Are major labels evil?

The Problem With Music:
http://www.negativland.com/albini.html

WreckedRadio / MGMT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk_qehE744g

Where's the beef @ Stereogum:
http://stereogum.com/535472/sonic-youth-an-embarrassment-says-steve-albini/fr...

Are major labels evil? Why? Are indie labels just as evil? If there are a problem with labels, how can we change this as fans? How can we change this as musicians? Where should we spend our money? How? When?

http://www.theneedledrop.com

Category:

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• major labels
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• sonic youth
• stereogum
• wrecked radio
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[CliffRichardsPissSac]

I stick by frank zappas point that we were better off in the 60s when executives were old guys with cigars who would listen to an album have no idea whats its about and stick it out to see if it sells, rather than the hip young executives of today who try and interfere with artisic output in order to aquire to what they define as public taste, Indie and Majors merely need to just leave the artists the fuck alone

[rileyo]

great job saying absolutely nothing.

[Haulcfaufep]

Why don't people care anymore?

same reason no one cares about corporate corruption and elitism anymore...

wtf am I gunna do about it?

[Haulcfaufep]

answer: yes.

[Guerrillablackdog]

How does a major label benefit from messing around with an artist's sound and style, sugar coating the music, and then when the album is released, getting bad/terrible reviews and complaints about the album about how it was over produced and shitty as fuck?

In other words, how does a major label benefit from making music sound like shit, if people are going to notice it and say nasty things about it?

Example: Lupe Fiasco's 'Lasers' album.

Someone please explain...

[moonbounceonfire]

they arent "evil" it just depends if yout want to make music as a product or as a craft

[MoonchildMindaugas2]

There used to be a great record label in UK, Creation, house to Primal Scream, Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, but most importantly - Oasis. Alan McGee, the "creator", always only signed artists he would fall in love with, and these acts just happen to be playing radio-friendly music (in terms of catchy tunes and tracks' length). He always believed in his folks, never seeing them as just money-making machines - which, alas, eventually led to the label's bankrupcy...

Same story with IRS.

[NINJATRONdnb]

what major lables promote is not popular anymore , theyer gonna start a war .

[lmfsp1]

loud music for soft people - alone in the vertigo conundrum

[outsider2316]

I think labels are a necessary evil, promotion gets you known so people find out about your music. it's the old robert johnson story with the majors, selling the rights etc them screwing with your vision. the small labels are the same thing to a lesser degree but usually more freedom. DIY equals total freedom but also total obscurity as no one will hear it. labels are a necessary evil

[sumnerchabot]

You should definitely review one of The Black Dahlia Murder's record. I'm really curious as to what you would think about them.

[indiemolly]

This guy is such a hipster douche. I hate it when people analyze the business side of music too much. Like who gives a shit? If they're music is good and available, that's all I care about.