Music sales keep falling and falling...

I think you hit on something Manny. You want to last, treat your fans with respect like a U2 or Jon Oliva. Those guys appreciate their fanbase and it shows.

It's also the times...if U2 and Madonna had tried to start out in today's record business model, they never would have gotten past 2 albums....

Here's how I "personally" handle the downloading thing. I use it as a way to really listen to an album and decide if I want it in my collection. I might spin it 3 or 4 times, however it longs to take to decide.

Then, if I like it, I buy it. Either on physical CD or from a legal download source like emusic or iTunes if the actual disc is cost prohibitive. If it's a new release I try NOT to buy a used or promo CD copy, because the band gets no money that way. I get the actual disc or download so they receive their royalties.

If I don't like the album, I delete it...why waste hard drive space on something I don't like? That's what I did with the last Megadeth and Overkill records, I listened to them a few times, decided I didn't need to own them and deleted them.

I've purchased MORE CDs since downloading became available, because I've found groups I never would have discovered by accident, just seeing a disc in the music store.

manny wrote:

exact33 wrote:

manny wrote:

Also record labels are too blame, they bred no loyality toward bands anymore, if a band records a debut that is not an instant hit they get dropped, they do not help bands develop a career let alone give them a chance at long term success, it is sad and labels are to blame for treating the music, artists and the medium as disposable.

to an extent. I think the general public has an attention span of 30 seconds which leads the record companies to do the next big hit wonder thing.

I think in the end the downfall of record companies will be people just not wanting to pay for music. They missed the boat with downloads and as cool as they try to make it, free will trump legal downloads. I think people who buy cds still feel like they are getting something for the money (art, music) but those who download most often dont think of the music as something they need to pay for.

Very true and it is going to be a hard mindset that is going to be diffcult if impossible to change for alot of folks from this generation and onwards. Again if the industry gives you disposbale music and artist then the audience will not value it as an artform, and they will treat music and "artists" like a chewed up piece of gum.

Even an artist such as Madonna, a pop artist knew enough to give her fans not just throw away pop songs, but gave her music and albums, and image a great deal of attention, she also treated her fans with respect, as did most bands , no matter the genre that has lasted more then 5 minutes.

I think too the bands that have had enduring success give fans a good live show for the money. Those fans in turn want the music and buy it. I think that is one of the reasons country artists do so well - they give a fun live show and fans respond.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

It's also the times...if U2 and Madonna had tried to start out in today's record business model, they never would have gotten past 2 albums....

Or Frampton, Yes, Rush and Journey.... they would have been canned after two albums as well. Heck a lot of the great 70s artists would never make it if they started in today's record business.

Music is now just another product like a pair of underwear, socks, candy or that cheap junk from China with the high levels of lead in it.

chewie wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

It's also the times...if U2 and Madonna had tried to start out in today's record business model, they never would have gotten past 2 albums....

Or Frampton, Yes, Rush and Journey.... they would have been canned after two albums as well. Heck a lot of the great 70s artists would never make it if they started in today's record business.

Music is now just another product like a pair of underwear, socks, candy or that cheap junk from China with the high levels of lead in it.

Kiss undies!!!