The truth about major lables

[rune]

Everyone should read this site

http://www.downhillbattle.org/

It tells you the real deal with those fucking bigger record lables.

[*Craig_HexPen*]

have you read "the problem with music" (or its something like that ) by Steve Albini?

[RF Scott]

Major labels are the only way forward

[mcbore]

major labels are the only reason i play music.

[Inkster]

So whats the point playin music if your only wantin a big fat cheque at the end of it all?

[chris h]

The steve albini article is called 'Some of Your Friends are Already this Fucked', I think.

[Guest allsystemsfail]

Major labels are the only way forward

What? How'd you figure that?

[Guest allsystemsfail]

major labels are the only reason i play music.

Sure, most folks will have discovered music via major label releases. However, we need not support them, and can successfully produce music without them. Majors exist only to exploit and profit from popular music tastes. They have no interest in the bands or individual artists they sign - in their ideas, their music. They seek only to maximize profits, the bands just product. Major labels? Fuck 'em.

[Guest allsystemsfail]

The steve albini article is called 'Some of Your Friends are Already this Fucked'' date=' I think.[/quote']

The article can be found here: http://www.arancidamoeba.com/mrr/

It appeared (with other columns that you'll also find) in issue 133 of US punk bible MAXIMUMROCKNROLL.

[Teabags]

hence the use of

"THe Watering Down of Hardcore" by Chris Bickel as the intro to the Filthpact CD.

[betamax]

The article can be found here: http://www.arancidamoeba.com/mrr/

It appeared (with other columns that you'll also find) in issue 133 of US punk bible MAXIMUMROCKNROLL.

that article is very true (verified by a few people I know who have been ''signed up'') and has been around for a while....and is one of quite a few reasons I piss myself laughing when some wide eyed mental case comes out with....''we're gonna get signed''

[jester1470]

Like any other business deal if you go into it with your eyes opened and some clue as tyo how it works then you'll be OK. Without major labels there would never be the distribution process in place to help the smaller independant. If you ran your own business you wouldn't walk into it without knowing what you were talking about why shopuld it be any different with signing to a major ? it's the same as another employment contract they're out to get the best they can get out of you for the least outlay, if you don't like it then fine, but they're no more evil than any other major company. The artists should check out what they're getting into before signing anything, but most don't, the biggest change is that musicians wanting to play on the major stage have to have some business sense now or a manager who has it, its no longer enough to be good at music, or what you do, but thats not that unusual in any business nowadays.

Cheers

Stuart

[The Milner]

Good post.

[Michael MacLennan]

There's no point playing music unless you want to be on a major label

[jester1470]

There's no point playing music unless you want to be on a major label

That's crap, there's no point in trying to be rich unless you're going to sign to a major but people play music for the love of it, it's a priority issue, money or music, if you're lucky you'll be able to sign to a major and get both. they are a means to an end, a necessary evil if you're against them, i personally have no problem with them at all.

Cheers

Stuart

[Guest allsystemsfail]

hence the use of

"THe Watering Down of Hardcore" by Chris Bickel as the intro to the Filthpact CD.

Exactly. Cool track by the way.

[Guest allsystemsfail]

Like any other business deal if you go into it with your eyes opened and some clue as tyo how it works then you'll be OK. Without major labels there would never be the distribution process in place to help the smaller independant. If you ran your own business you wouldn't walk into it without knowing what you were talking about why shopuld it be any different with signing to a major ? it's the same as another employment contract they're out to get the best they can get out of you for the least outlay' date=' if you don't like it then fine, but they're no more evil than any other major company. The artists should check out what they're getting into before signing anything, but most don't, the biggest change is that musicians wanting to play on the major stage have to have some business sense now or a manager who has it, its no longer enough to be good at music, or what you do, but thats not that unusual in any business nowadays.

Cheers

Stuart[/quote']

Regarding distribution, I have to disagree. The DIY punk community has shown that distribution (in the hands of the kids themselves) can be extensive, reaching out across the world.

[Guest allsystemsfail]

There's no point playing music unless you want to be on a major label

Utter nonsense.

