ENGL202 033 FL-Mr. Mark Adam Lang (BBDP)

Music vs. Free

Mark Lang

ENGL 202

12:30-1:45

Spring 2009

 

Abstract

Today, the music industry is huge, but it is not bringing in the kind of money it could.  One reason for the decline of income could be the availability of free music on the internet.  Anyone can basically find any song on the internet for free: This is beginning to hurt the industry.  Can this problem be avoided and or dealt with?  There are many people or groups out there trying to find the answer.  There has been a new technique created to sell something to the fans that is not music or merchandise.  In fact, it is not a material object in any way. Bands are now selling exclusive insights into the band that no one else can get.  This new technique of selling a bands "exclusiveness" could save the bands within the music industry, but what are the Record labels doing. I plan to answer the question, what is each part of the music industry doing to combat this.

Introduction

As technology's affect outreaches, the world is forced to adapt.  Every facet of life is affected including major industries.  It seems these days, with a simple search, you can find any music you want to on the internet free of charge. How can the music industry combat this change?  How will bands and recording labels adjust to the ever changing technological world? 

Fieldwork Statement

 

I am planning on doing a survey of the IUP campus.  I will ask as many people as I can the following questions.

1.Do you down load music on the internet for free?                                                        Yes/No

2.How often you do you download music for free on the internet? - Average  # of times per                month

 

            Using these two quick questions I am hoping to gain quantitative data showing the free music downloading habits of a normal college.  At least one hundred students will be surveyed and I will have a sheet for them to circle yes or no and to write their average number of free downloads per month.                                                               

Source Review / Conversations

"Research and Markets: The Recorded Music Industry Has Grown Many Folds with Many." Business Wire The Gale Group, Inc., 16 Nov. 2004. Web. 25 Oct. 2009. <http://www.allbusiness.com/media-telecommunications/movies-sound-recording-record/5586862-1.html>.

-This article gives statistics about the drop in annual global sales of recorded music.

Delonge, Tom. Modlife N.p., 2009. Web. 12 Nov. 2009. <http://www.modlife.com/>.

-This website is one example of bands fighting back at the free music downloading.

ROVICS, DAVID "Sing for Your Supper: A DIY Guide to Playing Music, Writing Songs & Booking Your Own Gigs." fROOTS, Local Music from Out There 30.6 (306) (2008): 71-72. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

            - What it once took for musicians to make it in the biz.

Cobo, L. "Independent thinkers: With Latin CD sales down more than 20%, indie promo and marketing strategies shined." BILLBOARD, The International Authority on Music, Video and Digital Entertainment 120.51 (2008): 40. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

- Deals with the drop in Latino C.D. sales/

KNOPPER, STEVE "2007: From bad to worse; record biz in free fall; sales down 36 percent since 2000." ROLLING STONE 1045 (2008): 15. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

`-More stats about music industry decline,.

Serpick, E. "Industry: Labels in free-fall (January CD sales worst in SoundScan history)." ROLLING STONE 1020 (2007): 12. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

- Same but focusing on record labels down fall.

CHUCK D (r.n. Carlton, Ridenhour) "'Free' music can free the artist: musicians' anger at Napster is misdirected." THE NEW YORK TIMES 149.(2000): 25. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

-Shows how free music could be good for musicians.

 

Working Bibliography

 

Websites:

"Research and Markets: The Recorded Music Industry Has Grown Many Folds with Many." Business Wire The Gale Group, Inc., 16 Nov. 2004. Web. 25 Oct. 2009. <http://www.allbusiness.com/media-telecommunications/movies-sound-recording-record/5586862-1.html>.

Delonge, Tom. Modlife N.p., 2009. Web. 12 Nov. 2009. <http://www.modlife.com/>.

Statistics:

Cobo, L. "Independent thinkers: With Latin CD sales down more than 20%, indie promo and marketing strategies shined." BILLBOARD, The International Authority on Music, Video and Digital Entertainment 120.51 (2008): 40. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

KNOPPER, STEVE "2007: From bad to worse; record biz in free fall; sales down 36 percent since 2000." ROLLING STONE 1045 (2008): 15. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

Serpick, E. "Industry: Labels in free-fall (January CD sales worst in SoundScan history)." ROLLING STONE 1020 (2007): 12. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

 

FREE:

CHUCK D (r.n. Carlton, Ridenhour) "'Free' music can free the artist: musicians' anger at Napster is misdirected." THE NEW YORK TIMES 149.(2000): 25. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

ZIMMERMAN, ART "'Free' has a price." RADIO FREE JAZZ, The Newspaper of the Jazz Pros 18.(1977): 20. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

How the Industry once worked:

Avalon, Moses. Confessions of a Record Producer. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books, 1998. Net Library E-Books. Web. 17 Nov. 2009.

ROVICS, DAVID "Sing for Your Supper: A DIY Guide to Playing Music, Writing Songs & Booking Your Own Gigs." fROOTS, Local Music from Out There 30.6 (306) (2008): 71-72. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

New Industry:

Tolley, D.. A music industry program for today's colleges and universities.  Diss. The Ohio State University, 2008. Dissertations & Theses: Full Text, ProQuest. Web. 17 Nov. 2009.

