Downloads mean fans ignore albums

Theage.com (au) ^ | 1/5/04 | Thor Christensen

[missyme]

The only ones that can do that will have to come out of Music retirement

[commish]

The industry's goal of one catchy pop tune per album, and no real musicians (who would have the clout to argue for more money) is the real problem

Ahh yes, the infamous KID CRAP er I mean KID ROCK ploy. Put one "Radio/Chart" friendly song on your album, and then follow it with 10 tracks of lousy screaming/cussing/drumlines.

[Squawk 8888]

Topic drift alert!

The term "album" comes from the days of 78rpm. You could buy records as one-disc "singles", or as a set bound in an album.

[Squawk 8888]

"I see the demise as inevitable," says singer David Bowie.

Bowie is part of the problem. I bought his last album on the strength of Slow Burn and was royally PO'd when I realized it was the only good track.

[Born Conservative]

"We have to be the ones who decide what happens to our music," says Lars Ulrich of Metallica. "We conceive entire albums, and I'm not gonna give it to you in any other form than the one I conceive. ... You can dissect it after that if you want, but at least you have to respect our choice."

Uh, Lars, it's the CONSUMER ultimately driving the market for your music. If it's good, then it will be bought. If it's bad, or not in a form that is desireable (e.g. singles), then you aren't going to be able to sell it. And if you can't sell it, you won't make any money off of it. But, if you want to have total "artistic control" over it and sacrifice sales, go for it; it's a free capitalist country and it's your choice!

[WOSG]

THe whole music industry is absurd ... western civilization has created 400 years of good music, and less than .5% of that good music was created last year, and 0% of that good music was marketed via MTV.

Dont buy any new music - period. Get old classical, blues, big band, jazz, R&B, crooners like sinatra, Bach, Opera, funk, bluegrass, Bob Wills, etc. Now if I can find a way to record stuff on my computer that plays on the internet radio stations, I'm set for life.

Better music for less. Win/win.

[LiberalSlayer99]

PPL are sick of paying for a CD with 9 bad songs and 1 good one.

People are tired of paying $17-20 for a CD with only one good song!

[steve8714]

Unless by Leon Russell, Sammy Hagar or Andrea Bocelli, I manage to ignore albums (CD's) without resorting to downloads.

[Buell_X1-1200]

First, a little comment regarding Metallica: If you've ever listened to it, no album since Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" plays better from start to finish than "...And Justice For All". You have to give 'em that much, their song placement made for an epic of an album.

But for me, being a big music fan, and since the creation of Napster (and other file-sharing software), I swore that I will NEVER buy another Album/CD again. The artits always used to say, "it's all about the music", and that's what gives me fits. That's so far from the truth these days. As a matter of fact, I plan to never purchase music CD's again.

I will never give the big record companies (or whining artists) another cent of my hard-earned money. Maybe they'll get the picture and write a few good songs for a change.

I, for one, don't want to have to buy the "Greatest Hits" album off of a TV commercial to get a CD full of good music.

Oh yeah, what the heck happened to MTV? It was supposed to be "Music Television". Where's the music? It ain't on MTV2 ... and these video awards ... where are these videos being shown? Can't say I remember the last time I saw a 'music video'.

[GSWarrior]

Well, IMO you've got two types of music listeners...

...those who rely on the radio for guidance on what type of music to purchase and don't want to hear anything that is unfamiliar or challenging. These trendies will buy the latest release from Elton John, Madonna, Spears, etc, because those releases are selling and everyone else is listening to them...

...and those who are a little more discriminatory when it comes to music purchases.

Generally, I think those in the first group are more likely to download songs and not purchase CDs.

I haven't bought a CD from a major label in years(excluding classical). Not be design, just seems that all the artists I like are on small labels.

[chris1]

Metallica has sold out and I can't even listen to Master of Puppets without thinking of how low they have sunk, on many levels. There are metal bands like Slayer - who put our great album after great album, all with great songs, and have earned a loyal fan base willing to pay for their material. They tour and put our great shows. Metallica should be ashamed of themselves for selling out like they did.

[Land of the Free 04]

The Red Hot Chili Peppers' last two CDs were very good; not every track was a winner, but well over half of them were.

[Rebelbase]

""...R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck agrees. "I can't tell you how many albums I bought back in the vinyl days and only listened to one side."

It was always a great moment when you discovered a good song on the "B" side of an album.

[missyme]

I wouldn't even know what station to listen to for the top 40? I know where the station is for Classic Rock, Jazz and Blues and maybe some country that is about it.

Rely on my own CD's that I have had forever or ones I have made off the Internet.
Rap is basically Crap and Pop is for people born after 1985

[bobsatwork]

"I haven't bought a newly-released album in ten years. I have. How the West Was Won by Led Zep. Wonderful. Best music purchase in a decade.

[martin gibson]

Screw the big labels for their greed. They will never get my money again.

DING DING DING...!!! We have a winner!!

[Cardini]

Open letter to the music industry;
Oh how my heart bleeds for you. Even the lowest paid musician spends more on parties a week than I make in a year at a really good job. Oh how I cry as you endlessly whine that you will only make 60 million instead to 70 million this year. I have no sympathy for you. None, zero, zilch!

[jordan8]

It was obvious this was the trend from the beginning of the internet/MP3 union.

We have to be the ones who decide what happens to our music," says Lars Ulrich of Metallica. "We conceive entire albums, and I'm not gonna give it to you in any other form than the one I conceive. ... You can dissect it after that if you want, but at least you have to respect our choice.
What a laugh, you talentless little twit. All about artistic integrity, is it? HA!

[Hank Rearden]

"We have to be the ones who decide what happens to our music," says Lars Ulrich of Metallica. "We conceive entire albums, and I'm not gonna give it to you in any other form than the one I conceive. ... You can dissect it after that if you want, but at least you have to respect our choice."

Unfortunately for Lars, no matter how he crafts, "conceives" or arranges it - Metallica is crap.