[atlantaprog] Re: Fwd: David Byrne on the future of music distribution

I thought the article was interesting.  I was also happy to hear someone talk 
about touring in those terms.  Still, I agree completely with Brian with regard 
to Byrne’s overly optimistic comments about the ease and accessibility of home 
recording.
 
Jim mentioned “there are fewer studios and engineers than there used to be in 
the professional ranks.”  I’m not sure that this is true.  I run across people 
all the time who seem to be running professional studios out of their homes.  
They usually don’t offer very good quality, but back in the early 90s I 
recorded with several studios located in commercial spaces and using expensive 
analog equipment that didn’t offer very good quality recordings.
 
It all comes down to a combination of equipment and skill.  I was an intern at 
a recording studio in the early 90s and was excited when ADATs came out, but 
after recording several albums on my own, I realized that I really suck at 
recording and I still need the help of someone who knows what they are doing in 
order to have a final product that I’m happy with.
 
Although it is true that now most musicians have the ability to record an album 
at home on their computer, it just seems like that means there are a larger 
number of absolutely terribly recorded songs out there.  Maybe there aren’t any 
more songs recorded on computers than there were on 4-tracks.  Maybe the 
difference now is that it’s just a lot easier to get them out (through myspace, 
etc.)
 
I also agree with Brian in preferring the CD over an iPod.  I want the album 
experience.  I want the packaging; something that I can look at while I listen 
to the music.  I don’t know what will happen with CD sales over the next few 
years, but I know that I’m still selling a hell of a lot of CDs at our shows.  
Obviously I don’t fall into the major label category and I’m not selling in the 
millions, but at least currently, there is still a market for CDs.  With that 
said, I have also seen a surprising increase in digital download sales over the 
last two years.
 
Brian said, “CDBaby is great, but if you add all the sales of all their artists 
it's about one or two major-label hit albums, and even there, 12% of their 
artists make 90% of their sales.”
 
I’ve considered the sale of physical sales to be a bonus when it comes to 
CDBaby.  I get more use out of the other services that they offer.
 
-Wade
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