The guys over at AudioFX are rumouring what seems to be a more and more commonplace rumour nowadays: how does one set up one's own record label?

There are some great articles on how to do this, but the question we should be addressing is really whether or not record labels (or "representative companies") are still a hot commodity, given the changing nature of the industry.

I'll address this pertinent question straight after I get some lunch. Feeling kinda peckish.

Right. I'm back. What was the question? Oh yeah: will itemised, self-distributed single tracks replace or shift the balance of power between the traditional album-producing artist and the record label?

Comments?

Today's links:

• AudioFX.co.za
• Indidginus (sweet CT electronic from a guy we're featuring on Overtone)

Today's cooing:

managed to sort out some Balkanology tickets. Yay. Thanks Ma'or and SA Music. Now I just gotta get the work done...

The news of the century (and possibly a happy tipping point for digital rights-managed music producers) is that iTunes has buckled under market pressure by reducing copyright-free tracks to below a dollar. Yaaay!

More important than the 30c per track that buyers will now save is letting the popularity of the music speak for itself, rather than being regurgitated and forcefed to an ignorant, hungry audience. Pigeons, I tell you.

It's about time that a price war put the strings back on the guitar of the consumer. Hey, even if we don't buy that many mp3s online down here in Cape Town, we are feeling the sting of being burdened with an industry that is disproportionately scarce in supporting upcoming creatives.

But boo-&$*#ing-hoo. Let the games begin!

Today's links:
iTunes - AmazonMP3



Today's cooing:

Three-hour meeting with the Key Watermelon last night regarding the future of the SA Music industry. Let's just say, as before, that wheels are turning. Also ran into Toby2Shoes at this new place in Stocks called Jamaican Me Crazy (and found out that his brother plays flute in Freshlyground). New live music venue?

Holding thumbs for a pair of passes to Balkanology -- got in touch with Ma'or and stuck up some press. Hey, this pigeon stopped paying for parties a while ago.