On the back of the Reverbnation survey of over 1,800 artists, 75% of whom would like to sign a record deal, it has to be asked: what’s happened to the DIY digital pop revolution?
What amazed me, in particular, about the survey was the record companies listed as Most Wanted: the majors… Sony, Universal, Warner etc
Is it the innate stupidity of hundreds of music artists? Or are they recognising the basic flaw in the DIY argument: to promote a group successfully you need money and resources beyond those possessed by most bands and soloists?
Is the seismic shift caused by the interweb in the music business just going to result in a leaner, meaner recording industry, with several new, huge online players replacing the traditional distribution arm and shops and artists even further in thrall to big business through tighter contracts that will list bodily fluid as product in a 1000 degree deal?
Take a look around you. Who is selling? who’s on TV? Who’s setting up own-brand, multi-million dollar merch companies? Who’s giving up the day job?
When you answer those questions honestly, you might be…
…depressed? You should be…