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Traycee Lynn



Dernière mise à jour : 24/09/2009

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Statut : Célibataire
Ville : Philly
Région : Pennsylvania
Pays: US
Date d’inscription :: 17/08/2005

Compliments de :

akiey (2)
LIQUID FLOW.. (1)
Mar (2)
Joy Crowers (2)
Prince Dred (1)
Next things.. (1)
Ray (2)
samedi, mai 03, 2008 

"It's hard to remember what I did before the iPod. iPod is more than just a music player, it's an extension of your personality..." Mary J. Blige, GRAMMY Award-winning singer

I live in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia. Apparently under a rock.  I don't watch much television, don't keep up with much news - at least not like I used to - blame it on 2 years of studying journalism (1 with an honest journalism professor who was retiring, and had nothing to lose spilling the beans about media, programming masses, and psychology). 

Anyway, I still have not bought an iPod, a Zune...(and yes, it is May 3, 2008).  I did purchased a cheap mp3 player - but that never worked out. 

I'm an alien it seems.

I still buy CDs.  I love reading the credits (who wrote the song, who produced the music, what studios did the recording & mastering, names of publishing companies, who's that beautiful voice in the background, what year was written, is that a sax or a trombone?)...that kind of stuff - I like to read...I like to check out the art. The pictures...you know, really study the artist.

So, I'm walking downtown (Center City) in Philadelphia, and I see a sign in front of Armand Records (near 11th and Chestnut) saying "Everything Must Go" and "Store Closing" and "30% to 50% off"  and I'm like wow...it got them too?  So I went in, came out with a couple cds that I had been meaning to buy (Nas' Hip-Hop is Dead and Mary J.Blige's Growing Pains)...I talked to one of the workers there about the store closing...He said with sympathetic-and-your-2-cd-purchases ain't gonna help-eyes, "Its just the end of an era...everybody is downloading"   I told him what I like about buying cds.  He looked appreciatively at me and said, "Not enough people like you". 

I remembered seeing Jill Scott perform at Armand Records (second floor) live and for free when her first cd, "Who is Jill Scott" came out.  I remember meeting Common for the first time there...I remember an old boyfriend who was a DJ schooling me about how some exclusive music, remix is on vinyl only, and how Armands was his spot for that kind of stuff.

Well, its time to come out from under this rock I live under...and get an iPod. I guess.  The end of an era.  Its been over, but I guess as an artist, songwriter...somehow, I was in denial. I know I shouldn't be surprised Armands is closing especially after seeing it happen to Tower Records, but somehow I just thought they would survive it since it didn't affect them right away.

QUESTION - I see the immediate effect on mainstream artists and I wonder, how much does this affect indie artists?  Should indie artists bother making cds anymore? Or should we go straight to the USB stick? Rely on the internet? Possibly a combination of it all?

pssss. Come to the visitor's lounge and talk with me and friends of Writer Blocks Magazine
6:12
 
Article précédent: Music Samples, Copyrights, an 8-second rule? | Retour à la liste des blogs | Article suivant: What is the GREEN LIGHT?
akiey

 
Sad situation facing Armand Records and many such businesses with a long tradition and deep roots in the community.


I for one would dearly miss all you've described in the CD packaging. I at times go over the credits before starting to play a new CD. As a designer & producer, I also hunger to know who did the album photos, who designed the cover and of course all that goes into production and post production.


I stalled on the iPod switchover until I got a gift for my Bday but I unfortunately don't use it much. I'd rather an mp3 player or have a CD in the car stereo/computer tray.


Indie artists going straight digital has it's advantages:
a) Less expenses in packaging and shipping the product.

b) Easier to keep track of sales.

c) Easier, faster access to fans in far off countries where indie artists may not tour soon enough.


BUt...I am wary of all this digitization of music bcoz:
a) Fans lack a real personal connection with artist for reasons you've highlighted above.

b) Music is treated as a commodity & not art
c) Listeners are getting more accustomed to singles instead of an entire body of work that an album presents.

d) Piracy & other forms of misuse of music is becoming rampant due to easier, faster illegal downloads.


A catch 22 and I know I'm proving more scenarios than solutions but like you, I am pondering and wondering.

 
Publié par akiey le samedi, mai 03, 2008 - 10:01
[Répondre] 
LIQUID FLOW INC presents....

 
It's funny because, like you, I haven't purchased an iPod or mp3 player either. I was die hard vinyl collector but reluctantly got into buyin' cds until a break-in robbed me of my Technic 1200s (a WHOLE other story). I ended up replaceing those with Pioneer CDJs and now I have to face the upgrade of getting a laptop with vinyl scratch software so I can keep up with the other working club DJs. I guess the point is, like you, I have to face the fact that technology is really changing the access to music (and information) faster than it ever has before. It's the strangest combination of gains and losses I've ever seen in my life time. I would say that since it's given that the means to access music is only going to steadily increase, it only makes since for artists to have thier music equally accessible. All I can say is the world is very different now...for better or worst.

