i think it levels the playing field a little bit and it definitely opens up doors for independent artist to network "easier". the mid nineties i was mailing out packages every week and traveling long distances to meet up w/ people to showcase my music... now it's more like "hey, check my myspace" and response time is way less. so, i feel sometimes the Internet takes away the "dues paying" aspect of what griding used to be, but i aint hatin. everything elevates. you can compare it to having to hunt for your food as opposed to now you can buy it already sliced up at the market. just gotta go to the right market to buy the right meat.
and of course if you're already an established artist, the Web widens everything you're doing...
but we still have to tour, we still have to book our own shows, STILL have to build relationships w/ people.
yeah i think the internet like myspace and rawkus helps you build and connect with people it would take years to do..i remember some years ago i used to send out demos alot and hope if someone contacted me..but now through via the internet i have made good contacts and build up a network so i feel it's a positive and altetnative to see who really is listening and who your fan base is going to be.. then that will help you market yourself better... and like sev said building relationships and touring is vital in one's career also...
Hell yeah nice metaphor! Yeah man traveling around doing showcases around the state and outter states is pretty tredious but yeah man like you said you still gotta book your own shows, tour, and build relationships. Still gotta have the hustlers mentality. Thanks for your words Sev!-ATLAS
LOL!!! Now you know I gotta say my piece...I like this question, becuz in recent years, ppl wuz actin like the internet wuz just NOW invented. The internet have been around 4 quite some time now, and artists always had websites, fansites, and everything. But I always look at it this way: What if Run-DMC, Eric B. and Rakim, Public Enemy, or N.W.A. had internet at the peak of their careers? Would it change it? I don't think so, becuz N.W.A. sold millions of records with limited radio play. Now with limited radio play, you lucky 2 sell 50,000 copies of your own sh**. If anything, I think the internet changed the way the consumer can connect 2 their favorite musicians. Why pay $13.99 4 an album dat you know is only gonna have 4 songs out of 22 you like? This is a wake up call 4 all artists, becuz now it ain't safe 2 put out a whole album. But remember in the 90's, when singles with B-Sides wuz goin plat? Personally, I think like this: F*** an album, just keep on pumping out new product consistently until you build up enough momentum 4 ppl 2 actually look 4ward 2 your sh**. But right or wrong, just my thoughts ladies and gentlemen...
Haaa yeah D.S. I'd almost be offended if you didnt have something to say about one of my topics lol. I feel ya on that. Albums arent doing well these days with hip hop. I mean you get a dude like Usher who goes plat his first week and sells 9 million more copies thereafter. DIAMOND! Crazy shit. Yet rap artists are happy if their shit sells 300 thou within their first week or so. Why is this? Like you said maybe its because they only expect 3-5 hard hitting songs on each album and why pay 14 bucks for a cd that youre not even gonna listen to half of. Which is why the mixtape circuit is so huge right now because these artists have this "freedom" to put out as many mixtapes as they want between albums to up that paypa. Thats real too you really dont see singles anymore and back then they use to go plat. Hmm I dunno why that is. Very interesting though. Maybe the hip hop industry has it all wrong. Maybe its fuck the mixtapes and the drama and make better videos. Or even dare we ask... MAKE BETTER MUSIC. Could it be that we yearn for that real hip hop to go mainstream and brush our airwaves? I guess time will tell. Thanks D.S once again! Always bringing in great topics man! Much love-ATLAS
Good points all throughout this discussion. I'll tell you this from an A&R aspect of it (know plenty of them), its created a shift in how to find artists and market them. There's more concentration on the hot single than an actual full length. Also, less money is being spent on actual development of bands and promotions these days because of it. It's become much cheaper for record companies to promote their artist, and while this should represent a larger bottom line for the artist themselves, it really hasn't...the companies are still getting their same large chunk of the cd sales.
Of course I'm speaking mostly from a major label perspective, Indie labels are much different.
Very true man. That must be why more and more artists are coming up indie and not trying to be part of that big label because theyre getting stiffed on their contracts and not getting much of a return. Thanks Ritchie!-ATLAS
