The Junkyard Vol 2: The Importance of Sales Numbers (Editorial - Please Discuss)

[Rud]

The Junkyard Vol 2: The Importance of Sales Numbers - February 5, 2006 By : Rud

http://www.dubcnn.com/
http://www.dubcnn.com/features/junkyard/
http://www.dubcnn.com/features/junkyard/salesfigures/

M Dogg is back with the latest edition of his world famous "The Junkyard" editorial feature. In Volume Two he tackles the perception of Sales Numbers in Hip-Hop; something that at one-time true Hip-Hop fans used to point to when showing how much Hip-Hop has grown, yet they now point to it to show how much Hip-Hop has digressed. Sales today are completely different than they were 20 years ago...read "The Junkyard's" interpretation on this issue. Once you have read the piece head over to the forum to debate any issues.

The Junkyard - Volume Two: The Importance of Sales Numbers

Once again look for more features from "The Junkyard" Bi-Weekly.


drop feedback and discuss here....

[Nima - Dubcnn.com]

up

[Rud]

^ he did this off your thoughts nima, hope it was the angle you aimed at

props for the bump, check it people!

[KURUPTION-81]

Interesting read, sales def dont equal quality now a days.

[CRAFTY]

Interesting read! Props on doing that article...
Sales do show that Hip-Hop has grown significantly over the past 20 years, but that does not mean that the quality has improved. Nowadays you have to look very hard to pick up a dope Hip-Hop album without having to skip 40% of the songs.

[jeromechickenbone]

Props on the editorial.  I really like the idea.  What makes editorials worth reading is when the reader believes that the author is speaking how they truly feel, rather than just picking a random topic and taking a stance just for the sake of arguement.  I think M Dogg did a good job in proving his points, and i believed that was his true opinion. Props.

As far as the subject matter, i couldn't agree more.  There are 5 major music labels out right now - and all except Interscope are losing financially.  The labels are very quick to blame the digitizing of music, internet, and bootlegging as the sole reasons for its decline.  To me, this excuse is complete bullshit because there are still artists today that are going 5x platinum (Mariah, 50 cent).  

The place where labels have fucked up is without a doubt their "formula".  Music, in its essence, is a very intangible thing. When your focus is on "Product" rather than artistic nature, the music will inevitably suffer.  What you have is businessmen making musical decisions with their main focus on the bottom line (profits).  They look at the most efficient way to produce a product that the consumer will eat up.  The result is watered down, bastardized, prostituted, music.

As M Dogg pointed out, the perceived core audience is the young, white, consumer.  What the labels are doing is exploiting children who don't know any better.  The labels can get away with selling the same thing to these kids over and over.  As the kid gets older, he may eventually realize that what he thought was good music, was actually bullshit.  Upon this realization, he quits buying those types of records.  Big loss to the labels right? Wrong.  For every kid that realizes they are being bullshitted, there are 2 new 10 year olds to exploit and sell the generic formula to.

Also, as pointed out by MDogg, the recording industry has seen lots of bankrupty, mergers, and acquisitions in the last 10 years.  It is very difficult for an Indie label to compete with the majors.  Not due the quality of music, but due to the majors having things tilted in their favor.  There are a lot of stories circulating about payola in the industry.  If you don't know, payola is essentially a bribe - labels are bribing radio stations, dj's, and music video outlets to play their music.  It's illegal and for a very good reason.  Because the Indie's don't have the finances to pay off these various outlets like the majors, their music doesn't get its fair chance to shine.   This is what the labels want - They don't want the consumer to see the authentic version of what they are trying to sell, because the consumer will realize that what they are being force fed actually tastes like shit.

I never thought i'd say this, but luckily Washington is starting to take notice of a lot of the corruption in the recording industry, and are doing something about it.  Labels are being investigated, and the govt is finding numerous cases of payola / bribery.  Labels are being fined for these actions, so hopefully this will reduce these practices.

[Nima - Dubcnn.com]

^^ good post

[Rud]

real good post, check your PM's Jrome

[M Dogg™]

Thanks alot. I wanted this to come oue right. Now, let me not get started on the radio. I didn't do that, because that's just as involved as the labels. Who knows, maybe in the future.

[CRAFTY]

Good post Jrome!

[M Dogg™]

no more comments 

[M Dogg™]

uppin

[NFX]

yeah good article.

As far as the reasons, well isn;t the goal in business to make money? If that means selling to a wider (or whiter) audience, it makes good business sense. It's all a hustle whether you're a label exec or a gangsta on wax or a real gangsta trying to go legit in the industry. And in the end that is a large part of hip hop.. making them ends... pimpin'...hustlin'...

Solution? There isn't one perfect one. It would help to support the artists that remember what a "concept album" and "artistic integrity" are with your dollars. Don't pirate the music of an artist that doesn't sell out. Too bad there are fewer and fewer of these types of artists out there.

[M Dogg™]

yeah good article.

As far as the reasons, well isn;t the goal in business to make money? If that means selling to a wider (or whiter) audience, it makes good business sense. It's all a hustle whether you're a label exec or a gangsta on wax or a real gangsta trying to go legit in the industry. And in the end that is a large part of hip hop.. making them ends... pimpin'...hustlin'...

Solution? There isn't one perfect one. It would help to support the artists that remember what a "concept album" and "artistic integrity" are with your dollars. Don't pirate the music of an artist that doesn't sell out. Too bad there are fewer and fewer of these types of artists out there.

I don't agree with the pimpin' and making ends as being part of Hip-Hop. It's part of street culture, and that ties into Hip-Hop, buit Hip-Hop was originally about fun music that people could dance to. It was about free expression, and putting a social message to it. Artist used to boast, brag, make lyrics to dance, and make lyrics to think about. That has all been sold out, as it was independent labels that fueled the movement. Now the little labels got bought off by larger labels, and it became about Bling, it became about more money. It was a dream in the Ol' Skool, but in the end, it turned out as a nightmare. Can you answer who is DJ Kool Herc without use of the internet?

[NFX]

I don't agree with the pimpin' and making ends as being part of Hip-Hop. It's part of street culture, and that ties into Hip-Hop, buit Hip-Hop was originally about fun music that people could dance to. It was about free expression, and putting a social message to it. Artist used to boast, brag, make lyrics to dance, and make lyrics to think about. That has all been sold out, as it was independent labels that fueled the movement. Now the little labels got bought off by larger labels, and it became about Bling, it became about more money. It was a dream in the Ol' Skool, but in the end, it turned out as a nightmare. Can you answer who is DJ Kool Herc without use of the internet?

You don't agree with me? You admit it has sold out and USED to be about fun but now is about bling. Cased closed.

My point is that it's always been about money under the covers. When Profile and Tommy Boy were the only labels releasing hip hop shit, they were paying shit royalties. Even Russel Simmons capitalized on shit early on and to this day is pimpin the game for every dollar he can.

It's been happening since Grand Master Caz and Cold Crush Brothers rhymes were ganked by MC Big Bank Hank, who never really even made any real money off of Rapper's Delight anyway.

Don't get me wrong, I wish it was about more. I wish the dream was fulfilled.