LiquidOxygen80: Die hard user here, but hedward is right. The only thing that made using Napster awesome was the fact that it was free music. None of us really gave a crap about consequences. For the most part, though, the recording industry was already starting to move towards the "2-3 singles and a bunch of filler" model at that time, so in our defense, we were NOT going to pay $20 for a CD we only wanted a couple songs from anyway. It's the RIAA's antiquated business model and inability to adapt to the digital distribution method, that cost them all the money Apple makes from the iTunes service.
It's also the RIAA's fault that they assumed that we all wanted to listen to the shovelfuls of shitty music they were and still are churning out.
Frankly, the sales lost served them right, not only for how they treat consumers, but how they treat artists these days. R&D is a thing of the past at most record labels these days, and it shows in the lack of quality of product. Don't get me wrong, there ARE still some great bands on major labels, but they're proven entities who'd have fans regardless of who releases their albums.
Pretty much. Back when I was using Napster I was buying a ton of albums, but now I buy less than 1 a year from their studios. And for five or six years I didn't buy any at all. I'll still buy independent albums from time to time, but I mostly avoid the RIAA.
I think the industry peaked in about '99 or '00 or thereabouts, at this point Apple could buy the entire industry. I think right now they're only worth about $7bn or so total.
But, this comes up every few decades and it's always been incompetence on the part of the execs that's leading to the losses. Piracy hasn't killed the industry any more than home taping did in the '70s.
Same here. That whole case soured me on purchasing albums almost completely. The ones I do own are from smaller bands and artists who actually need my money, or are "greatest hits" compilations. Tbh, I almost wish Apple WOULD buy the industry.
Also, that case made me stop being a Metallica fan, because I'm now quite convinced that Lars Ulrich is literally one of the biggest douchenozzles to ever walk the planet. I also think that South Park's lampooning was spot on. Those artists should have gotten behind it and realized that free publicity, or a changing of their model would actually improve their business opportunities, but eh, w/e. Their loss.
I see the entire industry continuing to slide, though, because to be frank, we're rapidly evolving to the point where anyone with a modern PC can have a recording studio up at home, self-publish AND distribute, publicize themselves via social media and other sharing sites. The divide will only continue to expand, as more and more artists begin to realize that they don't necessarily NEED major labels for exposure.
