Comments on: iTunes Under Threat By Music Labels and Artists http://www.jeffbennett.com/2008/09/itunes-under-threat-as-bands-take-their-business-elsewhere/ Sharing experiences as an entrepreneur, social media man, e-commerce pioneer, and student of life Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:29:07 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Robert Farago http://www.jeffbennett.com/2008/09/itunes-under-threat-as-bands-take-their-business-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Robert Farago Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:33:18 +0000 http://dealsbennett.wordpress.com/2008/09/25/itunes-under-threat-as-bands-take-their-business-elsewhere/#comment-15 Whenever a new medium is born, it frees the old one to reinvent itself. When the printing press arrived, theater had to find a new raison d'etre. When TV arose, radio had to change form to survive. The same is true for the LP. Musicians may think fondly of LPs as an "art form." But that's mostly a crock of shit. Before downloading, the LP/CD was simply an efficient way to sell/buy music. Ten songs for the price of two 45's! OK, there was a LOT of filler. But the LP still made more sense than 45's (AND 33 1/3 rpm LPs offered significantly higher fidelity than 45 rpm singles.) Post-downloading, the LP doesn't make sense as an economic proposition. As you point out, why buy shit you don't want? What's THAT all about? Anyone who thinks the music industry can (or will) EVER go back to the LP is nuts. But artists are now free to redefine the LP. Musicians will have to bundle their work in a more compelling way. Either all hits or, perhaps, a return to the "concept" album. [Of course, symphonic music has no such problem. Form follows form.] Otherwise and in any case, the LP as such is dead. And artists should celebrate, not moan. The pressure of delivering a large number of commercial songs by a certain date is gone. They can now focuys on quality, rather than quantity. Whenever a new medium is born, it frees the old one to reinvent itself. When the printing press arrived, theater had to find a new raison d’etre. When TV arose, radio had to change form to survive.

The same is true for the LP.

Musicians may think fondly of LPs as an “art form.” But that’s mostly a crock of shit. Before downloading, the LP/CD was simply an efficient way to sell/buy music. Ten songs for the price of two 45’s! OK, there was a LOT of filler. But the LP still made more sense than 45’s (AND 33 1/3 rpm LPs offered significantly higher fidelity than 45 rpm singles.)

Post-downloading, the LP doesn’t make sense as an economic proposition. As you point out, why buy shit you don’t want? What’s THAT all about?

Anyone who thinks the music industry can (or will) EVER go back to the LP is nuts. But artists are now free to redefine the LP. Musicians will have to bundle their work in a more compelling way. Either all hits or, perhaps, a return to the “concept” album.

[Of course, symphonic music has no such problem. Form follows form.]

Otherwise and in any case, the LP as such is dead. And artists should celebrate, not moan. The pressure of delivering a large number of commercial songs by a certain date is gone. They can now focuys on quality, rather than quantity.

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