Labels:text | screenshot | font OCR: AM/FM I Fear For The Future Of Music Because... by David Cassidy, of Cynostic Why? Why do you think I fear for the future of music? I'll tell you, shall I? Because, dear reader, it's being incorporated. Recently we've had two major buy-outs of famous record labels. Firstly, there was the Sony purchase of the ailing American giant CBS. This company has now been renamed to Sony Music Entertainment Ltd. Secondly we have had the Thorn- EMI buy-out of Virgin Records, which cost Thorn-EMI about ú15 million. But why are these things necessarily bad developments for the music industry. I point you, ladies and gentlemen of the AM/FM jury, to the recent case of Michael versus Sony. George Michael - an extremely gifted personage - recently announced his intention to break his contract with Sony because he was being treated like "product rather than a recording artist". Pompous? Certainly. But also very significant. It apparently all came about due to Sony's insistance that Michael would have a new album ready for release by xxx date. This proved to be too much for Michael and he refused to pander to such demands. So, he decided to break his contract. Michael had been signed to the CBS label, distributed through Epic (a subsidiary), but his relations with Sony, the new owners, were never too hot. The case is now going to the UK law courts and it seems as if a long and weary battle is about to begin. His new album is now delayed due to the rift. On the other side of the coin we have the new darlings of the UK music press, Suede. This new young band have been toted as the new Smiths, the new British band for the nineties. And they're signed to Sony... Personally I don't find anything particularly special in their releases so far but everyone is entitled to an opinion, I suppose. Suede are only too happy to go along with Sony's guidance and their careers have certainly been well manufactured so far. Extensive touring has lead to mass popularity amongst the target audience (teenage angst-mongers) even before any records of theirs have been released! The press are fed copious amounts of information about the band and are told who's the sexy one (Brett Anderson, apparently - to me he looks like an under-fed stick insect) and who's got the classical training (an odd geezer with long hair). So here we have the two sides to the corporate record industry. Michael, who knows the old-school methods, and Suede who know no better or worse. My basic fear is that corporations like Sony will begin to force-feed the public with opinion, pronouncing bands like Suede as essential and the only band for certain audiences so that we find ourselves with a musical autonomy Artists like George Michael will therefore suffer as through legal means they can be suppressed and suffocated. Having said this, there are plenty of smaller labels willing to take on bands without mass appeal. deConstruction and others can ensure that newer, unknown bands, like Usura, Felix, Sunscreem and others get through to the public. Or can they? Well; no. Not really. The only way such labels can get through to the public is by getting the singles and albums into the shops. Who distributes smaller label's titles? Larger companies, like EMI, like Sony. Maybe I'm taking it all out of proportion (highly likely!) but I'd be wary of what you begin to think because your opinions could be manufactured ones. For example, Lenny Kravtiz - a singular and highly distinctive artist - is signed to Virgin and, hence, EMI. U2 are signed to Island Records who are distributed by Sony (if I remember rightly). No doubt new music will always come through to the public ear but a lot is also suppressed. My advice is to get out and about and enjoy as much music as you can. Lay aside your prejudices for a little while and go to a pub on a Sunday night and listen to that bloke strumming a guitar. It's inexpensive and enjoyable, more often than not. Support new bands and they'll support you with new music!! Talking crap again am I? Well, for God's sake, TELL ME!! Write to: David "Talking Crap" Cassidy Cynostic, 85 Wyken Croft, Coventry, CUZ 3AD, UK. Or telephone: (+44) 0203 613817 Or fax: (+44) 0203 682084 I'm waiting for your call! All comments, whether complimentary or otherwise, will all be treated with the same derisory attitude. I promise. AM/FM
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