Re: [microsound] microsound future

[dave palmer <palmderski1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

on 12/21/00 5:13 AM, Jesse Kudler at jkudler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "dave palmer" <palmderski1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> 
>> don't know why everyone equates making money off music with pop music
> only.
>> thrill jockey records was the most profitable record company in th US last
>> year and they deal mostly with indie rock and various forms of
> instrumental
> 
> Where'd you get this info?  Were they the most profitable indie, or the most
> profitable label overall?  I find it hard to imagine them making more money
> than Geffen or whichever.
> 
> -Jesse
> 
>well, i already posted one response to this trying to explain how it is
possible for a smaller label to turn bigger profits than a larger one. the
main point is that labels like TJ once they get well known have built in
crowds that buy for the label name as much as the artist. no major in the
world has this going! geffen,for example, doesn't even exist as an
independent entity(and really doesn't exist anymore at all) as they were
bought out by seagrams(the liquor company) and put under a huge umbrella
with several majors. once this happened(about 1.25 years ago) almost all
company heads and AR people were let go. LA has been in a panic ever since.
people who had worked at thier jobs for 15 years were scrambling to find new
work. to this day there is confusion and paranoia running rampant in the
industry. there are only 3 major labels left, i can't remember the exact
alliances but will post them later if anyone is interested. there are very
few signings going on right now with most money being invested in totally
manufactured bands like backstreet boys. hundreds of artists are stuck in
shitty deals with labels who have new people that don't even know who they
are. people used to making good money producing demos for a signed artists
"upcoming" cd are now working on spec and only get paid if the label thinks
it's radio worthy. most of these people are in a limbo wherein thier record
will never come out and they can't do anything else with another label
unless they sue to get out of their deals. smaller labels begin to look more
stable and profitable in this scenario, and ones that already have a high
profile and low overhaed begin to make good money.