When you go to a
restaurant, do you just expect to eat for free?....
When you take a
minicab home because you can’t be bothered with the night bus, do you get to
your destination and just assume you can leave without paying? ....
If you get a blowjob
down a dark alley from a respectable crack-whore, you wouldn’t dream of not
paying, would you?....
They’re all
commodities that ultimately don’t come for free – excuse the pun.....
So why is it different
for music? ....
It’s like people have
come to expect it for free, like it’s their God given right to not pay for it,
a culture has evolved that just seems to take music completely for granted, the
techies get paid, the record label gets paid, the DJ gets paid, the girl in the
cloakroom get’s paid, everyone gets paid, well everyone that is apart from the
band… ....
I understand the
principles of basic economics, i.e. if there are 3 people at your show, then
tough shit, but this is not my point, my point is about the general devaluation
of music as a whole.....
I don’t blame the
industry and certainly not music fans either.....
I blame the bands.....
Sure, in music, the
supply far outstrips the demand - however I’m not so sure if that’s true for
truly original and great music – nonetheless, the problem is the fact that so
many bands are so fucking desperate and would trade their first born for that
elusive “deal” or whatever, doing things like giving free albums away at gigs
to absolutely everyone thinking that they’ll be spreading their message and
maybe one might fall into the hands of that “A&R guy”.....
As did this band that
I went to see the other night.....
If someone in a band
hands me a free CD at a gig, I just think “doorstop” and its fate will most
likely be the same as my copy of Londonlite… ....
… a bin on the way home.....
Maybe I’m missing out
on some great music? But by shoving a CD in my face for free you’re telling me
your music’s worthless.....
And if you’re a band
that does this, you’re not being altruistic or radical, you’re simply being a
twat, and not only are you doing a disservice to yourself, but you are also
doing so to every musician on the planet, making yourself look desperate and
contributing to the general devaluation of music….. ....
……”ok ok, so what
about Radiohead, they did it?” I hear you cry.....
…… well firstly, you
ain’t Radiohead.....
And secondly, in my
opinion that whole thing was nothing more than a cynical marketing scam, great
PR basically.....
And thirdly, Radiohead Schmaydiohead!!