The Daily Duranie: 'Cos Now We're Online

As I am sure you all know, today is the day Duran Duran plays at the Olympics. While some lucky fans are getting ready to go see them perform live, others are going to be glued to their computers to hear the audio streamed via Absolute Radio. Some might be waiting to see if any/all clips show up on youtube. I will probably be in the later camp as I'm leaving in a bit to go to Minneapolis for the weekend to visit a friend and will be in the car at the time the band performs. Nonetheless, whatever I find or hear, I'll do my best to report here tomorrow. Until then, I wanted to comment on a short clip with Nick and Roger that Duran's Facebook posted yesterday, which you can find here.

The focused on the positives and negatives of internet for the music business. Nick explained about how Duran embraced the internet by having one of the first websites (back in 1997) and that they are able to connect with their audience. No arguments there. Then, he went on to talk about how online piracy was an "enormous problem" for the music industry, especially young artists who need the "investment" to be able to continue to make music. This caught my attention. Now, I openly admit that I know nothing about how much artists get for selling copies of albums or songs. I don't. Yet, I wonder how much this pattern of make an album, release an album, tour to get people to buy the album in order to make another album still applies. It feels to me that this isn't the pattern anymore. Even Simon said recently in an interview that things have shifted for Duran. They now make an album to tour as oppose to touring to make an album. My point here is that I suspect that touring is where the money really comes from these days. I know that John has said on more than one occasion that nothing can replace the live show and I completely agree with that. Thus, it isn't as important to sell copies of songs and/or albums.

Of course, I'm not saying that people shouldn't buy official material. Yet, I understand the urge, especially when young to get a song or album that you can't get out of your head. I recorded many songs on those good old cassette tapes back in my childhood because I just HAD to have it. I will also admit that I borrowed records from places like the library and recorded those onto those trusty cassette tapes. I also recorded music from and for my friends. Everyone did. I'm sure Nick would point out to me that the quality was lacking with copies off the radio or on cassette tapes. That's true, but many people would argue the same is true with downloads and mp3s. It just seems to me that in this day and age, everything, including music, is immediate. Kids don't have to wait until the song comes on the radio or MTV to hear it again. They can go on youtube and hear it instantly. Patience for music is one thing they lack because they have never needed it. I might think something has been lost because of it, but we aren't going to change this. We aren't. Thus, instead of fighting it, why not focus on things that can't be instantly possessed and cheaply gotten? Why not encourage those young artists to perfect their live performance? Why not offer products that are not available to download? I think it is time to be more creative rather than just complain about it. There are so many products Duran could do that people would love to buy. They could be leaders showing the young bands how to make enough money to keep going and isn't that what being a rock star is all about?

-A

Source: http://www.dailyduranie.com/2012/07/cos-now-were-online.html

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