You’ve probably heard about the spat between YouTube/Google and the Performing Rights Society (PRS). The PRS have launched a new site - fairplayforcreators.com - which aims to highlight the issues of online earnings. Pete Waterman is quoted as receiving a massive £11 for over 100 million views of ‘Never going to give you up’, while poor old Mark Kelly from Marillion only made 0.6p from 10 million views of his band’s videos. In the meantime, Google continues to make revenue from advertising on the very same pages as these videos. Gone are the days when videos were promotional tools to encourage album or single sales - those sales are through the floor. In the newly-emerging music business these digital channels will all take-on new significance as potential income streams for artists. If music video has value to Google in driving ad revenue then it is a resource that should be rewarded fairly. Without seeing the figures it is difficult to determine what that rate should be, but given some of the headline figures we’re hearing you can’t help but feel that at present music makers are getting a raw deal. If you’re involved in creating music, make sure your voice is heard.
Archive for March, 2009
PRS fights back
Thursday, March 26th, 2009Music: it’s not as good as it used to be
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009Have you ever wondered why music seems to matter less and less in your life these days? Do you remember the albums you listened to as a kid, and how you knew every lyric and how you’d anticipate one song starting after the last? How you’d hide under the duvet with a crappy radio to get a fix on the latest chart hits? That feeling of emmersion as your favourite song kicked-in on your Dansette record player? Ok, I’m showing my age here, but my latest theory for my own waning interest in music isn’t to do with the rise of MP3, the demise of vinyl or the relatively new distraction of the internet. No, I reckon a lot of it is down to this: it all sounds crap. (more…)
10 reasons why your band sucks
Monday, March 9th, 2009
Experience is what you get just after you need it. Many bands make the same mistakes in their early (and often not-so-early) days, but as a wizened old pro I can help. Get a leg-up on the opposition as I reveal the top 10 reasons why your band sucks:
- Your songs are dull. Have you written songs, or have you just come up with patterns of notes that sort of fit together? Does your song have structure, or does it meander around pointlessly like a Sunday league midfielder? Does it have a memorable melody or hook? Does it take 3 minutes before anything happens like my DVD recorder? Get it tight - trim the fat. Make every bar count. (more…)