Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne gave a presentation entitled "Record Companies: Who Needs Them?" at the South by Southwest music conference in Austin, Texas on Thursday.
His presentation offered a slide show that predicated digital album sales would outstrip physical CD sales by 2012. Byrne basically wants record labels to focus more on actual marketing than on manufacturing and physical distribution in the face of increasing digital download sales.
Byrne also said that he buys most of his music online via eMusic, or obtains it illegally, due to the DRM on files sold on iTunes. Byrne predicated that once DRM is removed, iTunes will no longer "have a monopoly," and labels will be better prepared to deal with online sales.
An audience member suggested that such an idea was depressing, largely due to the lower sound quality of a digital download. "As long as it doesn't get to be too horrible [the sound quality] they'll go for convenience and accessibility," says Byrne. "It doesn't have to sound good to move people," he added.
[via NYTimes]
1 Comment
Leave a comment
- Upcoming
- Download: Tevo Howard - ROOF.FM Nr. 27
- Wax - No. 30003
- M.I.A - Born Free
- Peter Van Hoesen - Entropic City
- 808 State Set To Reunite
- On Repeat: Hot Chip - One Life Stand (Carl Craig PCP Remix)
- Demdike Stare - Osmosis
- Autechre - Oversteps
- Download: Santiago Salazar - ROOF.FM Radio Guest Mix (2009-12-21)
Marlin Rias said: I still love MJ.. He was the greatest... read more
BAWB said: 7. Sasha - Mongoose // EmFire read more
replica louboutin said: thank you for you share great I like it read more
replica louboutin said: I like this song thank you for you share great read more
E.B.B said: I completely agree with Midwest Guy, there are not many artists still out there writing/singing read more
J said: i can't wait to see M.I.A. at HARD, i love this new song! read more
Midwest Guy said: I think the video/track "Born Free" is brilliant and necessary. If you haven't seen it, read more
ProFuzz said: I listened to the tracks - yes, this is a really good music, it gives read more
yustus said: wow...superb... totally amazing... big thx read more
Tungsteno said: This is nice news. Thanks for sharing my electro music friend! read more
What he says is 100% correct - but nothing new. Everyone knows that CDs are dead. It's pretty much a matter of time.