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Diamond Disks! On Wed, Feb 3, 2016 at 11:41 AM, Chris Bishop <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Most people don't even want downloads let alone CDs. So in that sense vinyl > is as doomed as every other physical medium. > > But I disagree that vinyl is a dead medium at this time. The DJ scene is > stronger than ever in every genre. > > Records produced 50 or 60 years ago can be pulled off the shelf, cleaned > and played with almost no deterioration from age. What medium is more > stable in average storage conditions? > > Chris > > > > On Wed, Feb 3, 2016 at 11:28 AM, John Haley <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > It's the old question--do you want fame or money? Many "artists" of > today > > apparently keep their day jobs and go for fame by giving it away, > thinking > > fortune will follow. Seems like it seldom does, and this has very little > > to do with basic talent. It's a recipe for a lousy pop music world, > which > > to my ancient ears is just what is happening. Meanwhile any third-rate > pop > > artist from the past can sell out a hall today. Thank goodness they are > > there. > > > > As for vinyl, it's a blip and a fad. If it gets people listening who > > otherwise wouldn't be, then fine, I like it, but we who ought to know > > better mustn't kid ourselves. As a format, vinyl is a dead one, and it > > deserves to be. Of course I'm not tossing out my record collection, but > as > > a person who restores old records in modern formats, I have no nostalgic, > > romantic illusions about vinyl's supposed virtues. If people are happy > > listening to it, then be happy and go for it. But as "audio people" let's > > not go fooling ourselves. > > > > Best, > > John Haley > > > > > > > > > > > > On Wed, Feb 3, 2016 at 9:09 AM, Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]> > > wrote: > > > > > Interesting stats from Nielsen: > > > > > > > > > http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/22/10816404/2015-album-sales-trends-vinyl-catalog-streaming > > > > > > Soundscan does not pick up the whole market, but the trends seem > > credible. > > > Interesting that Adele fans are also vinyl fans in such a pronounced > > way. I > > > wonder if the back-catalog trend was just a blip because so much of it > is > > > now in print either as downloads or physical media, just about every > > > "golden age" audiophile favorite is not out in new-remaster vinyl, and > > what > > > CDs are left in the pipeline are heavily discounted. But, that said, > the > > > market to create great new music is not really there -- artists make > more > > > just touring and releasing a song here and there via download or video > > > streams. So why get in a studio and create great art? There was also an > > > interesting interview in the latest issue of TapeOp magazine with the > > > Minneapolis hip-hop collective Doomtree. One thing they said that stuck > > in > > > my mind is that there is a penalty today for taking the time to write > > > great, meaningful lyrics. The music-buying public wants catchy phrases > > and > > > well-worn stereotype statements set to music, they want simple ditties, > > and > > > simple sells. > > > > > > This report looks at unit sales for the first half of 2015: > > > > > > > > > http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/us-album-sales-fall-4-in-first-half-of-2015-as-cd-rules-market-just/ > > > The problem that isn't documented in unit sales is that copyright > owners, > > > artists and everyone else with a stake in making quality music get > > pennies > > > on the dollar from these streaming services, and that's the main growth > > > area as far as consumer uptake (yes, the vinyl niche is thriving, but > > it's > > > a tiny niche compared to overall music sales, and does not produce > enough > > > revenue to float any artist or major copyright owner). I think it was > > very > > > foolish for the record companies to surrender to streamers on the > cheap. > > > They should be charging royalties like radio, plus a download fee, and > > the > > > streamers should be forced into a model where everyone who streams > pays a > > > monthly fee. Most of the streaming is freebie streaming, and that just > > > doesn't produce enough revenue. If I were an artists, I'd say you get > > > nothing for free streaming, and if I'm a hit-making artist I'd say you > > get > > > nothing without paying me regular download fees. > > > > > > -- Tom Fine > > > > > > -- Frank B Strauss, DMD