Posted on - August 24, 2005 [at] 12:36 pm by Brad
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I meant to blog about this a couple days ago. Warner Music Group is starting an e-label:
Edgar Bronfman Jr., Warner Music’s chairman and CEO, said Monday that the new mechanism will be called an “e-label,” in which artists will release music in clusters of three songs every few months rather than a CD every few years.
Magnatune owner John Buckman has some good observations as this is basically what Magnatune has been doing for a few years now.
The article claims that artists signed to the e-label will keep the copyright to their master recordings, which John says is a less evil agreement. But I’m assuming that all the major perks of getting signed: advances, promotion, etc, are all out the window as well. Which makes it another digital store with a decent brand name. I’d be like “I’m signed to Warner…‘s e-label. Can I borrow ten dollars?”
It’s a good idea and an e-label would give them flexibility and let the label experiment more with what might catch on with the kids these days without losing a bundle of money. It could work as a minor league for artists that aren’t quite ready to be called up to the real Warner Music and have some money invested in them. If they do it right — like pick bands with good songs for instance — they could develop a neat little Internet alternative scene. But in my mind I picture a half-broken, basically unusable website covered in flashing ringtone ads, forcing DRM on you, pushing established bands and three song sets of watered down clones of them. But who knows.
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4 Comments on this post
fromoze on Warner Music Group is starting an e-label
August 28, 2005 at 3:28 pm
A propos of new music-based business on the net, I must say that my favourite one is last.fm. As the team say they are “changing the way music is discovered and enjoyed, forever.” I really like the idea behind last.fm. They need to get more music (specially spanish music), but is really great.
And, as a unfan of BradSucks I’ll ask Brad to get his account and summit the music he listen. Your unfans want to know what do you listen and listen your personal last.fm radio to :D
Cheers!
Williams Inc. on Warner Music Group is starting an e-label
December 8, 2005 at 10:08 pm
Warner Music Group watch out because i have already setup a system like such E-Label but my system is really a Label…….
E-Indie coming soon.
Joseph Achakji on Warner Music Group is starting an e-label
December 16, 2005 at 6:07 pm
It is an interesting topic which I’m exploring at the moment. In my opinion, it is well worth the effort to eliminate intermediate distribution costs of physical goods to retailers. Just as in the physical world, it is a matter of structuring networks efficiently but this technology will require less economic risk. I think it will be of interest to Majors and Indies alike (Good Luck to Both!)