "Newspeak". The [RI/MP]AA are trying to tell the populace right now that DRM is double plus good for them. Our job as geeks is to make sure they don't buy it.
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The theory you are referring to is called Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis [wikipedia.org]. So far it is neither confirmed nor busted, but there are strong arguments against it. I suggest further reading on the subject.
Robert
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There are arguments against the strong version of Sapir-Whorf, but there are also arguments against language having *no* influence on thought. Most of the argument is on which form of "weak" Sapir-Whorf is the correct one.
As a side note, the idea that language affects thought is no more radical than the idea that com
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That is not the point of the GP (Score:2)
No (Score:2)
What the slashdot crowd fails to see is that the majority of people out there are NOT aware of issues like DRM, and are NOT anti-RIAA. The RIAA still has a huge impact with stuff such as MTV and Radio, so it doesn't really change the model of how things work that much... it just chips away at it.
Music and Hollywood
Re:No (Ve:Gas) (Score:3, Insightful)
And why do you think they want to see these actors and listen to this music in particular, who gave them the idea? Who controls what they get mostly exposed to? Who?
Works until.. (Score:4, Interesting)
On the other hand i could see the Record Industry just sitting and watching to see which band seems to be doing the best and then bum-rush them with a contract for them to sign so the RIAA can cash in (as we know they so love to do) on this fresh artist (that already has a decent fan base). Basicly they are letting Myspace do all the hard work of promoting the band and they will swoop in at the end snag up the band and then squeeze every last penny out of them and us when the band release the studio record through them.
now if myspace really wanted to appeal to artist they should set up a recording studio and allow there artists they support to release records under their label.
it be a win for both seeing how the artist get a cheaper studio to produce in and release under and mysapce makes some extra cash flow....yeah i know it probly won't happen but its just an idea.
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Hey, good way to misrepresent what the industry does.
Webster's
bum-rush, v.t. Slang.
to force one's way into; crash: to bum-rush a rap concert.
Yeah, calling up and saying "we can promote your future records for a cut" is
Yes (Score:4, Funny)
Hell, hole (Score:3, Insightful)
But I loathe the RIAA more.
Re:Yes (Score:5, Funny)
iTunes Alternative? (Score:5, Insightful)
This statement sounds really uninformed in its context in the article. There are a lot of alternatives, but most people don't want them. Anybody who has any tech savvy needs to take their head out of their ass when they come up with ideas like this. The reason why people put up with Apple's DRM'ed technology is because its easy to use. Non-tech people can and do use it, and those same people avoid the other options because they are confusing. Now, I understand that selling a DRM-less MP3 will work with the iPod, which is very important to compete, but how will it be delivered to the user? Will it automatically show up in a playlist in a program such as iTunes so that a non-tech person doesn't have to search for the downloaded file and put it where it belongs so he/she can immediately play it after its done? There are a lot of little details that Apple paid attention to that contribute to its success with this industry. Until someone can come up with a total solution that plays as nicely as iTunes and works with the iPod, they will all be dead in the water.
As technical people, this news sounds great, but we are a relatively small population compared to the rest of the world. In order for an idea like this to work on the level of iTunes/iPod, the less-than-savvy need to be addressed.
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No, it's because P2P doesn't cost anything. No other reason.
The twitter version of the advocacy guidelines (Score:3, Informative)
Yes: new bands-new fans (Score:2, Insightful)
As it turns out, this describes MySpace's audience perfectly, so yes, this could work.
With MySpace's ranking system, they only need to find a few dozen bands with real talent to make it a success. With a population of 300M bands to draw upon, that should be possible.
The record labels will never, ever give up their right to control distr
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Let's see.... They offer distribution and a cut in exchange for promotion and production. And, apparently, you want them to do this for the "poor" artist for free? Why, pray tell?
Wow. Welcome to MP3.com's business plan... (Score:2)
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Yes, except that myspace already has an audience and does other things.
Not the first (Score:2, Interesting)
This
Er- burn and audio cd (Score:2)
Video is another story. Harder to remove the DRM, when they won't let you burn to DVD.
Your right about emusic.
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This could work (Score:2)
2. Lots of teenagers/young people.
3. Store.
4. Profit.
I was waiting for them to come up with a store for ages now, that is the sensible business decision, the only part that has suprised me is the unsigned bands. Pretty much the way to make the RIAA hurt. All copyright infringement in the world didn't hurt RIAA this much as this simple move!
Um...this is how it works... (Score:4, Interesting)
1. The label signs the artist.
2. The label pays for expensive studio time.
3. The rep from the label contacts the program directors at radio stations to get airplay. Sending your demo tape to a station will not get you on the air...reps who offer tickets at concerts and coop opportunities for bigger artists get airplay (because payola is technically illegal).
4. The label pays for CD duplication, printing, distribution.
5. The label sends your CD to the music outlets.
6. The label arranges concerts, merchandising, etc to make you rich (because we all know artists make nearly nothing on the music itself).
In this day and age, computers and very inexpensive technology have somewhat eliminated the need for expensive studio time...but you can't cheap out on a real producer and real mastering engineer. Regardless, let's assume you have a decent recording. Instead of radio airplay, you go for popularity on myspace. You have no costs for CD duplication, printing, distribution or the need for agreements with music outlets. You arrange tshirt/mug/hat printing from an online business.
So...we're basically outdating the labels and the radio stations.
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Re:Um...this is how it works... (Score:4, Insightful)
Are you sure? I've been involved with a couple of low-volume CD releases (choral and classical). We got the entire thing done very cheaply (around £2/CD total costs for a run of under 200), and no one complained about the quality. Sure, if you've got a 'singer' who is so untalented that you need to apply complex frequency correction to his or her voice to make her sound remotely competent then you might need someone expensive, but if you already have a good sound then putting it on a disc isn't too hard.
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Typical Major Label:
1. The label signs the artist. to a contract that allows the record label to own forever, the music that the artists create, giving the label all rights to income from the artists, forever. This means that someone who writes a song doesn't actually get cred
Unsigned bands? (Score:2, Funny)
I bet these "MP3s from unsigned bands" won't play in Vista x64 Edition...
It's a matter of security, you see.
Who Owns it? (Score:4, Interesting)
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The Artist Katthult (Score:2)
Another interesting buisness model (Score:2)
Like mp3.com (Score:2)
Then one day they shut down and wiped all the music, slighyly pissing off people.
Compulsory licensing here we come (Score:3, Insightful)