“The digital music revolution has been compromised, according to Kid Rock, because digital music stores and record labels still manage to hoard the lion’s share of music revenue,” Eliot Van Buskirk writes for Wired.
MacDailyNews Take: Music labels, yes. Digital music stores? No. Not from what we’ve heard. Apple’s iTunes operates at break-even or just above. Bobbie, the reason that the record labels still manage to hoard the lion’s share of music revenue is because you and/or your management are incapable of negotiating and signing a lucrative contract.
Van Buskirk continues, “He advises fans to download his music for free from P2P services, although he himself doesn’t have to. ‘I don’t steal things,’ he told the BBC. ‘I’m rich.’ As for everyone else, he says, ‘Download it illegally, I don’t care. I want you to hear my music so I can play live.'”
MacDailyNews Take: So, you got rich solely from playing live and not from record sales, Bobbie? It’s possible, we guess. But, it’s also pretty hard to believe. In all probability, some of your riches came from music sales. Bad contract or not. Regardless, that’s not the point. The point is that iTunes is not taking the money, the labels are, so the boycott of iTunes Store is misplaced. Next time, don’t sign with a label. The label has served it’s purpose: you now have a fan base, so market your music to fans directly via iTunes, Amazon, and the other non-exclusionary online outfits and you’ll keep more money.
Van Buskirk continues, “Rock’s tirade was apparently precipitated by a request from his record label, Warner Music Group’s Atlantic Records, that he publicly denounce file sharing. His response: ‘Wait a second, you’ve been stealing from the artists for years. Now you want me to stand up for you?’ Ouch.”
MacDailyNews Take: We agree 100% with that sentiment. What we do not agree with, at all, is his insistence on lumping iTunes (which, again, operates at around break-even in order to promote device sales) in with the music cartels. Equating the two entities only highlights Bobbie’s appalling lack of knowledge about how the music business works today.
Van Buskirk continues, “‘iTunes takes the money, the record company takes the money, and they don’t give it to the artists,’ added the country rock rapper.”
MacDailyNews Take: Again, Bobbie: iTunes doesn’t “take the money.” iTunes Store’s cut pays for marketing and bandwidth. There’s little or nothing left. It’s the music cartels that take most of your money, precisely as you directed them to do when you signed your current contract with them, you fool.
As for promoting music piracy, Van Buskirk continues, “Rock expands on the idea, positing that anyone who needs something should just take it: ‘I don’t mind people stealing my music, that’s fine. But I think they should steal everything. You know how much money the oil companies have? If you need some gas, just go fill your tank (up) and drive off, they’re not going to miss it.'”
MacDailyNews Take: Using his “logic,” we can also whip up and print counterfeit tickets to his live shows. Whoops! Bobbie will be out stealing for himself in no time. Like we said, Bobbie’s a fool.
Full article here.
The out-of-touch, wildly-confused dummy’s interview with the BBC is here.
Pirate away. This rap crap is doomed for the toilet anyway.
like i’d want to download kid rock’s music even for free…
Kid who?
“So, you got rich solely from playing live and not from record sales, Bobbie? It’s possible, we guess. But, it’s also pretty hard to believe. In all probability, some of your riches came from music sales. Bad contract or not.”
___
Absolutely wrong.
The majority of artists make the Lion’s share of their money through touring.. Very little is made through record sales.
Who is he anyway? Never heard of him
Maybe when he becomes Adult Rock he’ll understand….
“But I think they should steal everything. You know how much money the oil companies have?”
By that logic (since he says he’s rich), it’s open season on his house and belongings. Take it all.
And if necessary, he’s already provided your defense.
Phish. They made millions from touring. They couldn’t sell a studio album to save their life. Just saying…
iTunes is a distribution channel for the music labels. It’s a mighty big bed, and they’re in it together.
I don’t believe that iTMS is run at a near break-even basis, but assume for a moment that it’s true. If true, then illegal downloading is not a lost profit opportunity for Apple. If the artist doesn’t care, MDN shouldn’t either.
