Just expressing MY view of how the record companies REALLY treat their customers.

They like to spout off about how down loaders and copiers are stealing the food from their mouths. Their mouths, not the artists- they rip them off all by their lonesome. So how has the internet affected their bottom line (if, in fact it has)?

How many records or CDs have you bought that were of poor quality, either in production or musical content? How many were SO poor that you quit after the first listen? How many of these were the record companies willing to refund your money on? Don’t you love the fact that once you break the seal (the only way the check out the contents) it’s yours? No refunds, no returns (unless, of course, you want another copy of the same crap)? What, your traveling has made your disc unplayable- surely they’ll replace it since they claim you don’t have the right to make a copy of it? I could go on, but you get the idea- they can foist crap off on you, but only want it to flow one way.

Along comes the internet and great sites like AK. Hey, maybe I got burned with crap, but at least I can share with my AK Bros and perhaps save them from the same mistake. What, you’ve not heard this one? Great music, good production- you get inputs that you’d never get from listening to top 20 radio. All of a sudden, that dog they’ve been pushing is known about before too many get burned. THIS is how the internet has impacted the record companies, and they don’t like it.

Do I think they’re really hurting? Do they make DVDs, video games, or any of the plethora of other media that are taking much of the disposable income that historically has been spent on music? If not shame on them, not on me.

I’m just getting started, but I’ll stop. This one finger typing is hard on me.

How come fat homely people aren’t good recording artists anymore? Just wondering…

I was talking with my wife listening to Blossom Dearie then Ella Fitzgerald. You know, it is sad to realize that these artists wouldn't make it in this cardboard cutout music industry And that is REALLY UNFORGIVABLE!!!! I mean, they get one artist that does well in a particular type of music and then they flood us with cookie-cutter crap.

If the record companies want my money - give me GOOD MUSIC NOT THIS CRAP WE ARE GETTING NOW (like Britney Spears, etc.). :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

RANT OFF - for now!!!!

Dave

There hasnt been any good music since the mid 90's. Thats why I dont buy new CD's

I couldn't agree more than what was said above, but there is good music out there since the mid 90's its just not mainstream.
What bugs me is shows like American & Canadian Idol. These people had absolutlely no musical talent in my opinion. But these people were wise enough to know that that kind of exposure could give em a chance to get there foot in the door. And if they had the looks to go with it would be on their way.
That guy who comes out with she bangs was so laughable. Yet believe it or not he already has a cd out in the music stores.
If I go to a music store looking for an artist that has got talent but not mainstream do you think I'll find a copy in our fair city, No.
A artist like Terry Edmunds( Blues Rock) for example who has more talent than most guitar players I've heard, I've never seen his cd on internet sites or stores. I know this guy has at least two cds one which I bought from him when he played at a local night club.
People with real talent are out there and unfortunalely may never get a chance to shine like the bums on the Idol series.

A few more thoughts (dang, it's getting empty up there). I stopped so others could post their thoughts, but some further beliefs I have:

1. MTV destroyed many excellent artists who don't have 'the look'. Chris Cross comes to mind...well OK, but he had SOME talent

2. The 'cookie cutter' approach has limited availability of alternate artists on big labels (Wireworm's lament). Just as in all aspects of modern society, the 'survey says' effect comes in.

3. Continuation of 2- how music for production is picked? By seeing what made it and copying! The days of the biggies finding talent out of the mainstream seem to be long gone, which also limits the music. Who's the maverick going out to find new talent in out of the way places?. Reminds me of WHY the British invasion of the 60s happened- just listen to what was produced in the US in the early 60s, the same stlye music endlessly written by the same people for pop music.

Enough for now, still more to come?

I don't disagree with the comments about the record companies (could care less about them), but I will take exception to the statement about no good music since the mid-90s. For me and the type of music I listen to (alt-country, folk, americana, blues, indie type stuff), there's been more good music come out in the past 3 years (and is still coming, almost every week) than I'll probably ever be able to catch up on and listen to. Honestly, it's a wonder I don't go broke from all the new music I buy.

Now the same may not be true for classic rock. But I think for many genres (jazz, blues, alt-country etc.) there's tons of great new music available.

JD

I know I'm going broke and my music buy list is still growing!

-Dave

I agree- but without your posts here, there are many artists I'd never have had the pleasure of listening to on labels I've never heard of, and I know in advance of spending about what to expect.

Hey, wait a minute- it's people like JD and Dave and Opt that are costing me money:eek:

How do you guys listen to so many recordings?

Well Rey it helps to have this disease that forces you to open your wallet and buy tunes like there's no tomorrow! ;)

Course I blame Opt80, JDaniel, CELT, Tentoze and others who keep making all these recommendations, which forces me to check out what they are listening to. Then I find that I like them and have to go buy every album the artist ever released :rolleyes:

Then when you listen to music at home (no TV), in the car, all day at work, and carry it with you at all outdoor activities - you do get to listen to a number of different recordings. :hdphones:

I has become very apparent to me that collecting music and the gear required to reproduce it has to be the most addictive thing going.

But what fun it is!!! :D

-Dave

Originally posted by reyneman
Hey, wait a minute- it's people like JD and Dave and Opt that are costing me money:eek:

How do you guys listen to so many recordings?


Guilty as charged. As for listening to so many, that's a two-edged sword. I listen to a lot, but the downside with so much music is that I often don't give some albums the time they deserve. A quick listen or two, then it's on to something else, when it deserves regular rotation.

But I listen in the car to/from work (45 minutes each way), and I have music on all day at work. I usually listen to 4 or 5 cds/day at work.

And my goal is to listen to at least one album each night before bed. Sometimes it happens, sometimes not. But at least I have a goal.

JD