Comments on: Is the Long Tail good for musicians? http://newmusicstrategies.com/2008/08/14/is-the-long-tail-good-for-musicians/ Music culture, strategy and thinking in the digital age Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:46:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chief http://newmusicstrategies.com/2008/08/14/is-the-long-tail-good-for-musicians/comment-page-1/#comment-4833 Chief Sat, 20 Nov 2010 19:23:30 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/?p=723#comment-4833 As a musician I can say that I am surprised and flattered that people would buy my stuff in the U.S., England, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands. But still it doesn't add up to much because its one here and one there and you need to sell more than that. But at least its given me hope for my dreams and I'm just getting started. Will I become a big star or at least earn a living at music? We shall see. Chief Houserocker Chiefhouserocker.com Chiefhouserocker@Gmail.com As a musician I can say that I am surprised and flattered that people would buy my stuff in the U.S., England, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands.

But still it doesn’t add up to much because its one here and one there and you need to sell more than that.

But at least its given me hope for my dreams and I’m just getting started.

Will I become a big star or at least earn a living at music? We shall see.

Chief Houserocker

Chiefhouserocker.com
Chiefhouserocker@Gmail.com

]]> By: Barking Mad Dog | Séamus Anthony - Australian Singer Songwriter, Musician from Melbourne http://newmusicstrategies.com/2008/08/14/is-the-long-tail-good-for-musicians/comment-page-1/#comment-4713 Barking Mad Dog | Séamus Anthony - Australian Singer Songwriter, Musician from Melbourne Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:37:35 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/?p=723#comment-4713 [...] Andrew Dubber well and truly K.O.’d any delusions I may have held that the Long Tail was in anyway a good thing for small time hucksters like you and me. That makes two useless tales [...] [...] Andrew Dubber well and truly K.O.’d any delusions I may have held that the Long Tail was in anyway a good thing for small time hucksters like you and me. That makes two useless tales [...]

]]> By: gurdonark http://newmusicstrategies.com/2008/08/14/is-the-long-tail-good-for-musicians/comment-page-1/#comment-2527 gurdonark Sun, 24 Aug 2008 07:35:59 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/?p=723#comment-2527 A sales office, such as a real estate office, works on the principle that it is not necessarily important that each sales person be fantastically successful so long as the over-arching institution sells enough properties (widgets, etc.). Before anyone employed the idea of a "long-tail" in this context, numerous sales structure of tangible products recognized this aspect of the phenomenon. Just as the individual line realtor does not necessarily profit from the "sell fewer of more", the "sell less of more things" nature of digital IP for the artist suggests that the "long tail" is, as you suggest, misunderstood in terms of its upside impact for artists. At the same time, the generic topic of the "long tail" is merely a projection as to the results of an unclear process--the change and arguable diminishing of corporate hegemony over availability of music media. It's this change, rather than the "long tail" concept, that makes all the difference. It's this change which offers every chance of Heaven and a few sad chances of Hell to the independent artist. A sales office, such as a real estate office, works on the principle that it is not necessarily important that each sales person be fantastically successful so long as the over-arching institution sells enough properties (widgets, etc.). Before anyone employed the idea of a “long-tail” in this context, numerous sales structure of tangible products recognized this aspect of the phenomenon. Just as the individual line realtor does not necessarily profit from the “sell fewer of more”, the “sell less of more things” nature of digital IP for the artist suggests that the “long tail” is, as you suggest, misunderstood in terms of its upside impact for artists.

At the same time, the generic topic of the “long tail” is merely a projection as to the results of an unclear process–the change and arguable diminishing of corporate hegemony over availability of music media. It’s this change, rather than the “long tail” concept, that makes all the difference. It’s this change which offers every chance of Heaven and a few sad chances of Hell to the independent artist.

]]> By: The Music of KevOz —> Blog » Blog Archive » Is the Long Tail good for musicians? http://newmusicstrategies.com/2008/08/14/is-the-long-tail-good-for-musicians/comment-page-1/#comment-2526 The Music of KevOz —> Blog » Blog Archive » Is the Long Tail good for musicians? Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:14:06 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/?p=723#comment-2526 [...] Is the Long Tail good for musicians? [...] [...] Is the Long Tail good for musicians? [...]

