2008 Woodie Awards
No more Mavericks in music
Danielle Jurski
Issue date: 11/18/08 Section: Entertainment
The question many bands ask themselves when signing a major label deal is this: When marketing and sales are key in keeping a label afloat, does that mean the band will take a creative backseat when recording their own albums?
"I think one artist finds something that works, and many artists do the same thing. A lot of people don't consider that copying, society doesn't tell us that. They say it's okay to do," Eric Zuelke, sophomore religion major, said.
Labels are struggling as record sales continue to decline year after year.
Nielsen SoundScan reports that only 500.5 million albums were sold last year in contrast to the monstrous 785.1 million sold at the turn of the century, including CDs and digital downloads but not the purchase of singles.
Sales of singles are up to an all-time high of 844.2 million in 2007, however, increasing 45 percent from 2006's 581.9 million, despite the increasing popularity of illegally downloading music.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed numerous lawsuits against internet pirates but have found that most people who download illegally aren't fearful of prosecution, and many blame this trend for the music industry's breakdown.
According to contentagenda.com, Warner, EMI, Sony BMG and Universal control about 70 percent of the global music market and 80 percent of the domestic market.
Because these major labels have so much influence in the funding and promotion of bands, are they only pushing "the same" to the top because they know they'll sell?
"People are missing out on a lot of music that isn't 'out there.' It's good to listen to [popular music], but because it's selling, it all sounds the same," Lisa Poe, freshman from Norwich, said.
Molly Grisham, communications professor, has a decidedly darker outlook on major label deals.
"Once you've signed, you are at [the label's] mercy, and you lose creative control. I have grown an appreciation for those who write their own songs," Grisham said.
"I think one artist finds something that works, and many artists do the same thing. A lot of people don't consider that copying, society doesn't tell us that. They say it's okay to do," Eric Zuelke, sophomore religion major, said.
Labels are struggling as record sales continue to decline year after year.
Nielsen SoundScan reports that only 500.5 million albums were sold last year in contrast to the monstrous 785.1 million sold at the turn of the century, including CDs and digital downloads but not the purchase of singles.
Sales of singles are up to an all-time high of 844.2 million in 2007, however, increasing 45 percent from 2006's 581.9 million, despite the increasing popularity of illegally downloading music.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed numerous lawsuits against internet pirates but have found that most people who download illegally aren't fearful of prosecution, and many blame this trend for the music industry's breakdown.
According to contentagenda.com, Warner, EMI, Sony BMG and Universal control about 70 percent of the global music market and 80 percent of the domestic market.
Because these major labels have so much influence in the funding and promotion of bands, are they only pushing "the same" to the top because they know they'll sell?
"People are missing out on a lot of music that isn't 'out there.' It's good to listen to [popular music], but because it's selling, it all sounds the same," Lisa Poe, freshman from Norwich, said.
Molly Grisham, communications professor, has a decidedly darker outlook on major label deals.
"Once you've signed, you are at [the label's] mercy, and you lose creative control. I have grown an appreciation for those who write their own songs," Grisham said.
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