The streaming model once again fucks artists. Not only are the labels squeezing them, but Spotify et. al. are raping them. I do stream, but I also buy the media and support the artists directly.
Like you, but probably in a more circumscribed fashion, I've supported some pretty unknown bands/musicians too. I once held the naïve hope that streaming would help them break free of geographic limitations and find a larger paying audience, even if small; alas, none of them has become more than a regional band.
I've only used Spotify at work: a medical massage place was set up so each treatment room had its own music setup for the therapist to customize. It was barely acceptable, and the only redeeming feature of it was I could find a hard rock channel and crank some good stuff while cleaning the room and prepping for the morning therapist. Your personal collection is larger than mine, but not by a lot, and I'm still buying (CD and MP3) to fill holes in it. It's nice to have choices and set things up as one wants.
One thing is certain, with the exceptions of the mega-stars, the artists get fucked, the labels are like the house in Vegas (they always get paid), and the streaming providers are balanced between fucking the talent, and keeping the labels happy, and their slice of the pie.
I will admit that I liked Spotify, but when they paid that fucker Joe Rogan $210M for th exclusive rights to his podcast, that was the final straw.
This conversation has reminded me of Tom Petty's 2002 album *The Last DJ*. Not all the megastars were happy with the changes... and now I'm wondering how many songs there are about A&R men, etc.
The A&R men, the major labels, the broadcasters, all fucking gatekeeping, rent seeking assholes. They push uniformity, consistency, and squash/squelch many innovative acts and artists.
Also, as Glenn Fricker says, back when ugly people made music was the best. MTV and the video ready band was a turning point.
And F the playlist curators who insert Foo Fighters and Pearljam into "Classic Rock playlists. That shit ain't classic rock dammit.
Preach, brother! I hadn't really considered how much music videos shifted the scene to focus on optics; social media has just made that worse. Got a major wakeup call back in the '90s when a student came to see me during office hours; they were unhappy that their attempts at romantic relationships hadn't gone the way they saw them portrayed on the large and small screens. Yowza.
When they get off your lawn, they better not step into mine.
Great choice of first album to buy!
Like you, but probably in a more circumscribed fashion, I've supported some pretty unknown bands/musicians too. I once held the naïve hope that streaming would help them break free of geographic limitations and find a larger paying audience, even if small; alas, none of them has become more than a regional band.
I've only used Spotify at work: a medical massage place was set up so each treatment room had its own music setup for the therapist to customize. It was barely acceptable, and the only redeeming feature of it was I could find a hard rock channel and crank some good stuff while cleaning the room and prepping for the morning therapist. Your personal collection is larger than mine, but not by a lot, and I'm still buying (CD and MP3) to fill holes in it. It's nice to have choices and set things up as one wants.
One thing is certain, with the exceptions of the mega-stars, the artists get fucked, the labels are like the house in Vegas (they always get paid), and the streaming providers are balanced between fucking the talent, and keeping the labels happy, and their slice of the pie.
I will admit that I liked Spotify, but when they paid that fucker Joe Rogan $210M for th exclusive rights to his podcast, that was the final straw.
Now, I think I will spin some Nightranger...
This conversation has reminded me of Tom Petty's 2002 album *The Last DJ*. Not all the megastars were happy with the changes... and now I'm wondering how many songs there are about A&R men, etc.
The A&R men, the major labels, the broadcasters, all fucking gatekeeping, rent seeking assholes. They push uniformity, consistency, and squash/squelch many innovative acts and artists.
Also, as Glenn Fricker says, back when ugly people made music was the best. MTV and the video ready band was a turning point.
And F the playlist curators who insert Foo Fighters and Pearljam into "Classic Rock playlists. That shit ain't classic rock dammit.
Now get off my lawn!
Preach, brother! I hadn't really considered how much music videos shifted the scene to focus on optics; social media has just made that worse. Got a major wakeup call back in the '90s when a student came to see me during office hours; they were unhappy that their attempts at romantic relationships hadn't gone the way they saw them portrayed on the large and small screens. Yowza.
When they get off your lawn, they better not step into mine.