Aw this was TOO easy!:

ButterscotchPimp said:

On the contrary, the labels DID create the formula. It was pushed forward with more agression in partial reaction to radio takeovers but it was definitely created by the (at the time) big 7. It was also solidified when CDs were forced onto the market and labels suffered that huge across-the-board loss in profits in the early 90s which mad them pay attention to grunge and rap more.
The blame is where it should be. Labels are in business to make money. After changing from the "mega star" formula of the 80s, it made sense for them to be able to control the profits more. Big Red and L Mays were small marketeers in the radio game in 86. Clear Channel didn't pop off until Congress relaxed the telecommunications laws in 92 - that's when everything got wild with them. The industry had already went through what would be considered a depression in 91. Rap and Grunge were the only two markets that profitted and showed growth.
Anyway, you're right. The media doesn't care, television and radio are trying to control the labels' turf and business is war. Artists are collateral damage.
Entertainers are soldiers.

In other juciy Van Hunt news... lol


Van Hunt has come out!!!!


Of the age closet


Van Hunt admited that he's not 30 year old but in fact 37 years old.


As far as the label deal? I'm not sure what the deal is w/ that. He hasn't made any mention to it, but he di mention he's "very pleased with the new album!"

AlexdeParis said:

nope.
remember i said "historic".

ConsciousCloud said:

that was freaking hilarious.

um, no. not Death Row.....

BlaqueKnight said:

again, we can agree to disagree on some of the finer points. labels are out to make money by selling music. whatever music will sell at the time. the labels don't push "mega star formulas", those things happen in cycles naturally. like in the 80's when it was the New Kids and then a few years back with N'Sync. labels sign ALL kinds of artists and if they're lucky something catches fire and they make money. just from the odds alone, MOST of the artists that get signed to labels DON'T make money. you just need to make enough money off of the artists that do.

CD's weren't "forced" on the market either. technology evolved, just like it is now. you think the labels planned "digital"? "i-pods"? fuck no. but the industry once again is evolving to match the marketplace. and they're having a difficult time with the transition.

anyhoo. enough music industry 101.....
[Edited 4/28/07 15:59pm]

ConsciousCloud said:

:::off topic confession: Suge, while scary & deadly, is sexy to me. Carry on...:::

CalhounSq said:

Ahhh. Now, we know who bought up all the West Coast DVD copies of "In Too Deep."



Shame on ya...

ThreadBare said:

What is that, a movie? Was he in it?

Nah, he's strange - when he opens his mouth I just wanna run So I couldn't watch him in a movie, & I'm done w/ hood movies (if that's what it is, I'm assuming here)... But just looking @ him??

It's okay, admiring sexy murderous music moguls is perfectly acceptible

CalhounSq said:

It was the Omar Epps/Nia Long movie in which LL Cool J channeled Suge in his portrayal of a drug lord named "God."

ThreadBare said:

OH

HELL

NO



That sounds like some mess! And I see why you "love" Nia, that woman is so gorgeous. I hate her j/k

CalhounSq said:

Well, given your fanhood of Suge, you'd probably like LL's role. Watch the movie and then seek help.

ThreadBare said:

OMG that scene where LL cut that guys tongue was a mess or how about the scene where he shoved the pool stick up his friends ass...Horrible

P2daP said:

Lnk plz.

ThreadBare said:

Dammit, I don't like Suge's ACTIONS! I just like the way he looks, unfortunately

ABeautifulOne said:

Yea, I really wanna see this shit

I'd rather my music moguls hold folks over balconies while their red conk falls out of place




.
[Edited 4/29/07 15:06pm]

CalhounSq said:

ThreadBare said:

OH Well LL is fine all on his own... unless he's revealing that head

I'll pass all the same

ButterscotchPimp said:

