Slashdot Mirror
Death of the Album?
panth0r asks: "I know that a simple search for ' death of the album' will give you about 2000 finds of personal websites and their owner's opinions of what is to come of the music industry. Of course I can't resist the chance to ask Slashdot for their take on the issue, so here it is: Do you think the traditional music album is dying out because of advances in technology?"
Of course I can't resist the chance to ask Slashdot for their take on the issue, so here it is: Do you think the traditional music album is dying out because of advances in technology?
No.
Sincerely,
Pan Tarhei Hosé, PhD.
"Homo sum et cogito ergo odi profanum vulgus et libido."
What is dying is singles. Just look at the sales figures; internet downloads (legal and illegal) are killing the CD single off bigtime. Not surprising when (to use UK figures) it is 3-4 pounds for the disc, with only 2 B-sides (usually remixes that few care about), or 79p for the track you actually want from iTunes (assuming you don't just copy it).
Meanwhile, everyone who wants actual physical product in their hands buys albums, which have come down significantly in price in recent years. Here in the UK, sales measured by number of actual discs sold are well up; it's only when the record companies are doing their "piracy is killing us, honest" that they go on about how they haven't seen a huge increase in sales by value.
"I Know You Are But What Am I?"
Album is not dead. Case in point: Green Days "American Idiot".
I'm not a fan of Green Day, I kinda liked their couple of songs that came out a few years ago...but wasn't like a rabid fan. Didn't listen to their other albums and pretty much flew under my radar for many years.
Then someone got me "American Idiot" for Christmas and I popped it in and WHAM...I was blown away. I mean, I really enjoyed it. And it was a real bona-fide album with an overall theme...remember them?
Oh well, I see the album going ok.
"Leo Fender was in a 'state of grace' when he designed the Stratocaster." -- Paul Reed Smith
Don't put words in my mouth. I never said singles didn't exist in the past. I also never said there was no exploitation or over-produced music in the past either.
However, I don't have my head up my ass and am not an apologist for the obnoxious corporate media consolidation that is increasing at a rapid pace. And yes there were "music mafia" in the past, but the market was not sewn up like it is now. There IS a difference. An artist like Bob Dylan WOULD HAVE NO CHANCE WHATSOEVER OF GETTING AIRPLAY TODAY. If you disagree, it is you who is wearing rose-colored glasses.