Record Label Dynamics
The big news in the music industry this past month is the success of Ghosts I-IV by Nine Inch Nails. They seem like the perfect band to continue the trend started by Radiohead last fall. Trent Reznor, the front man for NIN, had very public arguments with his label. So Interscope Records let the contract expire and gave Trent and the boys their musical freedom. NIN ditched the label and put Ghosts up on their website to sell directly to the fans and, at this writing, it grossed $1.6 million. Good for the little guy, right?
Don't get me wrong. I am very sensitive to the fact that a lot of label executives have made their fortunes, and their Maseratis, on the backs of struggling artists through baaaaad contracts. (To all spiritandsong.com artists, please note that I drive a '99 Buick Century and my wife drives a '99 mini-van :) It is sinful and wrong to do that to hard-working artists. On the other, I am not thrilled with NIN. They were made by Interscope. Labels try to find hidden talent, develop it, and then deliver that talent to the people. Great bands are kind of like medicines. Many experimental medicines don't catch on that are very expensive to make. For every band that I love, there are scores of others that were signed but never caught on. The movie Beautiful Mind was based on a mathematical theory that is actually a gospel. Everyone will be happy if we pursue what is good for the individual and the community. I think if NIN and Interscope were looking after the other one's best interest, the fans would be happy.
We are one body,
one body in Christ,
and we do not stand alone . . .