Well, you're right, we have to agree to disagree on some points. Technology progressed, yes. The industry adjusted accordingly as does any industry BUT labels had their hands in the movement of CDs. CDs were forced onto the market when the major chain stores simultaneously agreed to stop carrying albums. They did that because the big 7 decided that they weren't going to distribute them anymore. If that's not a force onto the market, I don't know what you'd call it. The only alternative consumers were left with were CDs and cassettes, which briefly outsold CDs by a longshot until more homes owned CD players and many campaigns to promote CDs had been launched. mp3s are a COMPLETELY different story. When CDs hit the market, they were no threat to labels because there weren't any burners and the only way to duplicate a CD was to connect a cassette recorder to one.
Oh and I agree that labels sign all kinds of artists but the artists that make the most money for the label get the most promotion dollars. That was part of the megastar formula. Megastars are made, they don't just "luck up". Come on, now.
Moving along...
It would be nice to see Van in a place where he can make some things happen. I hope he takes the route of dropping primarily uptempo songs. All R&B artists should insist that their fast songs be pushed. We have a generation of kids who think that R&B = SLOW MUSIC. That's messed up. It puts the power in the hands of the mediocre (rap) and is currently destroying a generation of musicians. Kids are growing up with no musical skills whatsoever and wanting to be "producers" instead of learning music. They want to be in music without being musicians. We need people like Van Hunt to inspire the youth.

ButterscotchPimp said:

Semantics. A merger is basically code for "These labels need help because they aren't selling."

I was gonna ask you why you were so defensive about Blaque's comment, but I guess if I worked at a major, I'd be defensive too.

BlaqueKnight said:

Co-sign! Major labels are to music what Col.Sanders was to chickens.

guitarslinger44 said:

guitarslinger44 said:

um, no. in today's music industry getting smaller is just a fact of life. not unlike the car industry the music industry's business model needs to change if it's going to grow and adapt in a digital marketplace.

not defensive, just educated.

ButterscotchPimp said:

Yeah, but if the labels were selling tons of records and doing really well, then they wouldn't have to merge, would they?
[Edited 5/1/07 23:05pm]

guitarslinger44 said:

not to repeat myself, but the marketplace is changing. it's not that labels aren't selling tons of records. there are still tons of records being sold around the world. however, digital is changing the game. between i-tunes and illegal downloading programs (LimeWire), then there's all the revenue now being generated by ringtones and ringtunes. so record companies still conducting business like they did in the late 90's flat out isn't going to work and is the primary reason that every major record company has laid people off this year. it's an exciting/scary/historic time in the music business.

I don't know if this has been mentioned here or not butVan Hunt just revealed to okay player that he is really 37 years old. I wrote a response in his recent blog about it and on his official message board.I will post it here also because it sums up how I feel about the whole thing. According to Van when he wrote hopeless for Dion Farress that would have made him about 17 years old at the time, which means he would not have had a problem getting a deal at that age after writing a hit for another artist, but he claims that there were few deals for a 31 year old at the time, here was my response...



If it was left up to me, Van would get more promotion at 37 than almost any current youth based act on the music seen. All of this under 20 something crap was never an issue until someone decided that the music video should be marketed to a teenage audience, thus basing the music on almost image alone. There was a live interview with Hall and Oats back in the day and they were complaining that videos being based on image was killing the art form (wonder what they are thinking now) Then there was Madonna defending it saying this is cool and this is what the young people want.

Think about, if the music industry held these same standards in the past some of the greatest music of all time would never have even came out. Parliament had there first major hit album with 1975’s Mothership Connection, an innovative album that had a huge influence on Soul, Rock R&B and especially Hip Hop. George Clinton, was 35 at the time, see my point? Besides it is not like the youth has been allowed to bring anything of substance to the music scene lately, this is the most non musical generation I have ever seen. Each generation seemed to have it’s own sound or movement, what is the sound of today? Hip Hop? That goes all the way back to the late 70’s ( late 60’s if you know the Baby Huey story) all the way up to the golden age when I was in high school. Emo? That was a sub genre of punk expanding all the way back to the eighties.. So what is the sound or movement of today? Business folks in white collars have all but destroyed the music industry today, how can they knock van for not selling when the Dream Girls soundtrack didn’t even take off ( the lowest selling debut album in history) catch a clue.. people want something of substance!

I hope Van stays around for a very long time, if I had the money I would just put the shit out myself, but in the meantime you have my full support. I understand that you had to compromise to get the deal, it’s cool man.. Just keep bringing the noise.

Meloh9 said:

AWESOME response

Meloh9 said:

Excellent post. Well said.

thanks, I meant to say Van Hunt would not have had a problem getting a deal at 17 ^^^

Meloh9 said:

Doing what he's doing, they would say that at 17, he's too young to be doing such an old style...unless he were white and female, then its okay.

Y'all know its true; Don't trip.