Podcast Kills Radio Part 2

The other day I wrote about the death of broadcast radio. A friend asked me the other day, “I can see why this is good for the radio shows, but is it good for the musicians?” I say: OH YES!

The iTunes music store is an example of how the distance between indie musician and the major label artist is shrinking. iTunes takes no advertising and they have a staff that chooses these featured artists. In a move that must make the middle managers at the major labels enter a confused stupor, they actually pick music that they feel is good, not pushed (or in Sony’s case, payola promoted) by the majors. iTunes has a nice mix between major and indie artists. Listen to the iTunes New Music Tuesday podcast. It’s features an indie artist every week. I think it is wonderful.

Of course the big music industry doesn’t like it. They are beginning to feel a loss of control over their industry. For years they have restricted access to end caps, in store advertising and magazine ads. They can pay the big bucks, which drives the price for this access out of the range of an indie. Plus they have the contacts to get their artists on Letterman or Leno.

However, they can’t control iTunes, and with over half a billion-song sales already that is a threat to them. If iTunes decided to feature more independents or even start their own label it is getting to the point where it will hurt the majors. Life sucks, don’t it major labels?

They are beginning to fight back. Recently two labels announced plans to try and renegotiate their contracts to provide music to iTunes. They want control of the pricing structure to make more money on their hot hits but almost give away back catalog (which publishers of this older music should be up in arms about). I think this is the first shot in a greater battle for the future of the music industry with the consumers and artists who will be the true winners or losers.