Peter Gabriel & Brian Eno call for Artist’s Revolution to Lead Digital Age
CANNES, France -- Influential recording artists Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno issued an “Artist’s Manifesto” on Monday putting the music business on notice that any digital revolution should be largely led by the artists and not by the labels and digital distributors.
Waving a little red book reminiscent of Chairman Mao’s, with considerable implications for both fans and the industry, they called for an alliance of artists to become directly involved in the sales of their legal music downloads, issuing a variety of material beyond their conventional album releases – and labels. It calls for “No constraints, editing or external controls over what is released.”
“Most of the conversations lately have been about the business in the digital age, but where will the new technology be without the artists?” Eno asked at a gathering at the MIDEM international music meet. “We will put music back in the hands of musicians.”
Gabriel said “The new rules are being written without input from the artists. We are forming an alliance of artists to say let’s talk about this together.” Song and album lengths as well as pricing would all be variable in their world of artist-to-fan internet commerce.
“We will not be confined to the Apple 99 cent model or any other,” Gabriel said. Eno added artists might select alternate song versions or pieces from their “sketch book” to put online for free or even put up a $500 download for a specialty audience. “We can fundamentally change the nature of music product.”
The booklet, which seems sure to cause more white hairs among already nervous music execs struggling with an uncertain digital future, is called The MUDDA Manifesto for Magnificent Union of Digitally Downloading Artists.
It calls on artists to use their official websites to sell all manner of downloads. Gabriel said an organization is being put together to help acts wishing to do so. “By allowing musicians to become their own retailers, they can be at the top of the food chain, not at the bottom. Artists can negotiate from a position of strength.”
But before label executives have a complete seizure, the pair noted this call to arms was not designed to replace existing contractual agreements and that most artists are more than happy to let labels take care of their customary functions.
Nonetheless, Gabriel noted that artist-direct sales could be a partial answer to the piracy problem. “If they feel their in direct contact with a recording artist and not just ripping off a huge record company, maybe they will be more inclined to pay for their music downloads.”
Eno added “Fringe product would become artistically and financially feasible. There can be a more intimate relationship between artists and those listening to them.”
Furthermore, artists can operate outside the album cycle and release stages of a project. “Music can be a living thing” said Gabriel. “When we work on a song, it evolves. There are versions and experimentations. All this can be an online selling process, not just a product.”
The pair is working with London-based digital music distributor OD2 and artists can email mudda@od2.com for further information.
By Jeffrey Jolson-Colburn
(Printed by direct permission of the author)
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
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1.30.2004
1.26.2004
Anti-Bush Superbowl Ad Denied by CBS
Music Fans,
During this year's Super Bowl, you'll see ads sponsored by beer companies, tobacco companies, and the Bush White House. But you won't see the winning ad in MoveOn.org Voter Fund's Bush in 30 Seconds ad contest. CBS refuses to air it.
To check out the ad and ask CBS to air ads like this one, go to: http://www.moveon.org/cbs/ad/
Thanks,
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
Music Fans,
During this year's Super Bowl, you'll see ads sponsored by beer companies, tobacco companies, and the Bush White House. But you won't see the winning ad in MoveOn.org Voter Fund's Bush in 30 Seconds ad contest. CBS refuses to air it.
To check out the ad and ask CBS to air ads like this one, go to: http://www.moveon.org/cbs/ad/
Thanks,
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
1.23.2004
Positive Vibrations!
Tune in to a LIVE broadcast from Negril, Jamaica with Appalachian Reggae musician, RAS ALAN, and the band Snake Oil Medicine Show.
January 25, Sunday starting at 10am EST until 2pm at http://RealNegril.com at Selina's Coffee Bar and Eatery.
Also be sure and visit http://appalachianreggae.com,
http://snakeoilmedicineshow.net
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
Tune in to a LIVE broadcast from Negril, Jamaica with Appalachian Reggae musician, RAS ALAN, and the band Snake Oil Medicine Show.
January 25, Sunday starting at 10am EST until 2pm at http://RealNegril.com at Selina's Coffee Bar and Eatery.
Also be sure and visit http://appalachianreggae.com,
http://snakeoilmedicineshow.net
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
Distaste of the Union
Yup. I actually sat through G-Dubya’s State of the Union address. It could have been the most embarrassing time for our nation in as many years as I can remember. He played the race card, he preached his gospel of preemptive war, he smiled wide at the thought of nearly a half-trillion dollars of debt, all the while smirking and winking at his Republican peers in the front row with blatant disregard and disrespect to every American alive, for the world to see.
Howard Dean has been completely raked over the coals for getting ‘Excited’ and rallying his supporters forward to New Hampshire and then no one says a word about The Smirking Chimp getting worked up into a lather a day after his address, with uniformed teens behind him, yelling and carrying on about ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ that may have existed a decade ago in Iraq but are obviously are not there. Folks, the Germans were all excited about Adolf when he first emerged on the scene but look what the outcome was years later.