MikeK
I don’t think they wold get near the draw if they didn’t have a song on the chart, pushed by the record companies.
It’s like having a commercial for your product on the radio.
Can you spell “IDIOT”! Steal from everyone! Jeeze! How about the small business man trying to run a service station. You are stealing from him as the oil company has already been paid for their gas. This guy is dumber than a rock!
TowerTone,
Trust me.. I just happen to have a wee bit experience in the music industry…
@ron
Why do people like you always change the topic from the greater issue into a specific preference? It’s about pirating music….all music…not just Kid Rock’s music. The whole “rap is crap” thing is just stupid. What if (insert any artist that YOU like here) said what Kid Rock said. Focus on the issue.
And as far as rap being doomed for the toilet, you sound exactly like those old dudes from the 50s saying “rock and roll has got to go…it’ll never last” Looks like it lasted. Rap and hip-hop is just rock n’ roll for today’s kids…and, like rock, it’s not going away anytime soon.
actually macdailynewstake if the record label is the one who put it on the site then the record label IS the one making all the money.. sure apples gives 70 or 80 or 90 percent whatever it is… but that goes to the record label, the artist still only see’s the 2% or … 4% if they signed a good deal. And that usually goes back to the record label because they are the one fronting all the money for the artist.
itunes is only good for independent musicians.
MikeK
I’m not disagreeing, but there is a reason for the draw.
There is a return from the record contracts in real dollars because of the exposure of the name to mass marketing.
But MDN, isn’t Kid Rock a good staunch Republican??
@……
Exactly right.. Indie artists get appx 60 cents per track from iTunes. Major label artists get pennies..
The money is in touring. Always has been except for a select few artists (and I mean few) who actually make money through record sales..
I think everyone should be boycotting Kid’s music. Because he’s boycotting iTunes? No
Because his music sucks. Seriously wtf was that last single he had? Total garbage.
@tower tone
The days of artists getting a return from record companies are long gone. There are no more multi million dollar contracts being made anymore. Maybe Britney, Justin and Mariah, but even those deals aren’t what they used to be..
Record sales generate money yes, but more than 95% goes to the label and other costs.. Touring is one area where the labels can’t get their greedy hands on.. Unless, of course, the artist is desperate and signs a horrible contract (which also happens often.)
Anyway, the reason you see so many reunion tours and artist like the Rolling Stones still going around the world is because the money is insanely good. T-shirts, merchandising, it’s a gold mine, NOT record sales.
For those who don’t know who he was….
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
I think he was a character on “The Simpson’s” once.
He must not have been too popular, they didn’t make him a regular.
Just another forgettable cartoon character.
PeterJ.
I’ll wager you can’t whistle a rap-crap thing (sorry, I can’t use the word- tune). 5 years from now even you will forget any of the words. Do you know any now? I can remember tunes from every generation since Mozart – but not this rap-crap.
MIke K
you are missing my point completely.
The record contracts help indirectly. That’s all.
Do I think the artist are treated fair? No.
Do I think record labels lose large amounts on some so called “artist”?
I hope.
“So, you got rich solely from playing live and not from record sales, Bobbie? It’s possible, we guess. But, it’s also pretty hard to believe. In all probability, some of your riches came from music sales. Bad contract or not.”
This is fairly old news. He made the same statements in interviews I listened to at least 6-7 years ago. This came up specifically in an interview and asked about in the context of the fight between Metallica and Napster, before Napster was shut down.
He has always had a contempt for the record companies. I do think that he has a fairly typical record contract, and he sees little benefit. It is not just “rappers” either. I know that James Taylor tours every summer for a reason. He doesn’t make s**t from record sales or royalties. He earns his money touring.
Judging by the whole Napster fight (and the long delay coming to iTunes), Metallica has a MUCH better deal on their record sales than most other artists.
As for his other comments, all I can say is that he isn’t any smarter than any other entertainer that feels like they have the qualifications to make social commentary. I bet his father would have just loved it if everyone who wanted a car came to his dealership and stole one off the lot.
