Industry news
HighNotes: An end to big concerts?
Along with dire predictions for the album, we could see the end to stadium concerts. Ever consider selling your album as an app? Why not - it's all about the long tail nowadays anyway. Australian startup, GiggedIn is disrupting the industry with its crowdfunding model, and indie labels unite under common cause.
An end to big concerts?
Could we see an end to arena / stadium concerts within the next decade? What a sad state of affairs the music industry seems to be in. Has music lost its value - to the point that the average streamer doesn't even listen to a full song before moving on. The death of the album will reap all sorts of repercussions for an industry severely feeling the pressure of the digital age. Read "Analyst: There will be a collapse in arena bands within a decade" for insight into where we're headed.
Selling albums as apps
With the death of the album prophesised by many a music industry critic, here's a thought: why not sell your albums as apps. Paul McCartney's doing it. His albums Band on the Run, McCartney, McCartney II, RAM and Wings over America are now available for $7,99 for iPad, and of course you get more than just the music. It's an interesting option for artists today. Read "Paul McCartney now selling his albums as iPad apps" to find out how he's doing it.
GiggedIn expands pledging model
Australian startup, GiggedIn - similar to our City Soirée - uses a pledging model to take the financial risk out of hosting gigs. Fans pledge their support, making a bands performance viable knowing beforehand what attendance will be like. GiggedIn are expanding on this model, and even plan on taking the business overseas. For more information on the crowdfunding company, read "Sydney startup revolutionising music industry, soon to plan overseas expansion".
The Fair Digital Deals Declaration
700 independent record labels worldwide have aligned their causes under the "Fair Digital Deals Declaration". The declaration aims to address concerns that include transparency in explaining royalty statements, and supporting artists who oppose the unauthorised use of their music. Read "More Than 700 indie labels unite in 'Fair Digital Deals Declaration'" to understand the declaration and its propositions.
Focusing on the long tail
There's a new film I've been meaning to check out; it's called Boyhood. Like writer Ari Herstand, I was also impressed by its Rotten Tomatoes rating of 100. In "What Boyhood can teach the music industry", Herstand explains how just like the indie film's opening week figures won't matter in the long-term in terms of its success, the music industry is seeing the same transformation. He purports that in the age of streaming, it all comes down to creating amazing art that will continuously be consumed and show more results in the long tail.
