I just finished listening to the NPR podcast and reading Jonathan Coulton's response. I have to agree with Coulton 1000 percent. I feel the Internet IS NOT hurting artists at all. If anything, it's helping them by bringing them new fans they didn't have before, helping them keep the ones they have, and getting them new exposure they wouldn't have if they just did things the old fashioned way (relying on their labels to get them exposed.) Web sites like You Tube have millions of videos featuring artists that span many different genres of music. I personally haven't heard anyone say they didn't want to support someone because they have videos on You Tube and I don't think I ever will.
I felt that Jacob Ganz and Frannie Kelley from NPR's The Record didn't even respect Coulton because he didn't earn his money the way traditional artists do. They were very negative and skeptical, calling him a niche artist and that his business plan wouldn't work for anyone else. But, aren't ALL artists a niche artist at some point in their careers? They all have to start somewhere and develop a fan base. I feel with artists like Coulton they already have that fan base so many artists long for in those beginning stages.
I believe the record industry needs to evolve with technology just as the rest of us do. They may not want to, but they will risk losing out on so much. To quote Coulton which will sum everything up "The revolution in the music industry (which has already happened by the way) is one of efficiency, and it means that success is now possible on a much smaller scale. Nobody has to sell out Madison Square Garden anymore to make a living." That's the icing on the cake right there.
I agree. I felt the same way about the podcast, but one interesting thing is how he handled it. I really love the fact that artists like this are emerging. I would much rather support someone like Jonathan Coulter than someone going through a label, he is making nice money for doing his work. He is earning his pay. And what I want to contribute to him, I want to go to him, so I am excited about the Music Revolution and thankful we have the internet at our fingertips to do with it what we want. :)
ReplyDeleteNo the internet does not hurt artist if any thing it progress there success. There will always be people like planet money that want coulton's money. Who are the any way they aren't relevant. if i was a nerd and got famous and money like he did i woulnt even give them the time of day. id say who?
ReplyDeleteI think that the internet has been one of the single most important things over the past 10-15 years. The time of radio marketing or word of mouth is still around but not nearly as much as the exposure you can gain through internet marketing. There are so many outlets to use that can benefit artists. The internet does not hurt the artist at all. It is very beneficial to them actually and you can argue that it maybe makes the record label less relevant. I can't remember the last time i've seen posters or flyers for a up and coming artist but advertisement over the internet (facebook, twitter, youtube, etc) i see it everyday and that's where the exposure is.
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