@tower tone
I understand your point.. You’re saying that with a song in the charts, the artist will play bigger venues.. Yes, that’s true..
But even without a current hit, many artists can do very well with just touring..
More wit and wisdom from the Kid:
“I’m a skilled craftsman in my trade.
I look in the mirror and look at other musicians and say: ‘Am I as good as them, am I better?’ And I always thought I was.
And I always surround myself with good people. My dad always told me: ‘If you want to be a painter, don’t hang out with a carpenter.’
So I surrounded myself with the best painters that I could and I’ve tried to learn from them.
I don’t mind people stealing my music, that’s fine. But I think they should steal everything.
You know how much money Tommy Hilfiger has? If you need a new laptop or a new iPod, you know how much money Steve Jobs and Apple have?
If you’re going to steal music, steal everything. You know how much money the oil companies have? If you need some gas, just go fill your tank up and drive off, they’re not going to miss it.
Do I steal things? No, I don’t steal things. I’m rich.”
– Robert James Ritchie aka Kid Rock
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7461727.stm)
“This is fairly old news. He made the same statements in interviews I listened to at least 6-7 years ago”
this guy has been around 6-7 years and i only got around to listening to his 30 sec previews today?
….and does his stuff suck! wow. if he can make money from music, ANYONE should be able too.
‘scuse me, i need to fire up garageband.
Kid Rock?
Who dat?
“In all probability, some of your riches came from music sales. Bad contract or not.”
___
Absolutely wrong.
The majority of artists make the Lion’s share of their money through touring.. Very little is made through record sales.”
no offense, but “some of your riches” and “lions share vs very little” pretty much say the same thing. if you are going to tell someone they are “absolutely wrong” you really should disagree with them first……
I suppose it says something that iTunes has now become synonymous with music stores as a whole, but obviously in this light it makes them take the blame for something as a whole which they’re not even at fault for.
I think it will take established artists, with live followings and existing riches to break away from the labels to force real change. Yes music labels or some middleman service has a role to play in developing and promoting new talent and that costs money, and not everyone succeeds, we all realise that. When they mainly develop cookie cutter crap and still take the vast majority of the money you can have little sympathy for them.
MDN editors:
You know what would be useful? Set your feedback Takes in italics, or a different color entirely, to help differentiate between the article you quote and your thoughts.
So who’s this guy? I’ve never even heard of him…LOL
Whatever, his statements verifies that in order to be a musician – and “get rich”, you don’t need to much brain power…
What a fool…
CR
Kid Rock, greasy hair is out, two chord songs with Sherryl Crow is out, cowboy hats covering up the greasy hair is out, and especially, fake every body part Pamela Anderson is out. Kid Rock, you had your moment…time to move on…start another career…you were lucky to have the first one.
In the eighties a heavy metal rocker chick told me that rap would never last. I agreed at the time. Now you have rap and hip hop but where’s the metal? Bring back the metal!!
Kid Rock. Quit blaming iTunes for your lack of appeal.
@Shen
A typical artist will get pennies (3 to 4 cents) per track on an album sold. So say an artists album goes platinum and sells a million copies.. On a ten song album that’s about 30 to 40 cents per album
1,000,000 x 40 cents = $40,000
Now say an artist sells out a 10,000 seat venue. At an average ticket price of $50 per seat. The artist cut is generally around 60% of ticket sales.. Thats about $30 per seat..
10,000 x $30 = $30,000
That’s for ONE show, in ONE city.. If they are on a tour doing shows every night, you can see how this really adds up.. Touring is where the money’s at.. Of course, that does not include all the money made from t-shirt and other merchandise sales..
So let me get this straight. He PISSED because he’s not making as much MONEY as he think he deserves, so he’s advocating people STEALING his music. Um, yeah, nice logic, you greedy hypocrit.
iTunes may not be run at break even levels, but they’re hardly making massive profit percentages – we would know more about it if they were.
