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Music industry whinging continues apace. Realising they are losing the PR battle, they are playing the job losses card as well as lying about decreasing sales. What the record industry will not admit, but instead blames on consumers, is that much of the stuff they have been pumping out in the last 5 years is crap. Instead of developing new talent, they either go for talentless “manufactured” groups, one-hit wonders like Will (Popidol) Young, or spend large heaps of money on has-been existing pop artists like Mariah Carey. People would not go the internet for their downloads if: 1. CDs were not so damn expensive; 2. the majors were actually releasing some decent music.
In the UK there is a great amount of hand-wringing about the fact that there are no UK pop acts in the top 100. This might have to do with the fact that pop music in the UK has been utter shite for a considerable period of time. The top of the chart last week was a group clearly ripping off Elvis with a remix track. (Wonk alert: yes I know Elvis spent most of his career ripping off black musicians, but does that it make right, either?) Def Leppard is about to release a new album which will no doubt do well in the US, as has Iron Maiden’s recent live release. Will the press pick up on either? I doubt it; the music press seems to be very weary of bragging when a hard rock act does well in the US.
The major chains have something to be blamed for as well; they go for the “mainstream” stuff at the expense of some of the smaller labels. In the US this is really bad; it is a bit better in the UK, but not much. Anyone with the slightest “odd” interest either has to go on-line or to a specialist shop.
The record industry is in another shakeout, expect job losses, a few closures and a bunch of “clone” bands to be dropped. Then the business will figure out what people want and will buy a whole bunch of smaller labels (and probably ruin them, ala Enigma).
On a side note:
Wonder if this idiotic comment will kill Korn’s career?
“I think Hitler went to Heaven. He felt that what he did was right, and I think that if what you feel you’re doing is right, in your heart, then you can’t be wrong!”—Korn’s Munky in ‘Metal Hammer’ magazine. Via Total Rock
Might not though; one of the “singers” in boy band Blue wondered allowed to a reporter why everyone was is in such a fuss about 9/11 when so many animals in the world were suffering. Their career seems to have continued unabated. Although I have not heard they are planning any tours to Israel or the US any time soon.
- A rumour in the music business has BMG is going down, as their American investor has pulled out.
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Glenn has posted an interesting piece about the forthcoming novel called Death of a Critic. It is claimed to be the first anti-semitic novel to be released since the war. I am not surprised, but it shows how hypocritical the German publishers (who own many of the English language ones) are when it comes to dissenting voices.
As one who has tried to flog (via an agent) a trilogy of eurosceptic sci/fi novels, I can tell you their doors are firmly closed to critics of the European “project”. Most, if not all, eurosceptic books written are being published by small presses. This means that it is much harder for them to get into the bookshops. The books then need to be sold in magazines or on the internet. The trouble is that most of the people who buy these magazines and visit the websites are already “on-side”. This defeats the whole purpose of the exercise, which is at least in part to present an alternative view to the EU.
It is clear that there are double standards in publishing. Anti-semitic/Israel left-wing commentary (and now fiction) is fine, but eurosceptic commentary is not permitted. This will only get worse as the EU is planning to introduce legislation (together with the Euro-arrest warrant) that will permit one to be prosecuted for criticising the EU and the European project.
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Not only is Hedgehogs cute n’ cuddly but them’s good vittles as well!
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Google! DayPop! This is my blogchalk: English, United Kingdom, London, Pimlico, Andrew, Male, 31-35!
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