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Maybe I just need to get laid
Maybe I just need to get laid
You ever notice how there aren't any mega-albums anymore like Thriller or Purple Rain? I think lost revenues in the music industry may explain it.
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That's a HUGE drop. Where is the incentive for record companies to invest in artists or producers when the aggregated return is 50+% less than what it was in 1999?! Now artists are expected to move units from the jump, whereas before you were allowed to develop an audience over three or four albums. It took Prince six tries before he became Prince in 1984 and (if you're old enough) the artistic development with his first five albums was wonderful to see and hear. Record companies are ready to drop your ass if you don't sell like they want you to on the first or second attempt. It's really sad for music and art in general.
The quick buck is all that matters. If they can cash in off of some fresh naive face in the industry, rather than have to adjust their gameplan with a more established, but not that great selling artist, they'll take the easy route. Plus, I wonder if artists these days even have enough depth and talent to develop over three or four albums. People buy singles rather than albums now. If they want that hot new track from Yung Scribblenut or Mr. sensitive guitarist, they'll buy that track and that track only that. Part of it may be the record labels know that many of the people they sign were never good enough to have a lasting supply of quality content to support their development.You ever notice how there aren't any mega-albums anymore like Thriller or Purple Rain? I think lost revenues in the music industry may explain it.
![]()
That's a HUGE drop. Where is the incentive for record companies to invest in artists or producers when the aggregated return is 50+% less than what it was in 1999?! Now artists are expected to move units from the jump, whereas before you were allowed to develop an audience over three or four albums. It took Prince six tries before he became Prince in 1984 and (if you're old enough) the artistic development with his first five albums was wonderful to see and hear. Record companies are ready to drop your ass if you don't sell like they want you to on the first or second attempt. It's really sad for music and art in general.
The quick buck is all that matters. If they can cash in off of some fresh naive face in the industry, rather than have to adjust their gameplan with a more established, but not that great selling artist, they'll take the easy route. Plus, I wonder if artists these days even have enough depth and talent to develop over three or four albums. People buy singles rather than albums now. If they want that hot new track from Yung Scribblenut or Mr. sensitive guitarist, they'll buy that track and that track only that. Part of it may be the record labels know that many of the people they sign were never good enough to have a lasting supply of quality content to support their development.
Pretty much. Even though I'm sure going back the the Motown days, artists were still told how to craft their sound, but their at least was a level of quality and originality. You really have to dig these days to find shit that isn't cookie cutter. With social media and advancements in technology, it's no wonder more and more people are choosing music as a career path. You can get discovered on Youtube, so people see that as another outlet to make easy money putting out any old shit. I doubt there were that many people back in 1976 wanting to make music a career compared to the numbers today(Or more people just have the resources to make the attempt).Do consumers even care? If you look at the top ten singles on itunes most of that shit is just plain trash. It's so rare to hear a song that really hits you anymore. I spend way more time listening to music from 96 to 06 than shit that's out right now. When things become easy people don't put in that much effort.
The quick buck is all that matters. If they can cash in off of some fresh naive face in the industry, rather than have to adjust their gameplan with a more established, but not that great selling artist, they'll take the easy route. Plus, I wonder if artists these days even have enough depth and talent to develop over three or four albums. People buy singles rather than albums now. If they want that hot new track from Yung Scribblenut or Mr. sensitive guitarist, they'll buy that track and that track only that. Part of it may be the record labels know that many of the people they sign were never good enough to have a lasting supply of quality content to support their development.
Maybe I just need to get laid
Pretty much. Even though I'm sure going back the the Motown days, artists were still told how to craft their sound, but their at least was a level of quality and originality. You really have to dig these days to find shit that isn't cookie cutter. With social media and advancements in technology, it's no wonder more and more people are choosing music as a career path. You can get discovered on Youtube, so people see that as another outlet to make easy money putting out any old shit. I doubt there were that many people back in 1976 wanting to make music a career compared to the numbers today(Or more people just have the resources to make the attempt).
You ever notice how there aren't any mega-albums anymore like Thriller or Purple Rain? I think lost revenues in the music industry may explain it.
![]()
That's a HUGE drop. Where is the incentive for record companies to invest in artists or producers when the aggregated return is 50+% less than what it was in 1999?! Now artists are expected to move units from the jump, whereas before you were allowed to develop an audience over three or four albums. It took Prince six tries before he became Prince in 1984 and (if you're old enough) the artistic development with his first five albums was wonderful to see and hear. Record companies are ready to drop your ass if you don't sell like they want you to on the first or second attempt. It's really sad for music and art in general.
Maybe I just need to get laid
Also the youth's attention span is worse than a goldfish now days. They're impatient. They couldn't sit long enough through an album which is why labels are putting out singles tturning artists into one hit wonders.
To be fair, I joined this site to connect more with black culture internationally, and this site gave me exactly what I was looking for - and for that I'm forever grateful. So no complaints - seek and ye shall find. But as far as contributing myself, it was really fun at first, but I found myself getting bored with what felt like debates among men - who tolerated the occasional intrusion from a girl - and I just checked out the music mostly. Most posters were really nice and polite when I tried to contribute to the black caucus, but I sensed I was really intruding in on the conversation, getting sorta patronizing responses like "you're finally learning" (about the the plight of black men). Which is fine. I am learning. I'm getting a precious education from this extraordinary chance to get into the hearts and minds of black men, but I also found myself learning how to conform, how to censor my comments. I didn't think my comments were racist, but then I guess I wouldn't be in a position to judge that. It's not that I felt I had racist thoughts that needed censoring, but rather that I just needed to be really really careful - or don't say anything at all - because the dragons are angry. I felt the anger generally expressed here is misdirected - Sharpton preaching at the two ww in his choir. But I appreciate it all really, I'm not afraid of challenging conversation or being called out when I act insensitive, ignorant, or racist. At some point it gets boring is all. Found myself wondering the other week that since I'd had so much fun with this site if perhaps there were other forums out there in the world to check out.
Excellent post...I completely agree! I have been called a racist among other things ...to stay in the good graces of the men all you have to do is take your clothes off...as long as you are posting in the lingerie thread the dudes will love you...I must agree with Bliss that you bring much more to the table intellectually...don't sensor yourself just to please others...
I'm sure the fact that many albums were garbage with a few hot tracks had nothing to do with it
Excellent post...I completely agree! I have been called a racist among other things ...to stay in the good graces of the men all you have to do is take your clothes off...as long as you are posting in the lingerie thread the dudes will love you...I must agree with Bliss that you bring much more to the table intellectually...don't sensor yourself just to please others...