There’s very little point in pirating Kid Rock’s stuff though – other than stealing the single of that Sweet Home Alabama knock off – so you can destroy them.
Correction..
One show will generate $300,000, Not $30,000
MikeK,
What part of “regardless, that’s not the point” don’t you understand?
This could be the key to his twisted logic:
There’s Good Rich (himself, immediate family and a few close friends).
Then, there’s Evil Rich (the rest of the world).
So, thou shalt not steal . . . from Good Rich (not affiliated with the Goodrich Corporation).
Everything else is fair game.
@tired of retards,
They were trying to make a point, or they would not have bothered writing it.
@…….
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” /> In todays world, there is a need for services to get the music into digital format (recording, tracking, cleaning up, doing cover art) but the days of the “need” for music companies is mostly over.
“
itunes is only good for independent musicians.” All musicians should be independent.
Need physical cds, no problem. Order online, get shipped direct.
Just a thought.
en
@Mike K
Most artists tour to sell records. Very few (And Kid Rock is no longer one of them) make big money on tours. Fairly quickly you drop off the radar screen and are playing crappy little houses and corporate gigs.
the 60-40% split is close enough. 40% goes to promoter/house. Out of the artists split… there are whole lotta pieces. Production being the lion’s share. Lighting, Sound, Video and Power and probably close to 65% of the artists take. Then there’s promo, food, marketing, transport, etc…
Unless you are a supergroup, you don’t make much on touring. You can make some money, but big money… nope.
Top money makers for 07:
The Police @ $212 Million
Genesis @ $129 Mil.
Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex LoveShow $126.8 million
Kenny Chesney ($71.2 million)
Rod Stewart ($70 million)
Cirque Du Soleil’s Delirium ($59.4 million)
Roger Waters ($53.2 million)
Tim McGraw/Faith Hill ($52.3 million)
Christina Aguilera ($48.1 million)
Rascal Flatts ($41 million)
Smart artists don’t need labels or iTunes. Just ask Trent Reznor. He released his album on his website. He made $750,000 in the first weekend. No cut went to a record label or iTunes. He then proceeded to give away his next album for free. Why? He announced his upcoming tour. He knows he will make a shitload of money on his tour. The album is just promotional material.
He’s one of the few who understands it.
@G-Spank,
Did you read the article? Kid Rock isn’t pissed. His label wanted him to publicly denounce file sharing. He said screw the label. They’ve been stealing from me. Why should I support them.
Some of you Apple FanBoys really look like idiots sometimes.
So many of todays major label artists just don’t understand how their industry works is frightening. The sad part is even their managers and legal advisors don’t understand it. Here is the truth about the music industry today, and Kid Rock is the perfect example to use. Music labels want celebrities or people they can turn into celebrities with the minimal amount of investment. The Drug snorting, Alcoholic with a flare making easy press because of Drug, Alcohol, hooker, and minor gun violence is an prime news media target. Cheap easy news sells Music on the cheap with a small add budget. No need spend money promoting the music the label just needs to sit back and let the news media do the work. The music label does need to get him into some C, B, and eventually A list parties and night clubs in the beginning. The best way for the industry to create a celebrity is to have their artist associate, hangout, and party with the celebrities. Once the label turned Kid Rock (or must music artists that want to be seen with and/or be a celebrity) into a celebrity is cheap and easy to do with their celebrity making formula. Basically overnight and a few parties later and even a douche bag like Kid Rock (JayZ, <Insert name of almost any label artist here>) is a celebrity too.
Recording labels will tell you up front the music isn’t important, it’s the Celebrity ROI. They can take a monkey chattering, lay in so popular sounding music, spit out an album, and as long as the Monkey could be turned into a celebrity that album will sell and will get into the Billboard Hot 100 and will reach the top 10. Of course the money will need to generate some good TV News by being arrested for slapping around some hookers, a few DUI stops, assaulting another celebrity, trash talk another label’s artist(s) while drunk or high and/or a major arrest. Celebrities get very minimal court slaps for virtual any offense. As a bonus if the press coverage is really good and it adds to the Celebrity’s street cred the label is pickup part of the legal bill too.