[Skacel]

the only thing that would make me think twice about signing to a major label would be how many albums they wanted cos that can really screw you over when you just start making albums just so you can get away from the label.

but bands have to grow start with the indies and then if you are fortunate to be that good then it would be a crime not to be bigger and let more people out there here your greatness

theres nothing wrong with bands signing on to majors

and folk who are shouting 'sell outs' were never true fans in the first place.

[Guest allsystemsfail]

theres nothing wrong with bands signing on to majors

and folk who are shouting 'sell outs' were never true fans in the first place.

So I guess folks such as myself, and the thousands of others involved in the DIY punk underground, have no genuine interest in the bands we go see? Many believe (quite correctly) a band jumping to a major a betrayal - a betrayal of the scene's politics - the ethics central to its cause.

[jester1470]

Regarding distribution' date=' I have to disagree. The DIY punk community has shown that distribution (in the hands of the kids themselves) can be extensive, reaching out across the world.[/quote']

Which is using the models created previously by the major labels, I'd argue that now with the internet distribution for the smaller label is now stronger than ever, but prior to that, apart from word of mouth which was never enough to create a real impact then. Extensive distribution is easy but creating a stable distribution network requires money and people committed to doing that fulltime, we've sold cds worldwide but it isn't distribution, you can't go into a major store in any decent sized town in the UK and find our material. Distribution to specialist stores is one thing but to the mainstream is another. You may be right about a distribution network being in place for the DIY punk community but it was never far reaching enough to make enough of an impact as to rival the majors distribution.You are right that there was/is a smaller distroibtuion network in place, but i shoudl have said without majors there wouldn't be effective distribution to allow for chart positions, high slaes and major success,

Cheers

Stuart

[jester1470]

So I guess folks such as myself' date=' and the thousands of others involved in the DIY punk underground, have no genuine interest in the bands we go see? Many believe (quite correctly) a band jumping to a major a betrayal - a betrayal of the scene's politics - the ethics central to its cause.[/quote']

Its stupid to judge someone for being a success in their chosen field, if you believe in your music, and that its powerfull and helps people, what's wrong with getting the music to a wider audience. Any scene which actively discourages people to be the best they can and reach as many people as possible seems to be a self defeating scene. The 'scene's politics' seems a silly phrase what does that have to do with creating music for individuals who enjoy it ? the 'scene's cause' ? Music is and always should be primarily a form of entertainment, there shouldn't be causes that stop you fulfilling your potential. Any sceene that stops people achieveing what they could to proivide well for themselves and their family and make a living out of it seems to me to be encompassing everything that is bad, holding people back because of misplaced ethics. I know this is all my opinion but it seems like the bands who started the 'ethics ' in the scene were probably never going to make it, so in order to be big fish in a small pond is to make everyone think that being a success is a bad thing.

All just my opinion, but as i said any scene that discourages people being a success and making the most money and impact they can is bound to eventually destroy itself as there is no ambition to reach bigger/higher audiences, as time goes on people will drift away from liove shows as they're doing already and people won't be able to make a living on such small setups and eventually they'll have to look to other ways to finance what they're doing which will probably mean going part time and eventually many of the bands will fade and die. At least thats how i see it,

Cheers

Stuart

[eat your parents]

downhillbattle.org is ace. I have supported the resistence.

As for the discussion, I can't be bothered. I only play music to read the ironic posts on here.

[Skacel]

So I guess folks such as myself' date=' and the thousands of others involved in the DIY punk underground, have no genuine interest in the bands we go see? Many believe (quite correctly) a band jumping to a major a betrayal - a betrayal of the scene's politics - the ethics central to its cause.[/quote']

who gives a fuck about politics??

theres too much of this bull shit out there

you see it as betrayal i see it as growth.

and its a sad day when you stop liking a band just cos they've out grown the under ground.

[Skacel]

Can't you just enjoy the music without worrying about the ethics?

if i like music then i listen to it no matter if its on a major or underground

i wouldn't cut my nose off to spite my face. as the saying goes.

as long as you enjoy it then it doesnt matter about the politics.