Best Ever Albums

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

Lowkey — Mon, 6 Jun 2016 21:10:53 GMT

Author: Lowkey

Posted: 06/07/2016 01:10

yeee, a lot of my favorite hip-hop/electronic/r&b artists got big off of soundcloud and tumblr

cloud rap/trap rap basically live on soundcloud

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

Anonymous — Mon, 6 Jun 2016 05:17:40 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/06/2016 09:17

Bitflakes wrote:

the label then takes a 50% cut

quite the optimist here

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

Bitflakes — Mon, 6 Jun 2016 03:42:50 GMT

Author: Bitflakes

Posted: 06/06/2016 07:42

Really really interesting points being made. Particularly the one about why bother. Ha. Yeah, why would they bother? Better to just leave the 'indies' fighting in the pit and pick the one that survives.

But I would argue that it hasn't worked out that way. The last band 'worth their salt' in my opinion would be Arctic Monkeys who, thanks to hitting the perfect wave with myspace, had a hugely successful first album. This lead to loads and loads of bands being signed to major labels based on myspace popularity, which turned out to be a huge mistake they mostly all flopped and Arctic Monkeys are the only ones that really 'made it'. Again the industry wasted their money and no longer looks simply at online popularity.

Out of this situation the '360 deal' phenomenon has arisen. 360 deals are like the full package of success for a band or act. The company promotes the sh*t out of them, pays for their videos, distributes the record and even the merchandise for one big trade off: total control. The artist has almost no say in the direction of their career and they'd be lucky if the company don't start nibbling into their song-writing too.

This risk-less approach to business will inevitably lead to stagnation in the big companies. The market has began split into small independent artists who sell their music themselves through online platforms. I think artists have begun to realise a really important thing, you can make more money by selling less records. Here's what I mean...

A band signed to a major label sells 30,000 records, the label then takes a 50% cut (or whatever) of this, leaving the band with the money from 15,000 records sold.

The independent band sells 15,000 records and takes all the money.

I'd definitely trade popularity for freedom any day.

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

craola — Mon, 6 Jun 2016 02:37:40 GMT

Author: craola

Posted: 06/06/2016 06:37

sethmadsen wrote:

craola wrote:

i use soundcloud all the time to find music. there are tons of artists out there that don't have record label support and/or proper releases, but a lot of folks wind up on soundcloud one way or another.

also, you should check out my abs right now if you haven't yet.

Finding them probably entails that you find something worth listening to? I mean there's a search feature, so hehe... anyway.

Are these artists you wished you could buy something from, or was it a good "one night stand"?

i've purchased things from a number of these artists, if that's what you're asking. i don't do rentals.

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

RoundTheBend — Mon, 6 Jun 2016 02:13:32 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 06/06/2016 06:13

Norman Bates wrote:

sethmadsen wrote:

Norman Bates wrote:

Bitflakes wrote:

I'm finding more and more lately that the mainstream music outlet from big record companies like Universal and Sony is lacking any exciting or surprising new acts.

Why would they bother?

Not following you Norman. Are you saying that big record companies make money with garbage, so why take the effort to find something worth listening to or what?

I'm not saying mainstream = garbage.

I'm saying that, what with records not selling as much as they used to anymore, why would you sign unknown bands whom it'll take five to ten years fabricate into arena monsters when you already have an unbeatable money-making roster? Why would you sign, say, Parquet Courts when you have the Stones or U2 to make the machine work already? Why not let the "indies" find the next Muse and then snatch them from them?

It makes no sense for Universal to scout for the Big Star or Hüsker Dü that'll bring mad respect but won't make a buck and will have to be dumped off eventually.

Ok yes, this makes perfect sense. Fantastic point. Having said that, it isn't always this way (as I'm sure you're already aware), but I still agree.

Possibly the hope that Parlophone or Capitol or Warner would sign a decent artist again is possibly what was the original concern, regardless of the source (direct or through independent label).

I mean that's Nirvana in a nutshell... and countless other bands, including U2. Island records was not a big record company when they were signed. It was the largest independent record company until they were bought out in 1989.

Interesting video about how U2 got signed (they were rejected by all the big ones):

Link

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

Norman Bates — Mon, 6 Jun 2016 01:46:27 GMT

Author: Norman Bates

Posted: 06/06/2016 05:46

sethmadsen wrote:

Norman Bates wrote:

Bitflakes wrote:

I'm finding more and more lately that the mainstream music outlet from big record companies like Universal and Sony is lacking any exciting or surprising new acts.

Why would they bother?

Not following you Norman. Are you saying that big record companies make money with garbage, so why take the effort to find something worth listening to or what?

