Radio versus Recording Industry
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Idolator ran this little nugget today about an ongoing battle between the RIAA (boo) and the NAB (er…yay). Basically, the RIAA are trying to squeeze the radio broadcasters for more royalties for playing their records. And yes, the common sense response is “But doesn’t that airplay help promote the records? Isn’t that why music videos were referred to as ‘promos’?”
Well, yes dear reader, it does. And a little study by the NAB (OK, might be a tiny bit biased) suggests that basically the two industries need each other. The recording industry needs radio to beam their songs into the heads of the populace, the broadcasters need music to entertain their listeners with. Capiche?
One can’t help but wonder why the broadcasters don’t send out a message to these record labels by starting to integrate unsigned acts into their playlists. Yes, there are plenty of ‘new music’ shows, but these don’t typically get majority audiences. Can you imagine if Radio 1 in the UK started slipping unsigned acts into their primetime playlists?
Let’s all face facts - there’s plenty of great music out there clamouring to be heard. The broadcasters could easily lean harder on the record industry by giving them less airtime and devoting more space on their playlists for unsigned or independent acts.
It’ll just take one brave radio station to get the ball rolling!
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June 11th, 2008 at 8:04 am
It is interesting to watch the music industry asphyxiating itself slowly. I do wonder whether, once they’ve locked down the Internet, squeezed radio and Internet radio revenues whilst failing to innovate that they eventually find music sales continue to decline because people would rather spend their hard earned money on something that’s better value for money.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Well, I spent some time listening to some new music on MySpace last night and it was far better than anything I’m hearing on the radio at the moment.
I’ve been sent CDs by bands who are amazing but unsigned while the same old tat is sold to the public because the infrastructure isn’t there to deliver unsigned music to the mass market. The industry machine is sewn up to promote their chosen artists at the expense of better but less well-connected bands.
June 11th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Oh I think there’s a good chance that a certain niche alternative scene will always have it’s own grass roots direct distribution methods. The problem will be when they feel they need the marketing & distribution channels of the record industry in order to help fund tours, merchandise & marketing. Maybe we’ll see more companies like One Nation (only scaled down & less focussed on just established acts) & much shorter contracts for signed bands. I feel we’re still in a much longer period of realignment for how musicians (rather than those just pursuing fame) & the industry make money & adjusting to a different level of income overall.