SXSW 2011: What will the music industry be like in 10 years?
AUSTIN, Texas -- What will the music industry look like in 10 years for working musicians? How will they make money from their art? A panel devoted to the subject Thursday polled a few heavy hitters. Their answers:
Bertis Downs, R.E.M. manager: He sees a lot of little revenue streams, including webcasting and streaming royalties, publishing and licensing deals. Will they make up for shrinking income from recorded music sales? No one knows for sure, but the scale and expectations will be more modest, based on "little clicks that hopefully add up to a sustainable living."
Darius Van Arman, Jagjaguwar Records owner: "For labels, managers, publishers, touring agents it will be important to work together. The incentives point toward cooperation rather than antagonism ... (to create) a music-community biosphere." Otherwise, everyone's in trouble.
Edward Pierson, Seattle-based attorney: Major labels trying to get artists to sign all-encompassing 360-deals that will give them a piece of touring, publishing and merchandising "will become tenuous" because labels are cutting staff and changing management too frequently. Publishers will play a larger role and expand into rights management. "Artists will rely increasingly on publishers to build a career."
:-(
Sounds like Mad Max... but worse.
I become less interested in live music every year. Shows get more expensive. Bands do "mini-tours" that completely neglect geographic regions.
:-(
Posted by: Adam | March 18, 2011 at 09:32 PM