In addition there will be a survey:

 

     Through the comments left by Dr. Sherwood, i have gained a new perspective that I  completely missed in my proposal.  My paper is about the music industry's decline, as of late, and the reason for that decline being the availability of free music on the internet, but I had never thought about the fact that the people are really stealing these songs.  I need to look at why our society feels that it's wrong to steal material objects but its all right to steal music.  Stealing is stealing, right?  There must be a reason for the lack of strong values toward the stealing of music.

How is the music industry battling losses due to free music on the internet?
       -Famous Bands, local bands, major record labels, small record labels, venues, etc.
1. Understand how the Music Industry worked in the past.
     - How has it changed in the past. What other adaptations has the Industry made in the past.
           - Use books for this.
           - Examples - Radio, new technologies like cassette  tapes and c.d.'s

2. Show what some of the new problems that are being found.

     - Free music
           - Websites and articles
           - possible survey.
3. Talk about when the Industry tried to fight this.

  -  Trying to get rid of free music sites. (law suits and outcomes

          -How did they do this.

                 - Articles etc

4. Why hasn't this fight worked.

           - Articles.

5. How are tactics changing in this fight.
     -Bands big and small!!!
          - Use Examples
               - Modlife, research more.
     -Record Labels big and small!!!
             - research their websites and articles.
6.  Are what the bands doing going to hurt other aspects of the Industry like labels.
    - tie into 4.
            - articles.
7. Is it working?
    -Observations
    -Aricles

http://www.allbusiness.com/media-telecommunications/movies-sound-recording-record/5586862-1.html

Modlife.com (add from paper)

ROVICS, DAVID "Sing for Your Supper: A DIY Guide to Playing Music, Writing Songs & Booking Your Own Gigs." fROOTS, Local Music from Out There 30.6 (306) (2008): 71-72. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

Cobo, L. "Independent thinkers: With Latin CD sales down more than 20%, indie promo and marketing strategies shined." BILLBOARD, The International Authority on Music, Video and Digital Entertainment 120.51 (2008): 40. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

KNOPPER, STEVE "2007: From bad to worse; record biz in free fall; sales down 36 percent since 2000." ROLLING STONE 1045 (2008): 15. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

Serpick, E. "Industry: Labels in free-fall (January CD sales worst in SoundScan history)." ROLLING STONE 1020 (2007): 12. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

CHUCK D (r.n. Carlton, Ridenhour) "'Free' music can free the artist: musicians' anger at Napster is misdirected." THE NEW YORK TIMES 149.(2000): 25. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

ZIMMERMAN, ART "'Free' has a price." RADIO FREE JAZZ, The Newspaper of the Jazz Pros 18.(1977): 20. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

"Something's in the air." ROCK & RAP CONFIDENTIAL 143 (1997): 1-2. The Music Index Online. EBSCO. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.

Today, the music industry is huge, but it is not bringing in the kind of money it could.  One reason for the decline of income could be the availability of free music on the internet.  Anyone can basically find any song on the internet for free: This is beginning to hurt the industry.  Can this problem be avoided and or dealt with?  There are many people or groups out there trying to find the answer.  There has been a new technique created to sell something to the fans that is not music or merchandise.  In fact, it is not a material object in any way. Bands are now selling exclusive insights into the band that no one else can get.  This new technique of selling a bands "exclusiveness" could save the bands within the music industry, but what are the Record labels doing. I plan to answer the question, what is each part of the music industry doing to combat this.

Modlife saves Music's Life

            As technology's affect out reaches, it is forcing to the world to change, affecting almost every facet of life.  This includes the major industries of our time: Industries that have had a very similar format for doing business for decades.  It seems these days, you can find any show, movie, or album that you want, on the internet for free.  How can the music industry combat this change?  One man may have the solution, but will this idea be enough to save the industry.  I believe it will.

            The music industry is being forced to battle with music downloading cites that offer free music to their users.  Generally, the downloading of bands music for free is illegal, but that does not seem to stop anyone.  I can not count the number of times I have heard, "Did you hear so and so's new album? Yeah, I downloaded it last night."  The music industry, in the past, was based on ticket sales, merchandise sales, and music sales, but with the growth of these cites allowing free downloads, how will bands be able to make any money on C.D.'s.  Band's C.D.'s are still for sale, but for how long.  My prediction is not for a whole lot longer.

            There are many bands out there trying to figure out ways to change the music industry in a way to offer their music for free, while still making money.  There are some ideas out there, but one in particular caught my attention.  Angels and Airwaves front man Tom Delonge has decided to take the problem into his own hands.  Tom went to work, finding something that he could offer fans, that they would be willing to pay for.  After months of discussions, arguments, and brain storming sessions, he created a website called modlife.com.  The website sells fans an inside look into the band.  For a monthly fee, you can see exclusive interviews, blogs, photos, behind the scenes looks, live broadcast, and more.  You can even talk to the band on live messaging sessions.  The idea is taking off for Tom.  He has now added many bands to his website as well as professional photographers, extreme sports professionals, and even a news team (modlife).  It seems like this idea could be the future of the music industry and quite possibly the future for many others.

