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For Only 59 cents a Day, You Can Save a Starving Record Exec, Part II

I had an interesting conversation with a good friend of mine from NY about the music biz the day after that Janis Ian post. He was, until AOLTW cutbacks a month ago, an asst. to the President of Atlantic Records. He knows just how tight the relationship acutally is between the labels and the radio/live venue operators (i.e. Clear Channel) and how there's virtually no way for somebody not connected with a major label to get any airplay. The whole pay-for-play is back.

My friend doubted my thoughts about artists using the internet as their primary promotion venue because he thought only certain segments of musicians have enough of a following who are comfortable downloading music, but I argued that that could rapidly change. While a band like Phish or Dave Matthews might be able to do it today, it won't be long before all segments of the population will be comforable with downloading music, particularly if it were legal and easy.

And I believe that the whole Cluetrain effect could have an impact. Music is really something passed by word-of-mouth and any human contact with the band really seems to have a bonding effect with fans. I remember how cool it was when I got an acual email back from a member of moe. after seeing their show at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta a few years back. Helps to explain why some bands keep loyal fans for years while others come and fade in no time.

I also intrigued by the potential for satallite radio to open up a new market for bands that haven't been picked up my labels or who want to bypass the labels. Kind like how cable TV allowed for new programming that allowed viewers to bypass the networks' programming designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience.