So what we’ve got here is a Universal alliance that allows the music conglomerate a chance to pick up nascent acts, merging them into their system with all its advantages.\u00c2\u00a0 Huh?<\/p>\n
That’s the problem here.\u00c2\u00a0 No one knows what acts are successful!\u00c2\u00a0 We’ve got to get that data, we’ve got to get inside, so we know what’s happening. If ANYTHING is happening everybody with an ear to the ground knows it immediately.\u00c2\u00a0 So I don’t see the advantage to Universal here.\u00c2\u00a0 Nor do I see the advantage to acts.\u00c2\u00a0 If you’ve got some success and you want to go with a major label is the problem that you don’t have a preexisting relationship?\u00c2\u00a0 Are you kidding?\u00c2\u00a0 Every single major will take a meeting with anybody who can demonstrate sales success.\u00c2\u00a0 Their problem is wading through the wannabes who want to get signed, get a ton of cash with NO track record.\u00c2\u00a0 Furthermore, so many of today’s acts with a track record DON’T want a major label deal.\u00c2\u00a0 Why give up all that action to be told what to do, giving up the lion’s share of the profits along the way?<\/p>\n
As for selling CDs in Guitar Center…\u00c2\u00a0 Wow, how eighties!\u00c2\u00a0 We sell them at Whole Foods, we sell them at convenience stores, that’s the problem, that’s why revenue sucks, people have nowhere to buy CDs!\u00c2\u00a0 Absolutely ridiculous.\u00c2\u00a0 To turn Tunecore into a backward-looking operation is like using your iPhone to calculate when your typewriter ribbon will run out.\u00c2\u00a0 Huh?<\/p>\n
If only there were some true innovation here.\u00c2\u00a0 What if Universal offered something more than the usual "rich and famous" contract. \u00c2\u00a0
What if Universal was in partnership with ALL the bands on Tunecore and offered unique opportunities?<\/p>\n
That’s how dumb Universal is.\u00c2\u00a0 In order to truly enter the twenty first century and profit they must be a distributor for ALL, skimming a tiny profit on each.\u00c2\u00a0 A great musician is usually a lousy businessman.\u00c2\u00a0 Rather than try to rape the player, offer him something he can’t do himself.\u00c2\u00a0 Like a Website where not only do you sell his music, but you sell merch, facilitate contests and giveaways, where you generate additional revenue beyond recorded music!<\/p>\n
That’s the opportunity.\u00c2\u00a0 Stop crying in your beer about iTunes.\u00c2\u00a0 Give me one site where I can buy ALL my music-related stuff.\u00c2\u00a0 That’s what Ticketmaster wants to do with its Live Nation merger.\u00c2\u00a0 That’s the play.\u00c2\u00a0 Maybe even give away the music with the sale of a concert ticket, but also sell merch as part of the same transaction.\u00c2\u00a0 But what if you’re a wannabe band, just starting out, and Frontline won’t manage you and Live Nation won’t promote you?\u00c2\u00a0 Who’s your friend then?\u00c2\u00a0 Some of these acts will be successful…who’s gonna start out on the ground floor with them and help them? Believe me, Universal is no help.\u00c2\u00a0 Have you seen one of their contracts?\u00c2\u00a0 And now they want a piece of EVERYTHING, not only recorded music. Blows my mind that they’ve got no vision of the future other than saying we’re best at selling music the old way!\u00c2\u00a0 Isn’t that what Doug and Jimmy are doing?\u00c2\u00a0 We’ll get you in front of millions and make you a success, and now not only will you get screwed on recordings, you’ll get screwed on live appearances…what a deal!<\/p>\n
Someone’s gonna roll up the new acts.\u00c2\u00a0 And based on this Tunecore deal, one can say Universal will not be the one.\u00c2\u00a0 You’re gonna need someone who can see the future.\u00c2\u00a0 Who sees that a ton of pennies is worth more than a few dollars.\u00c2\u00a0 Who sees the future is about partnership with the acts, with transparent accounting and fair deals.\u00c2\u00a0 Michael Jackson called Tommy Mottola the devil and he was making more money selling records than anybody!<\/p>\n
But he wasn’t making as much as CBS\/Sony.<\/p>\n
As long as Universal believes it’s entitled to the lion’s share of the revenue, while offering nothing new, nothing innovative, nothing helpful in this new digital era, the company is laughable.<\/p>\n
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