From the New York Times today:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/16/busin ... gewanted=1
What ails EMI
oooops! i've lived through studio management that didn't understand the recording process at all... only wanted to kibutz with the artists (and that never went well either - BANNED from session by artist management)... but when it came to making rentals or dealing with "new" prospective jobs...You know its a problem when your studio manager comes asking what a DA88 is in the late 90's...that was brutal.From the beginning, Mr. Hands did little to ingratiate himself either to EMI?s own employees or executives within the industry, a famously clubby business wary of outsiders. He acknowledged that he is not a music person, and has turned down invitations to visit the recording studio to watch artists? recording sessions.
WOW. got nothin' on that....EMI also instituted a ban on international travel without prior approval and barred employees from attending industry events ?unless these are specific profit delivering activities.?
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An interesting perspective on a possible route for major labels, and in particular, EMI:
http://www.fistfulayen.com/blog/?p=215
Tim Arango of The New York Times wrote:
I like to tell a story about an A&R guy who was trying to sign a band I was working for on tour. In a tiny nutshell: he was based in NYC, but didn't want to see the band there, so he flew out to the show in St. Louis to talk to them. I figure he spent something like $6,500-$7,000 to take them to IHOP after a gig. And at the IHOP he blew the deal. That money came from somewhere - paid for with the margin between what a label gets paid for a cd and the royalties they pay the artist - but it's a perfect illustration of why I would almost never recommend that someone sign with a major label.
http://www.fistfulayen.com/blog/?p=215
Tim Arango of The New York Times wrote:
iC wrote:EMI also instituted a ban on international travel without prior approval and barred employees from attending industry events ?unless these are specific profit delivering activities.?
They've lost $300 million a year for the last five years on new music! It's not like asking the employees to have even the most rudimentary concept of business is unreasonable.WOW. got nothin' on that....
I like to tell a story about an A&R guy who was trying to sign a band I was working for on tour. In a tiny nutshell: he was based in NYC, but didn't want to see the band there, so he flew out to the show in St. Louis to talk to them. I figure he spent something like $6,500-$7,000 to take them to IHOP after a gig. And at the IHOP he blew the deal. That money came from somewhere - paid for with the margin between what a label gets paid for a cd and the royalties they pay the artist - but it's a perfect illustration of why I would almost never recommend that someone sign with a major label.
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Jim, That story was amazing. I was glad to hear it in person...Gentleman Jim wrote:An interesting perspective on a possible route for major labels, and in particular, EMI:
http://www.fistfulayen.com/blog/?p=215
Tim Arango of The New York Times wrote:iC wrote:EMI also instituted a ban on international travel without prior approval and barred employees from attending industry events ?unless these are specific profit delivering activities.?They've lost $300 million a year for the last five years on new music! It's not like asking the employees to have even the most rudimentary concept of business is unreasonable.WOW. got nothin' on that....
I like to tell a story about an A&R guy who was trying to sign a band I was working for on tour. In a tiny nutshell: he was based in NYC, but didn't want to see the band there, so he flew out to the show in St. Louis to talk to them. I figure he spent something like $6,500-$7,000 to take them to IHOP after a gig. And at the IHOP he blew the deal. That money came from somewhere - paid for with the margin between what a label gets paid for a cd and the royalties they pay the artist - but it's a perfect illustration of why I would almost never recommend that someone sign with a major label.
I agree 100% with the idea that a label might possibly want to have a couple of employees with some rudimentary business skills. I would not be that person, but they exist! I have seen them!!
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