 
Publié par LIQUID FLOW INC presents.... le samedi, mai 03, 2008 - 10:37
[Répondre] 
Mar

 
first off thanks for letting me know about the armands thingy... well as long as sound of market doesn't close i'm cool... lol

but im with you i like the cd better for all the things you mentioned but also the sound quality on mp3's suck. They tried to get the warmth of the vynyl back with the mp3 but to do it they compress all of the midrange so its all bass and trebble...sucks and since i'm a sound junkie...

but i guess we have to keep up with the times unfortunately.


and as for the artist, i think without a major label to push it maybe the only cd that should be pressed is the demo. Seems like cd's will be used for industry tools only now.
everything else might as well use the net cause with sites like myspace and others with all the free traffic world wide seem like pressing a cd would be a waste of money
 
Publié par Mar le dimanche, mai 04, 2008 - 12:24
[Répondre] 
Joy Crowers

 
Traycee, I completely agree with you--buying a cd is an experience, from the art work and photography, to lists of lyrics, everything--I love the thrill of ripping off that cellophane wrapper and exploring the contents--the way it feels sliding into my car cd player for the first time and the anticipation of hearing the work of the artist. I hate what this artistic word is coming to.
And as far as technology goes, my ass still works out with a cassette walkman and I am damn proud of it--Represent!
 
Publié par Joy Crowers le dimanche, mai 04, 2008 - 10:08
[Répondre] 
True Dialect

 
Yeah, it's a crazy day and time right about now. As far as us artists, I've spoken to a lotta cats who've actually told me that when they get indie CD's they just immediately burn 'em to their computer/flash drive or whatever, and so all the work we done put into coming with a hot cover or what have you gets thrown to the side (they may use the case for their own joint!). One dude even told me like, look, when future projects come out, just have it online, like paypal and those sorts, cause that's what folks are really lookin' at. I feel that, however, I also comprehend that there's still a digital divide, and a lotta brothers and sisters (same as you didn't have a ipod sista), still don't have a computer in 2008, so really the CD is their reality for playing music. And that's a good population of our fan base as well. Right now, we just gonna utilize both capabilities and move from there.


Good blog,
Prosser
TD
 
Publié par True Dialect le mardi, mai 06, 2008 - 12:01
[Répondre] 
Traycee Lynn

 
I just heard about this artist named Janelle Monae (doing it up in ATL)...and her strategy is very smart and geared towards the iPod generation. She releases "Cd Suites" - 4 singles at a time and sells a good bit of them, and over the next few months releases new material. It seems like a great strategy for the "singles" driven iPod culture.

Puffy scooped her up now (she was initially discovered by Big Boi - Outkast), but I think that her strategy was excellent...almost worked like a mixtape...
 
Publié par Traycee Lynn le mercredi, mai 07, 2008 - 11:04
[Répondre] 
Traycee Lynn

 
Here is her page: www.myspace.com/janellemonae

She's like Andre3000 + Gnarles Barkly + Grace Jones
 
Publié par Traycee Lynn le mercredi, mai 07, 2008 - 11:10
[Répondre] 
Prince Dred

 
Don't cry for the physical format CD. Pray they find a way to accurately calculate sales of these secondary digital distributors that are screwing artist's accountings.


But there's a good side to the massive inundation of mediocre to great music through digital distribution. Promotion will depend primarily upon performances to weed out the garbage; like it use to when 3000 45's were released per week in the 50's. There are more performance venues across the country than during the 80's and the 90's. Also, look towards Europe and the rise of Euro R&B. Show them how to do it right, and collect Euros while doing it.


The cream always floats to the top.

 
Publié par Prince Dred le mercredi, mai 07, 2008 - 10:24
[Répondre] 
Ray

 
As a supplier of USB albums, I thought I would chime in on this subject. First, by saying, I feel your pain. Like you, I don't own an Mp3 player or an iPod, and I also like to read everything from cover to cover on an artist.


I want to point out, that while old forms of music distribution are quickly fading, this new phase opens a door that benefits indie artists more than ever. Whether any artist should rely on any form of media depends on the market it serves. Meaning, if your audience is younger, then you can almost assume that they know how to use a computer to listen to and purchase music. If that is the case, then you may want to consider adding USB sticks to your marketing plan. Why? USB albums (or sticks as you say) put you and your audience back in touch with one another. If they are loyal they purchase your product which cannot be obtained anywhere else. Plus, you have the option of including video, music, Album artwork, desktop icons, ringtones and more. All on one device. True fans will appreciate this option. Several bands have gone to the USB format, and have found it to be the safest way to distribute their music and keep their audience interested and loyal. If you or anyone reading this post is interested in learning more about using USB Sticks, feel free to email me.

 
Publié par Ray le mardi, mai 27, 2008 - 10:08
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