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The recent
layoffs in the music industry struck a chord with me because they didn't
need to happen. The solution to their problems were right under their
noses . . . I call it . . .
"How Records
Save The Record Industry" - Posted 1/25/08 by Manuel
It's 1979. I'm in the dorm room. I had still been listening to
Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" regularly but a new event was
happening. It was the release day of the band's "The Wall." The
anticipation, the drive to the mall with friends, finding and seeing the
album in the "New Release" section, the drive back to my room
)with the
- as-yet-unopened - package sitting next to me), the opening, the
musical experience while admiring the album art, the enjoying it all with
friends and the getting to enjoy most of it all over again the next day.
It's 2007. I'm reading the morning paper and see that the music
industry laid off much of its workforce. Everyone assumes Mp3's and
other digital music-only files are to blame. Not so!
The record companies did it to
themselves. They took away our records. They took
away that glorious, natural sound. They took away all that fabulous
art. They took away THE VINYL LP RECORD EXPERIENCE! All this
while telling us digital files are better. Now we know. All they
had to admit vinyl records (when made properly) sound better, look better
and provide a much better overall experience.
The signs were
everywhere but the record industry gave us a classic example of "not seeing
the forest through the trees." Vinyl record sales doubled for the
second straight year (although the record industry didn't properly keep
track). Critics have been proclaiming the
sound superiority of vinyl for years. The music industry (no longer able to call itself "The Record
Industry") even stopped promoting
the benefits of sound quality. It really boggles the
mind. They dug their own graves.
There is hope,
however.
They can save themselves - if they want to
- but it now looks like it may take new
blood to make it work.
Here's what the music industry
needs to do:
They must implement
a well-timed distribution system. The
best analogy is the distribution model
adopted by the movie industry
Here's what movies do:
1. The movie trailers and other promotion tools are launched.
2. The movie is released in theatres only.
3. When movie sales start to tail the movie is released on airplanes
and on DVD.
4. When DVD rental and sale stall the movie is distributed to
subscription cable channels.
5. Further distribution continues . . .
Here's how it will work for
records:
1. Record company sends out advance promotion of a new release.
2. The vinyl LP record is released and available for for sale at traditional
and on-line retailers. (The recording has not yet been digitized).
3. When sales have peaked, the digital version of the Album is
released on CD only.
4. When sales of the CD have peaked, the On-line digital copy is
released.
5. Further distribution continues .
. .
It's time to give
back what a whole generation of families
missed out on.
For the rest of the story . . . Check back soon!! |
