Major labels, death knells, yadayadayada
16 October 2007
Madonna signed up with LiveNation, the concert promtions company. This sounds the death knoll for The Major Labels, this marks the end of an era.
I have been thinking for a while that Indie labels should follow this route right away. Today I was talking with a friend who runs a label. He puts out good releases by some very prominent names, but he just barely breaks even.
The best indie labels are run by people who really are into the whole project, organizing it and promoting it. As the money disappears in the indie world they should be involved with the live shows, events (special events ! ones with real flavor that you remember for years !), and they should be involved with that money. Artists tend NOT to share their booking money with their label, and they tend to book it themselves or find a booking agent separate from the label. Ideally I think one party should be doing the label + booking + promotion.
