The Internet killed the Live Album

More specifically youtube has killed the live album. As users are able to upload any footage, whether captured with their own cameras or copyright footage, it seems to me that the magic and surprise of hearing a band in a live setting has completely disappeared. Of course people still attend live shows but what seems to have disappeared is the recording of live shows and live packages for the fans. Nowadays the fans can find just about any band they want to see playing songs live on youtube and other places on the net.

Do you agree?

You've obviously never been to a Phish show

I think the quality of a live album released by a label and nowadays remastered is far better than most YouTube video sound quality. And then there's listening to a live album on vinyl, which can't really be equaled in today's digital society, at least from my personal opinion and experience. But I see your point, especially with modern live DVD's. You can see sometimes a whole show on YouTube links. So maybe you were meaning live DVD's, not so much live albums.

I see what you're getting at but live albums and DVDs will always be better quality, I don't care what fancy camera or microphone you have. It has however killed the physical bootleg.

Agree with OP.

from what ive observed, youtube primarily satisfies the limited (in quality and other factors) instant online gratification or reminiscing categories of listening to live material, which doesnt really stamp out the need for high quality, full length, personally possessed live recordings. there is definitely some interplay of user intention and what material is available where, but the two media sources currently occupy two overlapping but different niches. companies might feel pressure from a portion of the consumers of both media formats that realize theyve been paying a lot for live material they feel they could theoretically get cheaper to one degree or another. a lot of money is made because of perceived monopolies....if people record their own shows or share a professional recording they defeat the false idea of a monopoly and more people benefit than would have because we arent playing pretend.

I agree with rawr!

Lately I can't seem to get into new releases as much as I used to. I takes me much longer to apprechiate (sp?) most new albums, even from my favorite bands. The only stuff that excites me right away are live recordings, and bootlegs. Hearing obscure songs done line, or favorites done with energy is really cool!

I'm not a big live album guy anyway...

Fat Freddy wrote:

I'm not a big live album guy anyway...

+1

Love bootlegs.
THE MAIN REASON I thinkcertaion bands do not want them available, is the word would spread quickly how terrible they are and attendence/ticket sales would drop.

Hate record companies for stalling on live records, or more rare tracks by my favourite bands, so with technology advancing, the fans took matters into their own hands.

I just watched the complete Metallica show I attended in December 1986 on youtube.

Never knew that existed, only heard a rumour about it back then, and could only buy an audio cassette bootleg of that gig. I know from the Slayer and Metallica shows back in 1986-88 the one local taper who worked at a record store made a killing.

It took bands how many years to provide that service to fans, such as KISS Instant Concerts for sale immediately ?

As far as official live albums or bootlegs? Prefer bootlegs unless the record company one was also untouched.
I WISH bands would not re-record parts to fix "mistakes" such as bum notes or eliminate feedback.

There have been some instances where the work put into it can be appreciated.

Read this,
http://www.thegardentapes.co.uk/dvdmsg3.html

and see how much time and effort Jimmy Page spent on just ONE SONG, splicing / editing from recordings of a song into a PERFECT rendition.
That is different, as he worked with all live material so I don't consider that to be cheating led Zeppelin fans.

Approval Guy wrote:

I see what you're getting at but live albums and DVDs will always be better quality, I don't care what fancy camera or microphone you have. It has however killed the physical bootleg.

This. 90% of self recorded footage has such muddy quality in both video and audio its pretty much completely useless.

I believe that todays bands should be tapping into this and using it for their own good. There are a ton of people who live close to, or in the middle, of nowhere where shows just do not happen.
I do agree that the live album is a near dead concept (don't tell Maiden), but perhaps this modern day version of the bootleg is a tool bands could use. I have seen it done years ago where you could get the soundboard cassette (remember years ago) tape for a few extra dollars after the show. More moola for the band. Perhaps a taped show with soundboard audio on a burned disc or flashdrive ? Todays technology should open whole new avenues for bands.

I don't think it's dead, but the live album is now the live Blu-ray/DVD

I think the internet has killed the live album as a special event that is for sure, back in the day fans would request live albums and they were seen as legit as studio albums but those days are long over unless you are deceased artist then those they tend to make into a big deal.

