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If Albums Are Dead, Why Not Offer Playlists?
from the just-a-suggestion dept
Every few months or so, we see yet another article talking about the end of the "album" concept. The latest one comes from the NY Times, noting that even some record labels are signing artists to only record a couple songs at a time. The article notes that many music listeners don't think in terms of albums any more, but rather think of "playlists" found on iPods or other music listening devices. Of course, what's not explained is why the industry doesn't shift to bundling up music and offering such playlists. If the concept of the playlist is replacing the album in the minds of consumers, why isn't the same thinking moving to the industry execs as well? Why not bring together DJs who can create compelling playlists of a variety of different bands, and offer that as a compelling value-added service? Oh... that's right, because the industry wants to throw those DJs in jail.
Also of interest in the NY Times article is the following quote: "Another solution being debated in the industry would transform record labels into de facto fan clubs. Companies including the Warner Music Group and the EMI Group have been considering a system in which fans would pay a fee, perhaps monthly, to "subscribe" to their favorite artists and receive a series of recordings, videos and other products spaced over time." Funny that some of us were suggesting exactly that concept four years ago -- but we're still being told that the business models we're suggesting have no basis in reality.
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drm'd play lists
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Now thats what i call music
The Now series is a fixture on billboards top "albums."
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Everyone?
Which again tells you that their head is in the wrong place. In today's fragmented market finding music that "everyone" wants is increasingly difficult, if not impossible.
Instead of focusing on the mass-market "blockbuster", they should be doing everything possible to foster niches and subniches, and ensuring that they have the best offerings in each.
It might not look as easy, but it's more of a sure road than spending millions in promotion on a band they "hope" will succeed.
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or just skip the record company
Its pretty cool.
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Re: Now thats what i call music
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Playlists exist
The idea of offering playlists because they are popular in iPods misses the mark. The iPod personalizes the music experience by letting the owner to put together playlists. I find it hard to believe a DJ could select a better playlist than I can.
DJ playlists sound like something Apple or other music download services can offer as a value add. Apple already does something list that since they have celebrity playlists.
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Re: Playlists exist
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tightly focused compilations
I hate buying a CD and finding out there are no liner notes, just a piece of paper with a list of other products I "might enjoy".
They should leave the task of assembly party tapes, workout tunes and personal soundtracks to their listeners. Frankly, nobody cares about Mr. Executive's fave tunes from the last 20 years, even if he happens to have excellent taste.
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Horrible Idea
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This does not sound good
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The Reason that Albums Suck
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psh
If I have an artist on my iPod, I can guarantee I have about 50+ songs, or if they're indie, then I've got all that's possible to get.
a 'couple of songs' is for a casual listener, not someone into the music scene.
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Playlists....satellite radio
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Albums
Going to a different genre, an Enigma album really should be listened to start-to-finish. Pulling one song out and sticking it onto a "playlist" of songs by different artists destroys a large part of what makes an Enigma album truly wonderful.
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I actually tend not to buy single songs, unless it's a remix off an EP or something like that.
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playlists a new business?
A whole new industry; figure out a way to pay the creator of the play list a bit (after all he/she is acting as producer), or even better let them be your distribution channel, let them keep a little piece of the action when they sell the songs on the list.
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Albums are not dead
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albums and playlists are the same thing
by not addressing this issue then they really have a two pronged battle on their hands. One of which is that there are music fans who may have never once paid for their music.
The second one is the older fans, who have supported artists, by buying the same music on 8 tracks, cassettes, vinlye and cds.
those older fans also grew up in a era where it was never really considered ileagal to make a recording of your albums.
In my opinion these mind sets will be hard to change.
The reality is if one ureleased song was leaked to the internet, within days or weeks there could easily be a million copies of that song. Which would translate to a million dollars in lost sales to that record company.
what is needed is a radical new bussiness model. Perhaps record stores could have kioseks in them where they could pick their songs and burn their cds on the spot. They could have release parties for newly released albums. Perhaps the bands could play the album over the internet and be streamed to these stores and at the end of the nite these concerts could be sold to those at the parties.
Or maybe there could be a insurance policy on your cds where damaged disks would be replaced free or for a small service charge. Or you could upgrade your music collection from cd to DVD.
Is this the right bussiness model maybe not but the possibilities are endless and the music industry change or die.
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Re: Albums are not dead
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Albums vs. compiliation
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