Music Artists in times gone way by were great role models for kids. Today, there is but a very, very few Music label artists that I would want as role models for my kids. The sad fact is most parents don’t look at who their kids role models are. What Music Label Celebrities do your kids look up to as role models? For me that question is relatively simple to answer these days, as my daughter really looks up to Katie Melua as her inspiration into becoming a musician, song writer and artist. My kids though have been exposed to indie music and indie artists all the lives they know how much hard work it is to be a truly great musical artist.
Support indie Music on iTunes and this helps support indie artists. Down with the label dreck and support only real musical artists. Stop supporting the music industry’s made celebrities, don’t buy-it, don’t P2P BT for free even, and on no circumstances should buy a ticket to a live show.
@Bluefin,
Well, I beg to differ as I happen to be an Indie artist who was formerly with a major label.. I’ve seen both sides.. Sold a lot more records in the early days, but make much more money selling less records and being independent. The very reason I am home right now writing this and not at an office job is because I make my living off of touring.. Of course, my monthly iTunes checks aren’t bad either..
Dumb kid… had one hit 10 years ago… still thinks he’s a factor.
Trent understands his postion in the life cycle. He has a loyal following he under feeds. He puts out 5 disks worth of elevator music and his fan bois spew their income at his alter. He’s not a genius – he’s a lucky SOB who doesnt mind taking advantage of the weak minded.
I went to download festival at donnington park at the weekend, where Kid Rock was scheduled to play. Didn’t turn up due to a mystery illness, so if he wants you to download music for free, and doesn’t turn up to gigs, how will he get his money?
I honestly don’t know one intelligent person who owns a Kid Rock album.
Kid Rock. Talk about a POS. He played locally in GR here for years since he was from the armpit of Detroit. He’d be lucky if four people showed up at the Reptile House. I was one of the unfortunate few to have met him during his hi-top fade days. What a douche.
Years later, he hits it big, plays the Intersection with another band, and gets pelted with beer cans and other garbage. Yeah, he’s rich now. But most of Grand Rapids still hates him and doesn’t care.
While the economics of the music industry has changed, traditionally, groups toured to promote record sales, not the other way around. As recently as Zooropa, U2 lost money on its tour, even though they took in 10s of millions.
What I want to know is when he will become Man Rock.
Kid Rock is stone dumb, but he has it pretty much right here about his financial model. Is he right that iTunes is screwing him? No, but he is right about distribution of his music now just being a way to maintain a following that will support his tours. BTW, I do not like Kid Rock’s music, but dismissing him because he has only 1 “hit” really misses the point. An act simply needs a loyal following, not “hits”, to make money on tour. Unless the act is a manufactured pop act that is only about radio play.
Not all musical acts can survive on this model, but some can.
re: No – Trent doesnt “get it”
Wow, how weak minded of you. It is obvious to even the casual observer, which excludes you, that part of “getting it” is knowing your demographic.
Wow… He is so out of touch! Even with the gas example, he is very misguided. Just as iTunes barely stays in the black with media sales, so do gas stations with gas sales. Gas stations price their gas to be competitive, in order to bring people into the door to buy drinks, snacks, gum, cigarettes, etc.
Stealing gas doesn’t hurt the oil companies, because that gas has been paid for by the gas station already. Stealing gas is another misdirected shot that hits the wrong guy.
Question:
How much does Apple make per song on iTunes?
MDN’s take is anecdotal; “from what we’ve heard…”, and everyone else here seems to think that “maybe” and “about” are mathematical formulae.
Perhaps Kid Rock is right and Apple is raking it in hand over fist (lets see some real numbers MDN!)… not that that would excuse the record companies greed.
I’m back!
@ Sleeve
I agree 100%. that’s the first thing i thought of when i read this. I’ve seen Phish in concert more times than i have bought their albums.
