Lets face it folks, labels are dieing, but what the labels dont tell you is that their way of doing things is dieing. Their way of promoting and signing new acts, just doesnt cut it anymore. So for people like me and tons of others who like artists like McCartney,Joni,Jewel, or any other Starbucks signed artist, how can we view this move as anything but SAVING MUSIC! Lets face it if you are a older artist (30 years old) you are OLD, thats what this industry is telling you, this is the 70's and 80's when the average age of a charted artist was 30, this is 2007 when the average age is 23 and average life span of an artist is 1-2 albums, folks 1-2 albums is not an artist or a career, its a get rich quick scheme.

So along comes Starbucks with the HEAR label, some call it selling out? how do u make that assumption, has Paul McCartney made a different album? NO is he singing "buy starbucks coffee jingles on his new cd" NO, so guess what Its not selling out. Is it because Starbucks is a corporation? well so is every other label, they are all owned by something. Starbucks to me is something that is gonna save MUSIC and heres how.

The music industry right now, gauges itself and targets youth, and im not talking 25 im talking 15-20, and sorry but thats not how its always been. Well the issue is that 15-20 year olds arent buying it, they downloading it, most of it illegally, or buying a 3 dollar cdr on the corner of the new TPAIN cd. So how can Starbucks stop this, well target the older crowd, which they do everyday anyway. But what people dont know is that despite the industry's current status, SALES for artists over 3 years old are up, BIG TIME! So along comes Starbucks which can sign the older artists, not have to worry about buying MTV time or radio time, mainly because MTV doesnt exist anymore and they can play their artists all day 24/7 in their stores which are everywhere.

I would like to see Starbucks take this a bit further, i would like to see them save Music Retail buy opening a few stores that just sell cds of these genres in major cities like NYC. It wouldnt be a bad move since there are no music retail chains left, with Tower gone and Sam Goody non existent, Virgin with only 10 stores and FYE/Transworld getting ready to close alot of stores. Everything is big/box, and Top 40 at this point, and trust me you will see those BIG BOX stores shrink their music space everytime you go in there, not that i do, because i just get go buy a cd in the same place that has washing machines and the people there have no clue about music. So if u love MUSIC, i mean artists who do music, then do see Starbucks as a sell out, see it as a saviour.

I 100% agree. With the state the music industry is going through at the moment, why would an older artist even RISK selling their album on a major label when labels don't give a damn about them anymore? I say GOOD FOR THEM (Starbucks)!

Timmy84 said:

Yeah and the whole Selling out talk is based on nothing. How are they selling out? Like Paul McCartney said he would sit in a room with EMI execs and they had no clue what they were doing or how to get his music out to be heard, so why stay there? And its really not about more money for these artists that starbucks is getting because they are all already loaded, they just want to still do their music and at least be able to reach an audience that might wanna hear them as opposed to being at a major label and being thrown to an audience that isnt gonna listen to you or play you.

I also agree. As labels fade out artists will find other way to get their music out there. And believe it or not there is a population that is not into the whole digital age but they don't go a day without their (damn) Starbucks. They buy those albums. I've seen them make purchases in the few times I've actually been in a Starbucks. I think it's just a way to make use with what's available.

JackieBlue said:

I agree, i dont think people realize this but Digital has NOT taken over the world, its still a growing genre, sure iPods sell and things like that, but there are still alot of people going out to stores and looking for music and cds, and Starbucks is the place that can cater to that crowd.

lastdecember said:

I agree with this. I'm 32 and today's new artists rarely do something to WOW me. It's so hard to drive anywhere and buy albums by artists that Best Buy and Target would not carry. I've been looking to get new albums by Raul Malo, Kim Richey and Joan Osborne and no one carries it..Ameoba here in LA does but I havent had time to go...I like to purchase online as well but I'm old school and I love the fun of buying an album...going to my car and opening it up and popping it in.

Hear Music actually has a couple of music retail stores..one here in LA (Santa Monica)..they are great stores and for those over 30 who love their beloved favorites and love new stuff by Bright Eyes, Common, or Coldpay...it's all there...they do not focus on the MTV artists...they are in retail what VH1 once was in television...they cater to the not too old 30+ and beyond crowd that still love to buy music and cant find anywhere else especially since Tower Records closed....that left a gaping hole and something like Hear Music could certainly benefit from opening stores at smart locations.

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[Edited 7/25/07 11:56am]

People who drink Starbucks coffee obviously have some discretionary income.

I love this idea.

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

Yeah there needs to be an alternative and Starbucks seems to be the "genesis" of that. And no artist is altering their music to be put in Starbucks so that argument of Selling out is crazy. The thing is they should all be moving there at this point, the older artists are really just trying to be heard, which is what they arent gonna get at a major. There are very few older artists that still can get the airplay they did, maybe Mariah Carey, but she is mainstream and changes to fit mainstream many times so i wouldnt consider her in this mix although there will be a day when she needs to look at a deal like this. Someone like Jewel fits perfectly to this, and she even said what she does, singer/songwriter stuff doesnt fit what is played at POP radio, and despite her never changing her music (except once) she is now considered "country" this would be the same genius that labeled the new JOVI cd as a country cd. Since when has writing your own shit and playing only been a "country" thing to do.

saying these starbucks deals are selling out, when most of the artists concerned are under major labels owned by giant megacorporations who own non-musical, non-artistic ventures such as starbucks ANYWAY, makes absolutely no sense

I don't drink coffee so I hate the idea.

If Starbucks was an orange juice chain I would love it.

sextonseven said:

Same here!

I want Booster Juice to have a label

Cinnie said:

I was gonna say, I want my dealer to have a label, but he does!

Starbucks could've started a revolution. I wouldn't mind some brands selling music either.

I don't.

Any artist that signs to any label wants their work for sale in the public domain, and therefore sells out.

The music company isn't catering to listeners over 30. Starbucks caters to them every day. I also have to give Starbucks their propers for highlighting the back catalogues of underappreciated and/or older artists. They helped make Norah Jones famous. They've been part of the revivals of many artists' music (think Sly Stone). They highlighted 3121 last year. Could you imagine if Prince himself signed with them? Then maybe Prince and Joni could team up!

But I digress. I'm all for whoever wants to get their music out to audiences who will pay $5 for lattes AND $18 for CDs. Heck, I hope Van Hunt is next.

I'll be even more amaze if the RIAA ever sees Starbucks as a threat!

Cinnie said:

nice way of putting it.

Cinnie said:

Don't drink coffee? I can't even process that.




Good for Starbucks! Good for "old" artists! I was hoping Crowded House would sign with them, but ATO seems like it's been a great fit.
[Edited 7/25/07 17:00pm]