Rich9

Kele Okereke from Bloc Party was on the wireless last week chatting with Steve Lamacq about their terribly exciting release of their new album ‘Intimacy’. The band had fans fooled with the release of a supposed ‘one-off’ single ‘Mercury’ but then announced that an album would come out on the following Thursday. This was all an apparent ‘reaction’ to the current state of the music industry and an attempt to foil the pirates by pre-empting any leakages that normally occur in the long post-production period.

Anyway, at one point the guy stated that he just didn’t ‘understand’ the youth of today and their desire to rip him off.

What an idiot. Does he not realise that the kids don’t need him any more? They’re bombarded with information and choice all of the time and they don’t have limitless funds.

‘Stealing’ music is now the only way these ‘kids’ can decide to commit to a band. Its quite simple… I steal the music, I decide I like it (or not), i commit to the band, and THEN i give them my money. Why risk that £10 on an album that might be utter rubbish? Why make that commitment of time and attention when I have a dozen other things screaming for my attention?

People like Kele Okereke should be thankful. At least musicians and bands have the chance to build on the attention their pirated music gives them. Look at the movies and games industries, for the majority of users, once they’ve downloaded the game or movie, there is no other payback for the creator.

There is one problem bands can’t get away from however. Quality. They can’t peddle a 10 or 12 track disc full of filler any more, because people will make their mind up before they part with any cash… and maybe that’s their problem, the bar just got raised a few pegs higher.

Categorized as music industry