]]> By: I Have Clones http://newmusicstrategies.com/2008/08/14/is-the-long-tail-good-for-musicians/comment-page-1/#comment-2525 I Have Clones Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:37:55 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/?p=723#comment-2525 Whilst an interesting observation - I'm not sure how the long tail really helps the independent artist in general - other than allowing them to go from making no money to possibly making a little money. A record label with a large collection of these types of artist my fare well, but I think the real benefit of the long tail to the independent musician is allowing those doing something truly special to move up the tail, without the financial backing of a major label. Whilst an interesting observation – I’m not sure how the long tail really helps the independent artist in general – other than allowing them to go from making no money to possibly making a little money.

A record label with a large collection of these types of artist my fare well, but I think the real benefit of the long tail to the independent musician is allowing those doing something truly special to move up the tail, without the financial backing of a major label.

]]> By: Blaise Alleyne http://newmusicstrategies.com/2008/08/14/is-the-long-tail-good-for-musicians/comment-page-1/#comment-2524 Blaise Alleyne Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:56:59 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/?p=723#comment-2524 I agree that the long tail is no pancea for independent musicians, but I think you're downplaying the positive aspects a bit. That companies are recognizing the long tail makes a huge difference for independent artists. Examples like CD Baby, iTunes... someone making music in their basement now has access to all sorts of distribution channels that were once only available to those with record contracts. The whole "democratization of the tools of production and distribution" bit... The companies building business models off the long tail help enable artists in the long tail to build new business models of their own. I mean, it's definitely no magic bullet and it's very easy to overstate the impact (which I may be even guilty of now), but I think saying it's only "a little bit... not really" good for musicians is an understatement. I agree that the long tail is no pancea for independent musicians, but I think you’re downplaying the positive aspects a bit.

That companies are recognizing the long tail makes a huge difference for independent artists. Examples like CD Baby, iTunes… someone making music in their basement now has access to all sorts of distribution channels that were once only available to those with record contracts. The whole “democratization of the tools of production and distribution” bit… The companies building business models off the long tail help enable artists in the long tail to build new business models of their own.

I mean, it’s definitely no magic bullet and it’s very easy to overstate the impact (which I may be even guilty of now), but I think saying it’s only “a little bit… not really” good for musicians is an understatement.

]]> By: mwalimu http://newmusicstrategies.com/2008/08/14/is-the-long-tail-good-for-musicians/comment-page-1/#comment-2523 mwalimu Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:28:06 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/?p=723#comment-2523 You could probably do a whole post about file sharing and the long tail. In a nutshell, it goes something like this... In the days before CDs could easily be copied, every member of a group of friends might buy a copy of the latest CD by the current big name artist. Nowadays, though, only one or two of them would buy it and pass it around while the rest would buy something else to share. Why buy 10 copies of something by a filthy-rich megastar when we can have it anyway and could instead buy something by a lesser act who probably appreciates the additional sales more? When downloading and interacting with others on a filesharing network it's the same effect. If you're like most music lovers there's probably way more music you'd like to have than you can afford to buy on CD. You'd be less likely to download something that could easily be found online. Quite possibly, you'd still buy CDs, just not the same ones; rather than buy more of the latest top sellers, you'd buy more backlist titles and music by more obscure acts. It's not hard to see how this results in less sales of the "Hits" and more sales further out the long tail. Some have speculated that it's an effect that the recording industry is fighting against. Their business model is based on the idea that a large percentage of sales are concentrated in the hits. Filesharing drives more sales out to the long tail. They dislike Internet radio (and to a lesser extent, satellite radio) for the same reason - they expose more listeners to more obscure music and drive sales out the long tail. Much of their legislative and royalty lobbying seem geared toward what is likely a losing battle to drive more music consumers back toward the hits. You could probably do a whole post about file sharing and the long tail. In a nutshell, it goes something like this…

In the days before CDs could easily be copied, every member of a group of friends might buy a copy of the latest CD by the current big name artist. Nowadays, though, only one or two of them would buy it and pass it around while the rest would buy something else to share. Why buy 10 copies of something by a filthy-rich megastar when we can have it anyway and could instead buy something by a lesser act who probably appreciates the additional sales more?

