So my morning paper brings me some statements by Bob Merlis, a man they identify as a former executive with Warner Bros. Records and now a "music industry consultant". Mr. Merlis says that the purchase of singles from iTunes, "is not healthy for the music industry." Albums and CD's, he says, provided a body of work from an artist. Now, he says, "You get the song you like, but you don't get to know the artist anymore. It encourages this rapid turnover." U2, he suggests wouldn't have lasted if they had come out in the era of digital downloads of singles.
He also notes that with albums and CD's you got, "...lyrics and nice packaging." and that, "If it's just a song, it's not that compelling."
As a constant buyer of recorded music for about 50 years, I suggest that what is wrong with the "music industry" is that they've devoted too much of their efforts to maximizing their corporate profits while foisting crap off on the buying public, and that the worst thing they can do now is to listen to the recommendations of such experts as Mr. Merlis. But what do I know, I still buy recordings that include lyrics which are understandable to the listener, and I've often sought out more recordings by a given artist after hearing his performance of one song?
So my morning paper brings me some statements by Bob Merlis, a man they identify as a former executive with Warner Bros. Records and now a "music industry consultant". Mr. Merlis says that the purchase of singles from iTunes, "is not healthy for the music industry." Albums and CD's, he says, provided a body of work from an artist. Now, he says, "You get the song you like, but you don't get to know the artist anymore. It encourages this rapid turnover." U2, he suggests wouldn't have lasted if they had come out in the era of digital downloads of singles.
He also notes that with albums and CD's you got, "...lyrics and nice packaging." and that, "If it's just a song, it's not that compelling."
As a constant buyer of recorded music for about 50 years, I suggest that what is wrong with the "music industry" is that they've devoted too much of their efforts to maximizing their corporate profits while foisting crap off on the buying public, and that the worst thing they can do now is to listen to the recommendations of such experts as Mr. Merlis. But what do I know, I still buy recordings that include lyrics which are understandable to the listener, and I've often sought out more recordings by a given artist after hearing his performance of one song?