Like me, you, and everyone with a blog we know, market research dude James McQuivey has noticed the Sorry State of Slumping CD Sales, positing that the no-turning-back moment for the industry will come on a cold day in 2012, following big-box chains like Wal-Mart finally ditching in-store CD real estate for stuff of actual value to humans like 2-for-1 dog food and bulk toilet paper deals. His advice for labels attempting to weather the physical-to-digital storm: Scrap the ad- and subscription-driven streaming services, shift to downloads, and pray like hell that anyone has .99 left when the economy finally bottoms out. His advice for artists, however, is to look to America’s favorite four-wheeled pastime, and not just for the moustaches and explosions.
In a final note, McQuivey suggests that music artists, who have historically looked down their noses at advertising, had better change. He says the industry should rip a page out of NASCAR’s playbook.
“Artists who used to pretend that their platinum album success was really about their “art” will no longer have that luxurious pretense because labels won’t sign them unless they agree to a barrage of sponsorship opportunities,” McQuivey wrote. “There will eventually come a day when Chips Ahoy will contend with the Keebler Elves over who can be the official cookie of the Taylor Swift world tour.”
But isn’t that far off day…pretty much here already? Only the most rancorous anti-advertising pop star hold-outs continue to thumb their noses at sponsorship, even if it doesn’t necessarily take the form of snack food ads flanking their stage shows. Things’ll be really bad when artists have to start getting sponsor tattoos a la actual NASCAR cars. Just how important is that space on your lower back between the Jiffy Lube logo and the portrait of the Geico caveman?
Analyst: Music Industry Should Help People Share Music [CNET]
Jess, are you contractually obligated to make a reference to the economy in all of your posts?
I agree with Jess entirely – I recall a FUEL concert in 2001, that was sponsored by, of all things, Nescafe (?!). After the show, there were kids with Nescafe-filled backpacks offering free drinks.
At the time, it seemed lame, but I figured the artist just needed to do what they had to in order to get paid, I would do the same.
So yes, I think that day arrived long ago, but ultimately the consumers will decide which artists and songs actually make a difference in their lives, no matter how many videos Beyonce tries to shove down our throats.
Ok ok, I’m not mentioning her again. Today, anyways.
If this guy was right then hyphy would’ve been much bigger:
+ Watch video
you know…i don’t think anyone has! we’re hiring, btw.
I bet Taylor Swift’s a Keebler girl. I mean, Ernie’s so adorable!
We know we have arrived when indie bands in 15-year-old summer camp shirts replace the faded logos of smiling kids with faux-vintage T-mobile ads.
@sfulghum:
Old bands that have reformed are catering to an audience with significantly more disposable income now than they had 30 years ago. This is not to say everyone who recently went to see Led Zeppelin was in their 50s, but I do think this reformation strategy severely limited if for no other reason than the small pool of huge-groups-from-the-70s-with-most-members-still-alive that can also manage to throw an entertaining show. That and the Rolling Stones can’t possibly stay alive much longer.
Clear Channel’s possession of over 1,000 stations across the country is an exercise in futility (as well as a pointed finger at the FCC’s shortcomings). Music, film, television: these industries are capturing smaller segments of the populace because of a) the booming gaming industry, b) a weak economy, c) the filth each of the aforementioned industries spews out on a daily basis, and d) mismanagement, mismanagement, mismanagement. Owning more of something people have less time for or, let’s face it, interest in — as is the case with Clear Channel — is sheer stupidity.
As for what people want to hear, my wager is something that moves them physically or emotionally, but most of all something that moves them physically because of how it moves them emotionally. I might be wrong.
This entry is brought to you by the letter R.
We have been hearing for the past few years how CD sales have gone down and everybody wants to blame it on Downloading – both legal and otherwise – but has anybody stopped to take a look at the caliber of music that is being produced. The reason idie is so much bugger is that many of those artists actually do care about their art and putting out something decent. The big labels only see $$$$$$$. By controling radio and anything else related to music thay can get their hands on; they force their cookie cutter sounds down our throats trying to force us to buy the stuff.
Has anybody stopped to wonder why all the old bands are getting back together and selling out shows? They played good stuff.
Music execs need to get their head out of the sand or where ever it is and pay attention for once.
And I don’t know about anybody else but if I have to choose between a new CD and food the food is going to win out every time.
So is advertising on cars and racing gear how Nascar drivers make money, or is that how they get rich? I always assumed they got payment from, ya know, ticket sales / broadcast licensing rights / souvenirs with their number, etc.
The difference is, many musicians are actually losing their way to MAKE money, not just get rich. I would assume Nascar ticket sales haven’t slumped like music ticket sales, and that applies to both indie and major artists.
I also doubt that Nascar souvenir sales have gone down. Wal-Mart continues to stock various drivers’ gear in their clothing and automotive sections in my neighborhood. However, most Wal-Marts I’ve been to have been cutting back on music selections for years, and boosting their more profitable DVD areas.
I can’t wait for the (independently wealthy) Nascar driver who says,”Driving is my art. Why would I tarnish my canvas, I mean, car with the Taco Bueno logo?”
Album Oriented Racing is just around the corner. Mark my words.
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