Post as a comment to this post (click "comments" link below). Due by the beginning of class Week 1.1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.
2. What are the main points of the essay?
3. Did the article convince you one way or the other about the feasibility of a career in this field? Please explain.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Reading Reflection #1
Reading Reflection #1. If there are multiple readings assigned for a particular week, just pick one. The responses will consist of three-paragraph statements on a single article or essay, answering the following three questions (one paragraph per question):
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Survey Of The Audio Industry – Kevin Martin
ReplyDeleteReading Reflection #1
“Artists Find Backers as Labels Wane”
As long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be an independent music artist…
Ever since I read an article in The Source (back when they had credibility) about Public Enemy releasing music independently on mp3.com, I have been on the soapbox about self-releasing music and totally sidestepping the major labels in favor for a harder grind and greater overall success. This article resonated with me in many ways, as I would gladly trade the work needed to be successful for the advance money and basic contractual slavery offered by the labels.
The main points of this article are clear…achieving success in the music industry is not necessarily dependent on the major labels. Technology and advances in the Internet have dealt a major blow to the major labels and their control on the release of music. I particularly like the marketing/business strategy of Polyphonic and the way they invest in the artist, but also make sure that the artist knows about all facets of the business…and what it really takes to be a major success…without a major label. Also it points out that business creativity, along with the juices that flow in the studio, are required to be ahead of the curve and set the example and raise the bar for the music industry of the future. It’s a sad state of affairs that an independent can move 100K units at $10 apiece and be called successful, but a major artist can sell 300,000…and be broke…subsequently dropped…and fade from the spotlight faster than Jermaine Dupri artist J-Kwon.
This article just helped to bolster my position: The success can be achieved…and it can be lucrative, as long as one is willing to put the work in…and stay ahead of the trend by being flexible and creative when it comes to the business side of the industry.
Mike Valadez
ReplyDeleteReading Reflection 1
Swan Songs
Sorry I'm late. Got into the class on week two.
1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.
For this article, I chose "Swan Song?". I chose this article not only for the bizarre title but also, as I read on, that it discusses the downfall of the music industry and how music sales are rapidly decreasing.
2. What are the main points of the essay?
The main points of the essay state that "The speed" of the "industry is coming undone" quickly. It shows this by reviewing random surveys.The results were pretty major, however, they weren't enough to convince me. I felt the article was more statement than it was fact. Although the fact was pretty surprising, it didn't hit me as hard as I thought it would've.
3. Did the article convince you one way or the other about the feasibility of a career in this field? Please explain.
This article made me go both ways but mostly for the rise of music streaming and the rapid decline in music making much money. It made me think there's a slight chance music might have a chance at still being bought from the surveys giving low percentages on how many people stopped buying music compared to previous times. But still makes logical, true statements about how music streaming and the purchase of certain songs out of an album may be a curse as much of a blessing, leading musicians and the industry to their demise.
Gerardo Valadez
ReplyDeleteReading Reflection
1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.
I Chose "Music is in the Air" by David Patrick Stearns because it talks a lot about how as times go by the Music age differs when it comes to buying a Micheal Jackson Album or Mp3 songs right after his death. Which I knew what happened because I myself went and downloaded a bunch of songs once an artist passed away. But how also I download music, I try not to download music Illegally because of tough ties in our economy.
2. What are the main points of the essay?
What is dead or alive in this crazy industry and how you can't even really sell an EP album to someone when they can easily get your album some tricky way online. Wondering if our Record Labels in the Music Industry will sell CDs for cheap on the market now that everyone is buying downloads or even Illegally downloading songs from freeware programs.
3. Did the article convince you one way or the other about the feasibility of a career in this field?
It made me want to start buying CD's again instead of doing the new Downloading onto an MP3 player. Just to help out today's economy and shortages of CD Sales.
1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.
ReplyDeletea. Disruptive Innovation and the Death of the Recording Industry
b. I chose this article because I felt that the Author was hitting on some key points that I strong believe for myself are a greater cause to the death of the recording Industry than the just music piracy alone.
2. What are the main points of the essay?
Content production vs copyright infringement. I agree that there is a structural problem in the distribution industry. Distribution impacts the business more than the product itself..
3. Did the article convince you one way or the other about the feasibility of a career in this field? Please explain.
If Cds are to become outdated such as cassettes, and 8 tracks, I believe that will impact the distribution industries but not the musicians that continue to make the music. There are more and more ways to advertise these days I worked in the advertising field for a while and its constantly changing No one business uses one source of advertising for their publicity and if the internet is the best way to draw a bigger customer base then that’s a business decision that will be lucrative to the success of the company. If publicity for the artists is only through one medium, then that is suicide
The death of one marketing tool begets another! Musicians are in the business of making music so they should have a business mind to make decisions that will lead to more music making. We make music, not cds. The industry needs to focus more on advertising the artist and not just the distribution of their product. If the buyer can find you then he will buy. I used to tell my clients, “There are people with money in-hand trying to find you but they can’t.” Where do you think the first place they will go……the Internet! It’s all about change.
A career in the distribution industry might not be a wise decision. If cds are to stay around longer, then there has to be a better approach to marketing. Software seems to be doing just fine and their distribution is not coming to a halt. Microsoft may offer a solution in the music Industry.
1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.
ReplyDeletea. Disruptive Innovation and the Death of the Recording Industry
b. I chose this article because I felt that the Author was hitting on some key points that I strong believe for myself are a greater cause to the death of the recording Industry than the just music piracy alone.
2. What are the main points of the essay?
Content production vs copyright infringement. I agree that there is a structural problem in the distribution industry. Distribution impacts the business more than the product itself..
3. Did the article convince you one way or the other about the feasibility of a career in this field? Please explain.
If Cds are to become outdated such as cassettes, and 8 tracks, I believe that will impact the distribution industries but not the musicians that continue to make the music. There are more and more ways to advertise these days I worked in the advertising field for a while and its constantly changing No one business uses one source of advertising for their publicity and if the internet is the best way to draw a bigger customer base then that’s a business decision that will be lucrative to the success of the company. If publicity for the artists is only through one medium, then that is suicide
The death of one marketing tool begets another! Musicians are in the business of making music so they should have a business mind to make decisions that will lead to more music making. We make music, not cds. The industry needs to focus more on advertising the artist and not just the distribution of their product. If the buyer can find you then he will buy. I used to tell my clients, “There are people with money in-hand trying to find you but they can’t.” Where do you think the first place they will go……the Internet! It’s all about change.
A career in the distribution industry might not be a wise decision. If cds are to stay around longer, then there has to be a better approach to marketing. Software seems to be doing just fine and their distribution is not coming to a halt. Microsoft may offer a solution in the music Industry.