The Know How: Monday 23rd May, Newcastle

Last night I spent some time at Northern Stage in the company of Jeff Smith – Head of Music at BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music. Well, it was me and about 200 other people at “The Know How” a panel discussion event on the music industry and specifically the relationship between artists and the airwaves. Also present were Huw Stephens – BBC Radio 1 D-J, David Haynes – Soundcloud and Trevor Dann an Independent Radio Producer and former Head of Music at BBC Radio 1. A distinguished panel indeed. It was certainly interesting and informative as they shared many useful perspectives on public radio culture, the rationale behind playlists, airplay decision making, DJ autonomy (or otherwise), the role of radio pluggers, independent artist sites and their collective take on new wave platforms for music.

At one point in the discussion they got round to considering the multifarious revenue models that now exist in the music industry space. And it was here that my thoughts developed on the following rant. Before I start let it be said that I’m in the music business to make music and not to make a fortune. But making a living certainly helps !

The question was – how do you make any money from music these days ?  The advice the panel gave was great, the wisdom useful, and their passion to see the best music prevail was clear. My irie is not directed at the folks on the panel. Whilst access to the internet has brought opportunities for musicians and artists to connect with an audience like never before it has also given rise to a whole industry that preys upon this opportunity and mugs, yes mugs independent musicians into putting out their music for free. Pay to play gigs, streaming sites that pay 0.0000001p per play, internet song competitions, ‘appear at this festival’ competitions, sites that encourage you to load up your music free so ‘fans’ can listen and discover you – the list goes on. They all value music less and turn the community of interest with its collective hopes and dreams into a cash cow. Fair enough – they break no laws and have shown ingenuity. However, the net result is an increasing amount of the public who do not attach a value to music and more importantly do not value the music creators. I guess this begs the question whether anyone making music these days should consider it more than a hobby (yikes !).

Now I have no more sympathy than the next person for the old guard of record companies trying to protect shrinking revenues after exploiting both the public and the artists for years. The point is this: the artists are still going to get hammered in the new landscape as people expect them to create for free and often pay for the privilege. Naturally I’m aware that I rant from a struggling (yes it’s true…) independent musician’s standpoint i.e. I’m not talking about the Elton John’s and George Micheal’s of this world. As and indie there’s no question you have to be savvy and make the right choices about where and when to give your music away. I just hope it remains the artist’s prerogative and doesn’t become rather like the brave new future for students where massive debt is the only option to get through your apprenticeship – then keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best.

Here endeth the rant. I think I’m still forming my opinion on all of this and I realise that history dictates that music won’t simply end. I am though, struggling to see the model that will allow the wider community of creators to create professionally much into the future. It does begin to seem that after the revolution the power and hence the money will still lie with those that don’t actually make…..well, anything.

Discuss.