Well, can a major band that is well-known already ditch their record label entirely?
If they did so, and released their own albums digitally (or at least eased out the role of the recording studio), prices could probably drop or the artists themselves could make profit rather than the middlemen.
Also, if more money were going to the artists, people might be more inclined toward paying for music they really like (though probably not because piracy is still awesome.)
Perhaps the expertise of a record label is necessary early on in a band's "life", but can bands not break out of a label when it's in their own (and their fans') interests?
Before I start, I agree with parent post. Record labels that invest time in promoting an album have a right to some of the money too, though not nearly as much as they take currently.
The question though, is whether said labels are necessary to the industry anymore. Can a band sustain itself without a record label, while still releasing music in an album format digitally? I'm not one to pretend to be knowledgeable on the issue but I figure I can at least pose the question.
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If they did so, and released their own albums digitally (or at least eased out the role of the recording studio), prices could probably drop or the artists themselves could make profit rather than the middlemen.
Also, if more money were going to the artists, people might be more inclined toward paying for music they really like (though probably not because piracy is still awesome.)
Perhaps the expertise of a record label is necessary early on in a band's "life", but can bands not break out of a label when it's in their own (and their fans') interests?
The question though, is whether said labels are necessary to the industry anymore. Can a band sustain itself without a record label, while still releasing music in an album format digitally? I'm not one to pretend to be knowledgeable on the issue but I figure I can at least pose the question.
Everyone knows iPhone users don't have jobs.
Maybe this is a step in the right direction at least?