Nice piece in the Guardian technology blog debating the contribution of downloading to the alleged ‘death’ of the music industry. You don’t have to be a genius to know that physical music sales on the high street are down: walk into any media outlet and you’ll be confronted with reams of DVDs, while CDs are mostly relegated to an area that is impossible to navigate by anyone over 20. Ultimately, people’s interest in music has waned, with overall single sales and album sales down on figures from, say, 10 years ago.
But that doesn’t matter. Maybe there’s not as much good music; maybe people enjoy films more or find games better value for money. As Charles Arthur argues “The reality is that nowadays, one can choose between a game costing £40 that will last weeks, or a £10 CD with two great tracks and eight dud ones. I think a lot of people are choosing the game -- and downloading the two tracks.”
Sure. Why not? When we’re being told there’s some kind of credit crunch, what better way to spend your money than on something that’s going to last 40 hours and not two. Of course, that argument presupposes the buyer is simply purchasing shit music. With computers becoming entertainment hubs, programs like Spotify and Last FM allow people access to music without the need to purchase it. Brilliant! But only if you like listening to MP3s, and that is indeed the format that people prefer these days. Though I’m frequently guilty of making generalisations, there is some evidence to support this. Jonathan Berger, professor of music at Stanford University, tests his incoming students each year and has discovered that students prefer the sound of MP3s to CDs, including the ‘sizzle’ (distortion). Sounds nuts to me (you can read more here).
So, we love our DVDs, LCD HD TVs, Blue Ray players and consoles. What’s wrong with that? They all provide art and entertainment, why should we be so concerned about this ‘music industry’ that’s had its glory days and made a mint from the public in the ’80s? I don’t know. Artists? Perhaps. Is it really possible to make a living from art any more? The trouble with the internet is that while it makes it easier to make money or gain exposure for some, it also makes it harder as billions of voices scream “LOOK AT ME!”
How else can we explain the rise and popularity of reality TV? Big Brother, X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent have all made their creators a fortune and made a few of its supporting cast (the public) stars. Hell, just look at the success of YouTube. It’s not just gaming killing music and it’s not downloads. It’s not just one simple thing that is crushing small labels, independent record stores and upcoming bands / artists: it’s a cultural shift, an electronic evolution.
Anyway, with games like Rock Band and the Guitar Hero franchise, music and gaming have never been so closely related. I can’t imagine how the licensing options for those games work, but with the demand for interactivity increasing and bands releasing albums practically mastered for games (e.g. the massively over-compressed Death Magnetic by Metallica), I suspect that music and gaming relationship has just begun.
The ultimate tie-in is on its way: The Beatles Rock Band. Released on the same day as the entire remastered Beatles catalogue on 09.09.09 (Lennon‘s favourite number), I can guarantee it will be the biggest selling game this year; if not of all time. Check out its sexiness.
We’re on a turbulent ride through uncharted territory and though there will be casualties, there must eventually be a steer. Though I doubt it will be entirely ethical (as business is forever business) I suspect it will favour the artists more than before and that is surely something good to come from all this.
Until then, the remainder of this golden era will be spent lining up to buy *insert classic band here* box sets and games. Cor, it’ll be like ’66 all over again!
I do often wonder why the hell I bother with buying CD’s since I usually only bother with them once, load them on to iTunes, and then put them on the shelf. I’ve never really been able to differentiate between CD and mp3s as I listen to all my music on pretty average iPod headphones, but I have to say I’ve never really given consideration to people who look at Games as better value, for me the 2 have been, until now, pretty independent.
Good points Ash.
I know what you mean, but I can never bring myself to buy an MP3 album for £5 – £7 when it’s almost the same for a CD. I use Case logic wallets to store the CDs and chuck out the jewel cases, takes up less room. Nice site, David.