There was an interesting article in The Guardian on Friday. As a kind of personal challenge their music critic, Alex Petrides, spent a couple of weeks listening to every CD released in the UK in October, which is quite something when you realise that there are 25,000 releases a year.

The thing is, 49% of those are compilations or back catalogue re-releases, and the new stuff is so diverse and there is so much of it that most of the bands concerned won't sell many copies and, like Richard Thompson said in the quote further up this thread, they'll get dropped.

One striking comment from the article (which I don't necessarily agree with) - the reason there are so many re-releases is that no one under 40 pays for music any more. The record companies aren't stupid, so they produce what sells. What finally drove Petrides crazy was the re-release of The Buggles first (only?) album, with a great quote from Tevor Horn - "The trouble with that record was we didn't really have enough material for a whole album" - which kind of proves the point that re-releasing 25 year-old crap is more lucrative than nurturing new talent.

Thom, under 40 for a while yet

But if it werent for compilations and back catalogue releases, i would stop buying music quite frankly...

Well, I'm 30 and *I* do!

So it's settled then, we hang ourselves at the age of 40.

Me too. It would be interesting to know who decides what is worth re-releasing, because you would have thought they would do sales forecasts and so on. How many people really liked Video Killed the Radio Star enough the first time around to go out and buy the album 20 years later? As far as I can remember I hated it then, and the passage of time hasn't really done anything to change that view.

Thom

Well, Petrides is a journalist and so I suppose he's entitled to use a little hyperbole. But I'm sure you aren't unusual Keef, because otherwise CD sales wouldn't still be increasing, whether that is because of downloading or in spite of it.

Thom

It gives me hope for the future that you dont see many ABBA or Five Star re-issues.

Well, the problem is at the moment, the high quality music isn't getting pushed forwards because record companies like to play it safe and (as i said) create interest in backcatalogue sales.

So why dont you all get together and try to have an impact on your own through word of mouth?

Instead of ruing the impacts of the "Market and Ship" mentality that has taken the interest from the talented artist with good music and put it into the effectiveness of a promotional campaign ($$$$==effective right?), turn your forces out, and leverage your passion for good music. Turn your words into movement.

If music is not really all about image, sideshow media, and numbers, then take a band thats good (and attractive of course), and help them win a grammy. Thats what I say.

Might I suggest the HSB? They're on the grammy ballot this year. Make it your mission to crack the system.

Yeah, and your involvement with them is what? :rolleyes:

Voting for someone already on the grammy ballot is hardly breaking the system. Stop trying to turn a discussion about the music industry into a tool to get your band more votes.

Breaking the system (IMO) is getting people to know about ALL good music which I make it my mission to do, across the web, in real life, in a night I run, the lot.

People will never stop funding the britneys of this world as long as there are 8 year old girls and horny 14 year old boys, but that market is getting badly hit by playstation 2/gamecube etc.

Knowledge is power.. A lot of excellent bands would sell more if better known, and if your band is on the Grammy list they're already high up enough to not need any help from me.