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

RoundTheBend — Sun, 5 Jun 2016 19:59:41 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 06/05/2016 23:59

craola wrote:

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

RoundTheBend — Sun, 5 Jun 2016 19:57:17 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 06/05/2016 23:57

Jimmy Dread wrote:

sethmadsen wrote:

Norman Bates wrote:

Bitflakes wrote:

I'm finding more and more lately that the mainstream music outlet from big record companies like Universal and Sony is lacking any exciting or surprising new acts.

Why would they bother?

Not following you Norman. Are you saying that big record companies make money with garbage, so why take the effort to find something worth listening to or what?

I don't think Norm's saying that at all Seth. I think what he means is why 'fuck with the formula' by taking a punt on an experimental/cutting edge act if you're a major label when you not only have a tried and trusted formula for what sells (hitherto referred to as 'the mainstream' - not necessarily 'garbage' as you put it, but more something with a genre/style that has a proven track record of bringing in the $$$. Preferably aesthetically pleasing too) and you know will guarantee return on your investment but also don't want to gamble on promoting a niche act with limited appeal which will not appeal to a mass market and pack out stadiums, especially when the indie labels and even self-released stuff seem to cater for that market anyway. It's a business - why deviate from the model by taking a risk on something obscure that an act or artist with good looks and half a song will outsell 100:1?

Ok, so kinda what I meant, but more detailed. Makes sense.

I do think the flip side of possibly what Bitflakes was saying is that radio and record companies used to find good stuff while also doing what made money. Not always, but they helped make the "big bands".

Now what makes money (in my opinion) has just become total shit and you have to wade through so much to find the "[insert big famous band of the past here]" of today. And because the music community isn't forced to be a DIY vs get signed (just about anyone can DIY today with decent home recording and the interwebs), it feels unlikely ( although totally in realm of possibility) that we'll have a group like even Arcade Fire again.

And this was ignored, so I'll ask again 😄

Quote:
Says producer/mixer/engineer Jonathan Wyman: ”The sheer amount of music that comes out now makes it difficult to keep up with new music. I’m 100% for the democratization of music recording and am not a major label sympathizer, but keeping up with and separating the wheat from the chaff in new music is daunting. The listener is faced with a constant barrage of new stimulus, and it’s hard to wade through it.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michelecata...6ca9d85c19

What do you guys think of this and why?

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

alelsupreme — Sun, 5 Jun 2016 19:49:41 GMT

Author: alelsupreme

Posted: 06/05/2016 23:49

craola wrote:

also, you should check out my abs right now if you haven't yet.

that one push-up a day really paying off huh

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

craola — Sun, 5 Jun 2016 17:53:20 GMT

Author: craola

Posted: 06/05/2016 21:53

i use soundcloud all the time to find music. there are tons of artists out there that don't have record label support and/or proper releases, but a lot of folks wind up on soundcloud one way or another.

also, you should check out my abs right now if you haven't yet.

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

Jimmy Dread — Sun, 5 Jun 2016 17:41:01 GMT

Author: Jimmy Dread

Posted: 06/05/2016 21:41

sethmadsen wrote:

Norman Bates wrote:

Bitflakes wrote:

I'm finding more and more lately that the mainstream music outlet from big record companies like Universal and Sony is lacking any exciting or surprising new acts.

Why would they bother?

Not following you Norman. Are you saying that big record companies make money with garbage, so why take the effort to find something worth listening to or what?

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

RoundTheBend — Sun, 5 Jun 2016 16:48:35 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 06/05/2016 20:48

Norman Bates wrote:

Bitflakes wrote:

I'm finding more and more lately that the mainstream music outlet from big record companies like Universal and Sony is lacking any exciting or surprising new acts.

Why would they bother?

Not following you Norman. Are you saying that big record companies make money with garbage, so why take the effort to find something worth listening to or what?

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

RoundTheBend — Sun, 5 Jun 2016 16:43:27 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 06/05/2016 20:43

Quote:

Says producer/mixer/engineer Jonathan Wyman: ”The sheer amount of music that comes out now makes it difficult to keep up with new music. I’m 100% for the democratization of music recording and am not a major label sympathizer, but keeping up with and separating the wheat from the chaff in new music is daunting. The listener is faced with a constant barrage of new stimulus, and it’s hard to wade through it.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michelecata...6ca9d85c19

What do you guys think of this and why?

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

dihansse — Sun, 5 Jun 2016 16:31:57 GMT

Author: dihansse

Posted: 06/05/2016 20:31

Norman Bates wrote:

Bitflakes wrote:

I'm finding more and more lately that the mainstream music outlet from big record companies like Universal and Sony is lacking any exciting or surprising new acts.

