10 ways to save the music industry

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10 ways to save the music industry

The music industry has been in a plummet for various reasons including illegal downloading and the simplicity of sharing music over the internet for some years now. Most people laugh and say, “We’ll, the musicians have the money, whatever…” It is however very ironic because these usually are the same people who complain that there hasn’t been any new good music for a decade or two; maybe there’s a connection there everyone.

Bands are not making money like they used to, the industry is going down the drain and it’s because of the change in technology. With mp3 players and what not, people don’t want o lug around or store a bulky CD collection if they don’t have to. Therefore, they buy or (and more than likely) illegally download a couple tracks from an album and then it’s over. This is changing the industry in the way record labels work, the way (and how much) the band works, and even influencing the quality and artistic creativity of the music, song to song.

In the past, during the time of vinyl records (which I have a 400+ and growing collection) if someone wanted to hear a song, the would either find the nearest radio and wait till it came on, sing it, or go to a record store, and buy the full LP. Now, during the digital age, us Gen Xer’s prefer to just buy a sidekick phone and pay under a dollar to buy a song or two. Hear it instantly. Which would be so much of a bad thing, other than; picture this, Pink Floyd’s “Dark side of the Moon,” but you only bought one song. Not getting the full effect hu? We’ll this has created a new consideration for artists when making albums. “Do we connect the songs the way we want? Does the order of the songs matter anymore? Do we have to make every song similar now so people aren’t turned off after buying just the ballad or something? If people are only going to buy one or two songs, why make a whole album?” …and thus, the end of the music industry.

Let’s take a look as to how you and all you’re sidekick, iphone carrying friends can help save the music industry…

10 Ways to help

1. Stop downloading illegally! It’s not good for the band, not good for the label, doesn’t sound as good for you, and will eventually cause all musicians to go bankrupt and music will be no more.
2. Buy the album instead of buying the record on Itunes, take your hybrid to the store hippy, and buy the album. You’ll even get to put it on your Itunes later and keep the CD for fun!
3. Look at the artwork read the album credits, learn something, hug it, believe in it. It’ll make you more interesting to talk to at parties.
4. Get the album at the band’s show! Usually, depending on the label, bands make more money per album sold when they tour and sell the disc’s at there merch booths. If your going to spend money, why not get it directly to the artist so they can eat breakfast in the morning at their next gig.
5. Talk to the band Here is a way to utilize the stuff we’ve got as Gen Xer’s. Every band has a website, a my space page, or pure volume page. They would like nothing more than some feedback from their followers and getting some consumer advice on how they should get there music to you, via Itunes, via radio, via CD store, etc. As long as they know their audience, they’ll want to do the best to please you guys; fact.
6. Talk to the record label Do the same for the label. Most bands that are making it right now are called “indie” bands. That’s not because there coming from India, it’s because they are part of a subculture created by bands signed to independent record labels. Give’em a call. Say hello!
7. Tell other people to stop downloading illegally you could be a hero!
8. Boycott major superstores that sell music and buy from a smaller Indie record store. Okay, maybe you’re a supporter from middle America where there aren’t many independent record stores, but you city folk, no excuses, East coast; Newbury Comics. West coast; Ameba records. Not Wal-Mart.
9. Join a street team They can suck, but most are fun, you meet a lot of cool people and usually get the stuff that you would have rather illegally downloaded, for free.
10. Never stop loving good tunes Musicians can be some of the most passionate artists in the world, most musicians will play music whether there is a market for it or not, so never stop finding good stuff.

I mean really think about, ever ind your parents record collection, or old eight tracks that are cool to listen to, and cool to share memories and cool to pass on? What you going to hear from your kids? “Mom, I found your old play list from 2007, you listened to funny music.” ………….No.