While I agree that the record labels take too much from the artist, I also don’t see any artists thanking the record labels for signing them when they were nobodys, paying all the costs associated with recording their album, paying all the marketing costs to get them radio air play, and taking the risk that they may flop faster than Kevin Federline.
Yes, the record labels are greedy, but they also provide opportunity for the artist.
MikeK,
Your comments intrigued me. You wouldn’t happen to be a multi-instrumentalist who once worked with an esteemed artist with the initials “FZ” would you?
BlueFin,
MikeK’s comments are quite correct regarding the split on musical artist’s income from touring vs. record sales. Indeed, the only artist’s who “tour to sell records” are the handful who actually do sell substantial amounts of CDs. There are plenty of artists who make a good living from touring (not sure what your definition of “big money” is) with little or no record sales.
For example, most of the arena rock bands of the 70’s and 80’s that are still out there touring as they near retirement age are not doing it to sell a few more copies of their catalog CDs. They do it because that’s how they make their money. In fact, even when these bands do release a CD, there is no mainstream outlet for it. The “new” rock stations sure won’t play it, and the “classic” rock stations are frozen in time, still playing old songs by those artists, but nothing new by any of them. So they make money touring. And no, they don’t have to play stadiums and arenas to make a good living.
@ MikeK:
“…I beg to differ as I happen to be an Indie artist who was formerly with a major label…”
Would you tell us what band you were in [or your stage name]? I’m genuinely interested…
For $15 I’ll download KidRock for free from his website.. (As in, give me $15 and I’ll go to his website and download his music, then promptly deposit the money in my checking account and delete the music from my hard drive)…
Kid Rock is an idiot and his music sucks.
@”No – Trent doesn’t get it”:
Yeah, you listen to Broken and tell me it’s elevator music. Also, it was six albums before Ghosts, the one in question, and it’s a total of eight now. Criticize only if you actually know something.
@bizlaw:
That’s partly because more and more artists are making a living WITHOUT the use of a label – at least a major one. Heard of Jonathan Coulton? I thought so. (I do know a number of minor-label bands who ARE thankful for their contract – but they also probably have a better deal than most major-label artists.)
On the flip side, I’m willing to bet that quite a few of these artists who are complaining – to wit, Kid Rock and Jay-Z – would NOT actually be too terribly popular without the major labels’ advertising dollars. And a LOT of mainstream bands would have only an indie-level following. Oh they’d still be making a living, sure, but they wouldn’t be millionaires.
Kid Rock? Purveyor of the craptastic? WHO CARES?!?
what a douchebag
@dougguitar
No, I’m quite familiar with Mr. Zappa as I grew up in a very musical household and my dad was a huge Zappa fan.. I however, am not quite that old.. Our first album was released in 1995.
@hueylong,
thanks for the interest.. I wasn’t sure whether to post that comment or not because I knew someone would ask.. I just wanted to shed some insight as to how things actually work because I cringe when I read some of these comments by people who haven’t a clue..
It’s not that I mind people knowing who I am, except for the fact that I am a tech geek and contribute to these threads fairly often. I would prefer to keep any debates that I’m involved in on these forums separate from my professional life..
I will say that no one here would likely know my face walking down the street, but most have probably heard some of our music.. We’ve had several fairly successful “hits” from the major label albums, and a fair share of radio and MTV play, but we are certainly no where near approaching superstar status.. We’re normal guys with normal lives, making a go of music because we love to do it and we’re fortunate enough to have a large enough dedicated fan base to make a comfortable living..
Yippeeeeee!
Kiddie Rock just showed me how to get my next iPhone! I gotta practice running now though. Those donut eating security guards may only be able to run 40 feet but they are fast in the span!!!!
@ron
I can remember plenty of rap tunes from the 80s up until now…easily. I can remember rock ‘n’ roll from the 60s til now. I can remember jazz tunes from the 30s and 40s. I like music. I like some music more than others, but I will never dismiss an entire genre of music simply because I don’t get it.
