Guitar.com - A place for guitarists to call home

Forums > News > EMI Exec Sees Radiohead Coup as 'Wake Up Call'

Jump:

Forums > News > EMI Exec Sees Radiohead Coup as 'Wake Up Call'

Code of Conduct Search

Original message:492 days 16 hours 25 minutes ago

Member: Naked_Ninja

35
WebCred

EMI Exec Sees Radiohead Coup as 'Wake Up Call'

Guy Hands, the new owner of EMI Records, sent a confidential email to his staff outlining his concerns over Radiohead's departure from the label and their subsequent decision to self-release In Rainbows (at 4am Eastern...yeah, I found a special countdown clock).

After writing that the band's move is a "wake up call," he continued, "..the industry has stuck its head in the sand." No shit, Sherlock. Way to get on that...eight years too late.
Go Radiohead!

Source:http://www.shoutmouth.com

My music recommendations:

My gear recommendations:

Reply:492 days 15 hours 51 minutes ago
Member: dcunning30

+ 3

3888
WebCred

The industry does need a wake-up call. But don't think In-Rainbows is some sort of altruistic effort by Radiohead. I read an article some time ago that the pay-as-you -want download was actually a lower bit rate quality. So those people who ponied-up cash to "stick it to the man" actually got stuck with an inferior product.

My music recommendations:

Reply:492 days 12 hours 24 minutes ago
Member: Naked_Ninja

35
WebCred

Really? That sucks. I figured if it were an online buy it would actually be better quality. Wonder why they did that?

My music recommendations:

My gear recommendations:

Reply:492 days 12 hours 7 minutes ago
Member: pickabass

1195
WebCred

Its probably lower bit-rate as in 128kbps, which is nearly indistinguishable from the retardedly high 360kbps bit-rate some people will record in. Your ears will never know the difference.

My gear recommendations:

Capos are for weenies

Reply:492 days 11 hours 52 minutes ago
Member: G_Barber

602
WebCred

Not true...I can tell the difference between even 128 and 160kbps when played side by side.

My music recommendations:

My gear recommendations:

Reply:492 days 10 hours 43 minutes ago
Member: bachmirage

1728
WebCred

other than volume level.i rarely hear a difference.

My gear recommendations:

Reply:491 days 23 hours 17 minutes ago
Member: Richey

2439
WebCred

It probably has a lot to do with whose ears are doing the listening. We could always use a scientific method to determine if a difference can be detected. But that would require lots of people and lots of time.

My music recommendations:

My gear recommendations:

Reply:491 days 23 hours 12 minutes ago
Member: dcunning30

3888
WebCred

Here's the article.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571737/20071011/radiohead.jhtml

My music recommendations:

Reply:491 days 23 hours 3 minutes ago
Member: inablackout

+ 2

1183
WebCred

its radio head.....who cares really?

My music recommendations:

My gear recommendations:

I wanna ROCK!!!!

Reply:491 days 22 hours 37 minutes ago
Member: dcunning30

3888
WebCred

We had this thread some time ago about how Radiohead was supposed to be making this social statement in defiance of the greedy, evil record companies. What I ended up concluding was Radiohead was strategizing to do no more than cut out record companies and make more money for themselves. .....nothing wrong with that. But I was amused how so many people bought the line that they were making a statement and taking a stand. In the end, it was just all about the money! LOL!!!!

My music recommendations:

Reply:491 days 22 hours 13 minutes ago
Member: Hippieway

2303
WebCred

I do not know why Radiohead did it or if it was released at a lower quality but I do believe they did a little better monetarily than they would have if the record company had released it. But I think it is true that the record companies do need a wake up call. They need to open up a little more take a few chances promote bands that may be pushing the boundaries. There was a time when new music was everywhere, of course the record companies were looking for the next big thing but because of that a lot of great music was out there.

Reply:491 days 18 hours 58 minutes ago
Member: duane

1614
WebCred

"They need to open up a little more take a few chances promote bands that may be pushing the boundaries. There was a time when new music was everywhere,"

Not gonna happen.. Those daze are long gone. Part of the reason they even had a glimmer in the first place was the "regional" secondary markets that could still "make a hit" and force the primary markets to notice. With independent radio and programming all but gone in every market it will simply not happen again.

We (assuming you were around and listening in the 60's 70's) lived in a VERY different time and space. Some of it magical some not. If the Who released a first record today and was trying to break though they wouldn't be making a second one. Labels USED to be run by people not accountants. Again, those days are gone never to return.

Reply:491 days 17 hours 18 minutes ago
Member: evol666

637
WebCred

Bands like Radiohead and NIN are looking to the future. This business model for bigger, established bands is still in its infant stage. I hope they have massive success.

The record industry had their chances (yes, plural) years ago, but decided to hold the status quo and/or make matters worse by embracing short sighted policies like resistance to digital file formats, continuing payola in even more corrupt fashion, and only concerning themselves with the bottom line. To clarify that last point, I do not think music is like other industries. Yes, record companies need to turn a profit, but by not investing in artist development there is no investment in long term, financial health.

The big event that I keep going back to and that helped along the death of the record company is the Communications Act of 1996. You had so much deregulation. That allowed monopolies like Clear Channel to emerge and for massive record companies to merge. It destroyed the huge gains rock music had made in the early 90s with the strengthening of smaller and niche labels like Sub Pop, Matador, Homestead, SST, Discord, Alternative Tentacles, etc.

My gear recommendations:

One thing you don't do is let the singer have creative input on any fucking thing, because they're useless - Noel Gallagher

Jump:

This is your home page. Here you'll see real time activity on guitar.com from the forums, groups, blogs, music and gear recommendations and more. You can add whatever content you want to your home page via rss and move it around via drag-and-drop.

Tell others about yourself, your favorite music, gear, movies, genres you play, set your screenname, share your bookmarks, embed vids and more. If others buy music or gear based on your recommendation, you get a commision.

Start or add to discussions, embed outside URL's for discussion, embed vids and have your music and gear recommendations seen.

If you've got something to say, chances are someone wants to read it. Write your blog for education or amusement, embed vids or images and pass out the link. Guitar.com gives you advertising revenue generated from your blog pages.

See what you're fellow musicians are listening to and watch YouTube videos based on artist names.

Ever wondered just how musicians get that sound? On guitar.com musicians list the gear they use and tell you why they use it.

List stuff for sale or swap in our classifieds section.

Create and manage groups. Make them private or public. Manage them at anytime.

Learn a tip trick or lesson from other musicians and professional educators in the Get Educated section. Have a tip trick or lesson to share? Create your blog, mark it as educational and drive traffic to it from here.