I’m also severely disappointed at the news media, especially Peter Jennings who last night at the New Hampshire Democratic Debates sat like a smug sorority girl on Xannax and tried his best to pit each candidate against each other instead of asking questions that REALLY MATTTER! Is it not Ok to make a decision five years ago, decide it wasn’t the best, and then change your mind for the better? Are people not allowed to make mistakes and the correct them later? What in the Hell does it matter what a candidate said 5 years ago when the REAL person we want to get to know is STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!
Music fans, do not let G-Dubya, The Smirking Chimp, have another four destructive years in office! Is it just me or am I the only one who knows that Dick ‘Serve Ya Meat?’ Chaney’s food service company was able to get the contract in Iraq to feed our troops? Are you going to stand by and let this rabid idiot give our country away? Are you going to let this administration take money away from schools and yet continue to hold them accountable for test scores when they can’t afford resources to teach properly? Where are the real Americans? Are you one? If you are you can’t just sit there and let this happen to our beloved country!
Who will be the Democratic nominee in 2004? Whoever it is, get behind him with full support, people. Not registered to vote? Click HERE
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
Yup. I actually sat through G-Dubya’s State of the Union address. It could have been the most embarrassing time for our nation in as many years as I can remember. He played the race card, he preached his gospel of preemptive war, he smiled wide at the thought of nearly a half-trillion dollars of debt, all the while smirking and winking at his Republican peers in the front row with blatant disregard and disrespect to every American alive, for the world to see.
Howard Dean has been completely raked over the coals for getting ‘Excited’ and rallying his supporters forward to New Hampshire and then no one says a word about The Smirking Chimp getting worked up into a lather a day after his address, with uniformed teens behind him, yelling and carrying on about ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ that may have existed a decade ago in Iraq but are obviously are not there. Folks, the Germans were all excited about Adolf when he first emerged on the scene but look what the outcome was years later.
I’m also severely disappointed at the news media, especially Peter Jennings who last night at the New Hampshire Democratic Debates sat like a smug sorority girl on Xannax and tried his best to pit each candidate against each other instead of asking questions that REALLY MATTTER! Is it not Ok to make a decision five years ago, decide it wasn’t the best, and then change your mind for the better? Are people not allowed to make mistakes and the correct them later? What in the Hell does it matter what a candidate said 5 years ago when the REAL person we want to get to know is STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!
Music fans, do not let G-Dubya, The Smirking Chimp, have another four destructive years in office! Is it just me or am I the only one who knows that Dick ‘Serve Ya Meat?’ Chaney’s food service company was able to get the contract in Iraq to feed our troops? Are you going to stand by and let this rabid idiot give our country away? Are you going to let this administration take money away from schools and yet continue to hold them accountable for test scores when they can’t afford resources to teach properly? Where are the real Americans? Are you one? If you are you can’t just sit there and let this happen to our beloved country!
Who will be the Democratic nominee in 2004? Whoever it is, get behind him with full support, people. Not registered to vote? Click HERE
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
1.09.2004
Oh Buddy!
During the month of January guitar blues master Buddy Guy will open the door of his Chicago nightclub Legends to Blues fans and Pirate Entertainment who’ll be recording sixteen double live albums. This live recording series will be entitled ‘Live at Legends’ and will feature Buddy and surprise special guests with the amazing feature that each performance will be recorded and then sold directly at the conclusion of each show date.
This sixteen show CD series is certain to become one of the most essential Blues recording projects as Buddy Guy plays traditional and standard Blues songs that have spanned his half-century career. If you’re not able to make the shows you may be able to pick up live recordings of this sure to be legendary concert series at PirateBootlegs.com while supplies last.
Show and ticket information are available at www.buddyguys.com
Live at Legends information available at www.piratebootlegs.com
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
During the month of January guitar blues master Buddy Guy will open the door of his Chicago nightclub Legends to Blues fans and Pirate Entertainment who’ll be recording sixteen double live albums. This live recording series will be entitled ‘Live at Legends’ and will feature Buddy and surprise special guests with the amazing feature that each performance will be recorded and then sold directly at the conclusion of each show date.
This sixteen show CD series is certain to become one of the most essential Blues recording projects as Buddy Guy plays traditional and standard Blues songs that have spanned his half-century career. If you’re not able to make the shows you may be able to pick up live recordings of this sure to be legendary concert series at PirateBootlegs.com while supplies last.
Show and ticket information are available at www.buddyguys.com
Live at Legends information available at www.piratebootlegs.com
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
1.07.2004
One Mans Trash?
The following comment was submitted to this column regarding the prior post titled ‘The Liner Notes’ on 01.07.04
“…I could really care less whether somebody buys online or in the store. I don't think there is a lot of saving the environment by buying online. Why? Computers have a usable life-span of about 3 years and then they are trashed. Where do they go? Eventually they all end up in the dump as well.” – Thomas R.
Thomas,
Your apathy only exceeds your ignorance on the matter being discussed.