Why would they bother?

Because I suppose big bands still should be able to generate big money even if it's only by performances.

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

Norman Bates — Sun, 5 Jun 2016 14:45:15 GMT

Author: Norman Bates

Posted: 06/05/2016 18:45

Bitflakes wrote:

I'm finding more and more lately that the mainstream music outlet from big record companies like Universal and Sony is lacking any exciting or surprising new acts.

Why would they bother?

Re: Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

RoundTheBend — Sun, 5 Jun 2016 13:04:51 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 06/05/2016 17:04

Very interesting topic.

I agree. I have similar problems finding "great" artists that have debuted past 2010. It seems that either there aren't any or, like you say there might be a few, but there's less "consensus" because of the billion methods to release music these days.

The only consensus we have is what we might hear on the radio still, but even the "alternative" stations sound like terrible pop stations now... at least where I live. X96, used to be respected for it's independent alternative radio, but I find too many walk the moon types are on that station now.

Another thing I've noticed is that the album doesn't have as much weight as it used to. We are more ok with having a one hit wonder, cause who's listening to albums anymore anyway? Will there be a dark side of the mooon, OK computer, Sgt. Pepper again (meaning the holistic experience of the album is more important than the individual songs it makes up)?

To attempt an answer at some of your questions:

I don't think it is too early to tell what this "generation" (think last 10 years) sounds like. I could be wrong, but the explosion of alternative rock in the early 90s was immediately obvious, the summer of love movement was immediately obvious, Early motown sound was immediately obvious, metal became almost immediately obvious.

I do think that the genre-subgenre and search to do something new and different has been a bit exhausted almost to the point where some music is lumped into larger sub genre's like indie (insert useless noun here), and in some ways I feel like those don't really identify well. Kind of like how alternative rock fizzled out and 3 doors down could be called alternative rock, when it sounded and felt nothing like the late 80s/early 90s alternative rock. It sounded like record labels wanting to capitalize on something and therefore took a movement and perverted it. I think that perversion (in a way) has lead to the unclear mess sometimes I find new music to be in... it doesn't stand for something, if that makes any sense. It's "message" isn't clear... it feels like hipsters with too much time and money in their hands, yet they don't know what "real" music is and they are to pretentious to really write anything to relate to true humanity.

I do think also that the internet has made, for better or worse - I guess time will be the judge, music so much more available. Theres 96819516549841651698498749 new artists that post music daily and there's just so much music to sort through. And because of this... there won't be a band like The Rolling Stones again (in my opinion). Having said that, I do feel bands like The Black Keys, The White Stripes, and heaven forbid I say Coldplay or Muse maybe are the last "big" bands? Yet they made it in this era... so does that mean we are not giving credit where credit is due? Also, having said that, they debuted before 2010... WAY before... haha.

While there is a pro to having so much diverse music, I do miss having a community of "big" band fans... fans that are familiar with the music and you can talk to them about the lyrics/music, etc.... just that sense of community and identity...

Does anyone use soundcloud to find new music?

Bitflakes — Sun, 5 Jun 2016 09:44:35 GMT

Author: Bitflakes

Posted: 06/05/2016 13:44

I'm finding more and more lately that the mainstream music outlet from big record companies like Universal and Sony is lacking any exciting or surprising new acts. The mainstream music industry has always had some pretty shoddy bands and pop-stars in it's rosta.

When Cliff Richard emerged fronting the Shadows in the late fifties he was actually 'marketed' laughably as a British Elvis, we know now how little an impact he really had on rock n roll music. Not to mention terrible manufactured acts such as Westlife or The Back Street Boys in the nineties, no doubt these flash-in-the-pan money making schemes passed off as actual music will be forgotten in due time.

Throughout these years there has obviously been some absolutely great bands and acts marketed and spread through the help of major record companies; The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Prince, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Nirvana, Radiohead, The Chemical Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, Eminem, Nas, The Sex Pistols, The Clash etc...

But are we coming to a new time where the consensus is less broad? I've tried to name bands above that are pretty much universally praised in mainstream music but I find it harder and harder to name acts from the past ten years or so that I can mention in the same way. Sure, there are bands that I think are just as great but I couldn't confidently say that most other people will agree.

So what's the difference? Is it that the industry are so defensive from torrents and free music streaming that they no longer take the necessary risks to find original and exciting music?

Or is it that popular music, which we recognise today as emerging from the 1950s, has become so fragmented from splitting into different categories and sub-categories that the people listening can no longer agree on what they like?

Or is it something entirely different? Maybe it's simply because we can't recognise the really good stuff until we're a few years down the line and no one really knows what people will think of today's music until... tomorrow.