Broken glass everywhere people pissing on the stairs,
you know they just dont care
I cant take the smell, I cant take the noise
Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice
Rats in the front room, roaches in the back
Junkies in the alley with a baseball bat
I tried to get away, but I couldnt get far
Cause the man with the tow-truck repossessed my car
Dont push me, cause Im close to the edge
Im trying not to loose my head
Its like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder
How I keep from going under
Sugar Hill Gang–The Message 1982…just as relevant now as it was over 25 years ago.
The truth is, unless an artist is well established they don’t make bubkiss off album sales. infact, they have to pay the record company back every cent, except signing bonuses, that the company spends to make the album and tour support.
recording artist make their living off of touring, period. it’s how the system is set up.
radio station don’t pay the artist, they pay ascap or bmi who then pays the publishing house, who in turn splits the royalty with the song writer. unless the song writer and the recording artist are the same person the recording artist doesn’t get paid for radio pay. they do get exposure. if the songwriter also own 100% of their publishing then there isn’t a 50/50 split of the publishing rights. if there’s more than 1 song writer than the publishing house keeps 50% and all the other song writers have to split the remaining 50%.
most touring artist get a split of the door, typically 95/15% after the promoter hits their break point which includes the upfront guarantee to the band for performing. some artist just get a straight guarantee from the promoter. touring artist also keep all of their merchandising, and the house usually keeps the bar. some venues ask for a percentage of merchandising, and some even have a pay to play policy–requiring a band to pay the venue to play it. typically these are smaller venues and less established, local bands. many of the 80’s hair metal bands from l.a. got their start in pay for play venues.
none of this takes into account the fees paid out to manager, lawyers, or booking agents.
this is how the record industry works.
30 something male – lives at home still – thinks he’s a prophet.
KIddie Rocker is just pissed because he couldn’t get his regular Flash/WMF porn on his iPhone, and is running out of dough for his daily stripper/hooker fix (unlike digital music, he couldn’t pirate them; if he tries to take them for free, the body guard/pimps would kill him). He needs help.
Um, Apple does NOT operate at break even on this, MDN.
Apple is selling billions of songs. That money doesn’t immediately go out to the record labels. It is distributed at regular intervals to them by Apple. In the interim, Apple is sitting on the billions in a bank account that just collects interest.
Who do you keeps that interest?
think*
FZ is the best.
Mike K is right on the money guys. The proof is in the pudding of indie artists, and it goes way way (30, even 40 years) back to the days when labels wouldn’t touch punk bands with a ten foot pole. A lot of them signed to majors eventually, but it was only after they built up their fan bases through their own efforts, in effect making them a ‘safe bet’. In those days, there was no such thing as label support for groups like these, and that is the history of indie music. Why do you think they call it that, hmm? It’s not a genre-that alternative crap was cooked up by the labels after the fact, again, when it was proven to be a safe way to generate revenue.
None of this applies to someone like Kid Rock, obviously, and these multi million dollar contracts being handed out like candy were a flash in the pan in the overall history of recorded music distribution (it’s been less than a century-it’s a young industry really) A contract that profits the artist? There has never been such a beast. Everything MTV showed you was a lie (in fact, contracts stipulated that artists were required to make videos, and out of their own pocket!). They were designed from the beginning to leave the artists not only broke, but artificially dependent upon their major label masters, and often indebted to them finanncially.
I’ve beat this drum before (so have others), but whomever runs MDN seems to be woefully ignorant of this particular issue; groups and artists have always made their money from touring and merch, it’s not all meaningless whining and bitching. Before the likes of Nirvana and Snoop Dogg (MTV wouldn’t touch NWA, or Slayer, or even someone like Metallica or The Cure with said ten foot pole in their formative and ‘dangerous’ years, decades ago), this is how they built their fan bases too.
mr reese I agree with your take on MDN editors. Really can and should be a clearer differentiation.
Kid Rock tells people to steal everything….and some people defend him?
Stop the earth, I want to get off.
I know I am a “negative nelly”, but Kid Rocks music is strictly talking not worth listening to, let alone to steal.