The idea behind offering the band's music free is to get more listeners.  Basically, this allows for more ears to hear your music.  More people listening can mean a greater number of concert attendees and a greater number of people willing to pay to have that inside look, backstage pass, into their favorite band.  A perfect example of this would be Prince offering his music free to 2.8 million people in London.  Prince slipped 2.8 million copies of his C.D. into a widespread newspaper. 

"Last July, Prince debuted his new album, Planet Earth, by stuffing a copy -- retail value $19 -- into 2.8 million issues of the Sunday edition of London's Daily Mal.... He charged the Daily Mail a licensing fee of 36 cents a disc rather than his customary $2. But he more than made up the difference in ticket sales." (Anderson)

Through the idea of free music, bands will be able to make money without selling a single C.D..  I believe modlife.com will become the format for thousands of bands websites, all across the world.  This great idea, in my mind, will revolutionize the music industry.  Although it may seem crazy that musical artist could continue to make money in this fashion, I believe it is the future.  Adaptation is the only way to survive in this world today, and not only has modlife.com found a way to adapt, they have found a way to "modify" an entire industry.

Free Music

 

            As technology's affect out reaches, the world is forced to adapt.  Every facet of life is affected including major industries.  It seems these days, you can find any show, movie, or album that you want, on the internet for free. How can the music industry combat this change? One man may have the solution.

            The music industry is being forced to battle with music downloading cites that offer free music to their users.  The music industry is based on ticket sales, merchandise sales, and music sales.  C.D.'s are still for sale but for how long. With all the free music out there, how will bands be able to make any money on C.D.'s.

            There are many bands out there trying to figure out ways to change the music industry in a way to offer their music for free, while still making money. Angels and Airwaves front man Tom Delonge decided to take the mission upon himself.  Tom went to work, finding something that he could offer fans, that they would be willing to pay for.  He created a website called modlife.com.  The website sells fans an inside look into the band.  For a monthly fee, you can see exclusive interviews, blogs, photos, behind the scenes looks, live broadcast, and more.  You can even talk to the band on live messaging sessions.  The idea is taking off for Tom.  He has now added many bands to his website, as well as a professional surfer.  This is the future of the music industry.

The idea behind offering the band's music free is to get more listeners.  Basically, this allows for more ears to hear your music.  A perfect example of this would be Prince offering his music free to 2.8 million people in London.  Prince slipped 2.8 million copies of his C.D. into a widespread newspaper. 

"Last July, Prince debuted his new album, Planet Earth, by stuffing a copy -- retail value $19 -- into 2.8 million issues of the Sunday edition of London's Daily Mal.... He charged the Daily Mail a licensing fee of 36 cents a disc rather than his customary $2. But he more than made up the difference in ticket sales."

Through the idea of free music, Bands will be able to make, quite possibly, even more money than before.  I believe modlife.com will become the format for thousands of bands websites, all across the world.  This great idea, could revolutionize the music industry.

How will modlife.com change the music industry?

Virtual Crime

"What happens on the internet, stays on the internet". Not true.
We tend to think of the internet as an object that we control. We use it everyday for so many things, and it has become our closest friend. Who would have thought, our closest friend could hurt us so bad.
These articles are talking about the ability of the internet to really affect our lives. The girl that committed suicide because of myspace is a perfect example. A girl is dead now because of what people said to her on the internet. I guess the internet itself is not the one hurting us. It is the people using it. Freaks out there have a new tool to prey on people. There are so many scams and unjust operations out there on the internet, and we must be careful.
The two other articles talk about virtual rape, which could be a very traumatic experience. It could affect peoples use of the internet. They no longer can us these fun applications, because of these messed up people.
Cyber bullying is a serious thing. Peoples lives can be changed forever because of something said on the internet. 

Pew Internet and American Life Project, Teens and Technology.
I completely agree with what this article has concluded about teens and their view of technologies. We do still feel that email is important when talking to teachers, professors, and adults in general, but it is so easy to see the shift from email to text messaging, IM, and Facebook when talking to friends. It is funny to us now to think that email was once so cutting edge. Email was where it was at. I remember getting my first email account. I was ecstatic and i only used it like once a week. Now i text, aim, facebook, and read tweets of my fav bands everyday.
Is this a bad thing. I'm not convinced. I guess I am that guy that Sherwood was talking about. I think it is a good thing that we are in touch with everyone so much these days. I just got into face book this summer. I was also able to text for the first time this summer. In the past when i went to school, I lost touch with the people back home. People that I love like my sis. It was like they didnt exist for two semesters. Now we talk everyday, and I love that.
Is it bad that we got away from email. Is it bad that we talk less face to face? Does it make long distance relationships easier? Where will this messaging technology go from here?