Music Record Labels News and Trends
Keep on top of music record label happenings
Music record labels are an ever-changing part of the music industry. Since the inception of many record labels in the last century, many labels have changed hands, absorbed other labels or folded completely. Music recording companies have responded to changing formats, from 33 and 45 rpm, eight-track, cassette, CD and finally to digital.Music labels are fighting to maintain control of their artists and their music, as some popular musicians are seeking freedom from big labels. And as customers find ways to download music for free, circumventing traditional channels of buying music, the music industry will continue to reel from the loss of CD sales.
The Internet offers the music industry a huge grapevine of music news, giving them more of a leg-up than in the past. As you're keeping an eye on the industry, here are a few trends to watch for.
1. Consider the fact that music labels will have to anticipate changes in the industry by keeping on top of innovations.
2. Realize that artists will take advantage of technology to exert more control over their careers.
3. Expect that rising stars will seek out other ways to produce music if they don't view music record companies as accessible.
Read up on music record labels news and trends
The last decade has seen a sea-change in the way that people listen to music. As Internet music sales expand and more people save their music to recording devices, music record labels have to contend with controlling their product and protecting their music acts from piracy.
Try: Music Industry Today is a subscription news service focusing on news relevant to the movers and shakers in the music industry. Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is the trade group representing record labels and fights for members' intellectual property rights. The RIAA website features industry news.
Expect more artists to pursue indie music labels
Many artists have the purchasing power to defect from their music record label and developing their own independent music label. An indie music label can allow artists to control their own publicity and bring along new acts.
Try: Music Industry Newswire has breaking news for music professionals. FMQB (Friday Morning Quarterback Report) has been a mainstay of the music industry for 40 years, keeping execs abreast of breaking news.
Get an inside track as a music label by listening to consumer chatter
Music record company execs should periodically take a peek at what consumers are reading about the music industry. They might catch a glimpse of the public sentiment toward the music talent and the labels who represent them.
Try: MTV's website has the latest music video and industry news. Billboard.biz tracks the latest in music industry news for record labels, including the rise of many more independent record labels. The Wired News website delivers news about technology.
- Keep a current list of record labels contacts handy when you're reading up on the news, and update your contacts as they change.
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