When downloading and interacting with others on a filesharing network it’s the same effect. If you’re like most music lovers there’s probably way more music you’d like to have than you can afford to buy on CD. You’d be less likely to download something that could easily be found online. Quite possibly, you’d still buy CDs, just not the same ones; rather than buy more of the latest top sellers, you’d buy more backlist titles and music by more obscure acts.

It’s not hard to see how this results in less sales of the “Hits” and more sales further out the long tail. Some have speculated that it’s an effect that the recording industry is fighting against. Their business model is based on the idea that a large percentage of sales are concentrated in the hits. Filesharing drives more sales out to the long tail. They dislike Internet radio (and to a lesser extent, satellite radio) for the same reason – they expose more listeners to more obscure music and drive sales out the long tail. Much of their legislative and royalty lobbying seem geared toward what is likely a losing battle to drive more music consumers back toward the hits.

]]> By: Gavroche http://newmusicstrategies.com/2008/08/14/is-the-long-tail-good-for-musicians/comment-page-1/#comment-2522 Gavroche Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:12:22 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/?p=723#comment-2522 Great post Dubber. I am continually fascinated by the long tail, and how "niche" works can be marketed to be more engaging to fans and profitable to artists. While there will always be "hits", the collective power of long tail artists should be able to rival the majors. Think: Merlin. But the problem is that there hasn't been a powerful aggregation of long tail artists (i hope nobody argues that Myspace has done that) that has enabled them to effectively punch above their weight. Creative Commons is a great example of massive stockpile of long tail works that haven't been properly monetized...and I'm not talking about just selling tracks, which obviously not the answer. I love CC licenses, but who's going to figure out a creative way to monetize them for musicians? CCmixter sure didn't. I wrote a blog post on whether the long tail is good for musicians and how it can be leveraged to actually make some musicians money. Check it out: http://evolvingmusic.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/long-tail-is-flat/ Great post Dubber. I am continually fascinated by the long tail, and how “niche” works can be marketed to be more engaging to fans and profitable to artists. While there will always be “hits”, the collective power of long tail artists should be able to rival the majors. Think: Merlin.

But the problem is that there hasn’t been a powerful aggregation of long tail artists (i hope nobody argues that Myspace has done that) that has enabled them to effectively punch above their weight. Creative Commons is a great example of massive stockpile of long tail works that haven’t been properly monetized…and I’m not talking about just selling tracks, which obviously not the answer. I love CC licenses, but who’s going to figure out a creative way to monetize them for musicians? CCmixter sure didn’t.

I wrote a blog post on whether the long tail is good for musicians and how it can be leveraged to actually make some musicians money.

Check it out: http://evolvingmusic.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/long-tail-is-flat/

]]> By: Anthony http://newmusicstrategies.com/2008/08/14/is-the-long-tail-good-for-musicians/comment-page-1/#comment-2521 Anthony Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:57:28 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/?p=723#comment-2521 Andrew, Fantastic insight, as usual. Anthony Andrew,

Fantastic insight, as usual.

Anthony

]]> By: Séamus Anthony - Doing One Thing Every Day http://newmusicstrategies.com/2008/08/14/is-the-long-tail-good-for-musicians/comment-page-1/#comment-2520 Séamus Anthony - Doing One Thing Every Day Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:15:38 +0000 http://newmusicstrategies.com/?p=723#comment-2520 [...] Andrew Dubber smash any delusions I may have held that the Long Tail was in anyway a good thing for small time hucksters like you and me. That makes two useless tales [...] [...] Andrew Dubber smash any delusions I may have held that the Long Tail was in anyway a good thing for small time hucksters like you and me. That makes two useless tales [...]

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