But I agree with Leo, live DVD/Blu-Ray have replaced live albums, as evidence that veteran bands such as KISS and Deep Purple have gone into their vaults and released vintage concerts.

Live albums are just a collector's joy. Its not the be all end all of a band. I can take it or leave it, it don't bother me. Youtube is great for certain things already mentioned, but I don't think its hurting the live album releases.

Youtube to me is partially what is killing new releases though. You can hear the entire Th1rt3en album from Megadeth already on there.

Lurideath wrote:

Live albums are just a collector's joy. Its not the be all end all of a band. I can take it or leave it, it don't bother me. Youtube is great for certain things already mentioned, but I don't think its hurting the live album releases.

Youtube to me is partially what is killing new releases though. You can hear the entire Th1rt3en album from Megadeth already on there.

Interesting you say this about live album are now for die hard fans and collector's, both Deep Purple and the Doors have released a number of live albums and made it clear that are for die hard fans not something they except to hit # 1 on Billboard.

I've never been big on live albums, but man YouTube quality live videos are so horrible 9/10 of the time.

I agree that it may have detracted from the novelty of waiting for, purchasing and owning a live album.

However, 2 minute long, low-quality footage posted by a random concert goer does little justice to seeing a band in a real live setting. If anything it spurs interest in fans to get tickets and go see a show for themselves. Word of mouth is also just as strong as it ever was, with people commenting (meaningfully!) and posting on forums with their experiences and opinions of live acts. In addition, as far as "live" music goes, most fans want a produced, properly mixed release over low-quality bootlegs.

I think it is one of the few technological outlets that has not entirely hindered the music industry.

Keep buying concert tickets!

Fat Freddy wrote:

I'm not a big live album guy anyway...

me either. Especially when bands have multiple live stuff...

I rarely buy a live album.

But i agree that internet is killing everything today

Lame-ass producers/bands turning live albums into studio albums with extra reverb killed the live album.

Nah, people preferred it that way.

I don't know. There seems to be more live albums coming out these days than ever before. On top of bands releasing new live albums, record companies are releasing old live radio broadcasts, BBC recordings, live performances that were recorded but never released, etc.

Heaven & Hell released ONE studio album under that name, but TWO live albums.

Look at all the Dio live recordings that have surfaced since his death.

ultmetal wrote:

I don't know. There seems to be more live albums coming out these days than ever before. On top of bands releasing new live albums, record companies are releasing old live radio broadcasts, BBC recordings, live performances that were recorded but never released, etc.

Heaven & Hell released ONE studio album under that name, but TWO live albums.

Look at all the Dio live recordings that have surfaced since his death.

I wouldn't say it's out of popularity so much as it's just an easy market to tap.

For newer bands, the technology is easier that ever to record a live show and it helps fill contract requirements. For older bands, it's brand name recognition and work that's already done. You ain't getting anymore new material outta dead artists or broken-up bands, but if you can find an old recording and give it a little spit & polish, you've got yourself a "new" album to sell. Record companies will beat that dead horse for all it's worth and then some.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

I don't know. There seems to be more live albums coming out these days than ever before. On top of bands releasing new live albums, record companies are releasing old live radio broadcasts, BBC recordings, live performances that were recorded but never released, etc.

Heaven & Hell released ONE studio album under that name, but TWO live albums.

Look at all the Dio live recordings that have surfaced since his death.

I wouldn't say it's out of popularity so much as it's just an easy market to tap.

For newer bands, the technology is easier that ever to record a live show and it helps fill contract requirements. For older bands, it's brand name recognition and work that's already done. You ain't getting anymore new material outta dead artists or broken-up bands, but if you can find an old recording and give it a little spit & polish, you've got yourself a "new" album to sell. Record companies will beat that dead horse for all it's worth and then some.

Sometimes that dead horse can be revived though. I've been really enjoying the Dio and Twisted Sister live releases that have been coming out in recent years. Nostalgia for sure and I realize it's record companies making money from old recordings, but so what? If you enjoy those old recordings, there is nothing wrong with paying for them.