First of all, if you are only getting three years out of your PC then YOU are the problem: Buying into the idea that PC’s ‘Wear Out’ after 3 years is absurd. It will give Dell and Gateway sales executives great pleasure knowing that there is still a cross-section of our society that takes their technical knowledge from the Sunday comics…
Secondly, thanks for enlightening us with your methods of old PC disposal. It only takes 400 or more chemicals to make the monitor, which will leak into our water once it hits the city dump, my friend. So, saying that ‘I could really care less’ and not understanding the benefits of the Internet and high-speed networking defies logic itself. There are several companies nationwide who can safely recycle any computer, free of charge, and if you are too cheap to take this route why not donate your PC that hit the ‘Expiration Date’ to a school or church that would appreciate a usable machine?
It’s all about Solutions, folks.
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
The following comment was submitted to this column regarding the prior post titled ‘The Liner Notes’ on 01.07.04
“…I could really care less whether somebody buys online or in the store. I don't think there is a lot of saving the environment by buying online. Why? Computers have a usable life-span of about 3 years and then they are trashed. Where do they go? Eventually they all end up in the dump as well.” – Thomas R.
Thomas,
Your apathy only exceeds your ignorance on the matter being discussed.
First of all, if you are only getting three years out of your PC then YOU are the problem: Buying into the idea that PC’s ‘Wear Out’ after 3 years is absurd. It will give Dell and Gateway sales executives great pleasure knowing that there is still a cross-section of our society that takes their technical knowledge from the Sunday comics…
Secondly, thanks for enlightening us with your methods of old PC disposal. It only takes 400 or more chemicals to make the monitor, which will leak into our water once it hits the city dump, my friend. So, saying that ‘I could really care less’ and not understanding the benefits of the Internet and high-speed networking defies logic itself. There are several companies nationwide who can safely recycle any computer, free of charge, and if you are too cheap to take this route why not donate your PC that hit the ‘Expiration Date’ to a school or church that would appreciate a usable machine?
It’s all about Solutions, folks.
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
The Liner Notes
The following comment was submitted yesterday to this column regarding a prior editorial on the Digital Downloading of albums in their entirety:
“…..there was mention of the great advantages to purchasing and downloading an album online. While I am, personally, split on the issue for reasons I will momentarily explain, I have to question one of your listed "Advantages". It was said that (in addition to saving gas and money, both things that I love about the downloading system) you saved on wasted packaging.
As a fan, regardless of musical type, this immediately struck a chord. At first I just assumed that I disagreed. After all, the packaging is part of the relic, it is part of the complete offering associated with an album. As with most rabid music fans, I associate the first listening of an album with a deep read of the liner notes. Where and when the album was recorded, lyrics, and original artwork from the musicians themselves even, the information that makes an album complete.
Then I began to think, "Is all of this part of the album?". With so much music and so many personalities out there, it is impossible to say that all packaging and liner notes are compliments to the album or are even thought of heavily by the artists themselves. But it is also impossible to say that all are not. I was wondering your thoughts as this is an issue I guess I had taken for granted for years and years…” – Joel A.
Joel,
I don’t want to appear as if I am tossing the baby out with the bathwater when I mention the excessive problems of packaging that are plaguing this world and the beloved liner notes of any album. Just as I have said before, in agreement with Thom Yorke of Radiohead and others, that the way we are experiencing music is constantly evolving and we should be aware of those changes, especially if the impact on the environment is negative.
I’m not suggesting the elimination of liner notes and art that a musician feels necessary to send to its fans. Maybe we can offer a solution to the packaging issue by making the liner notes and art an optional download with the digital music files: Something that I’m not aware of any digital vendor offering at this time.
Bands like Radiohead and Phish are going far beyond the liner notes and offering web casts, streaming audio, live performance recordings and anything else they can think of to push the envelope. I think these forms of interactive media can be equally and sometimes much more powerful than the several sheets of liner notes, print art, and plastic to wrap them.
Like you, I still sit down with the liner notes for a long read and I suppose I always will. Evolving our musical experiences should never include the elimination of nostalgia and artifacts from music past. My vinyl collection will sleep well tonight knowing I feel this way.
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
The following comment was submitted yesterday to this column regarding a prior editorial on the Digital Downloading of albums in their entirety:
“…..there was mention of the great advantages to purchasing and downloading an album online. While I am, personally, split on the issue for reasons I will momentarily explain, I have to question one of your listed "Advantages". It was said that (in addition to saving gas and money, both things that I love about the downloading system) you saved on wasted packaging.
As a fan, regardless of musical type, this immediately struck a chord. At first I just assumed that I disagreed. After all, the packaging is part of the relic, it is part of the complete offering associated with an album. As with most rabid music fans, I associate the first listening of an album with a deep read of the liner notes. Where and when the album was recorded, lyrics, and original artwork from the musicians themselves even, the information that makes an album complete.
Then I began to think, "Is all of this part of the album?". With so much music and so many personalities out there, it is impossible to say that all packaging and liner notes are compliments to the album or are even thought of heavily by the artists themselves. But it is also impossible to say that all are not. I was wondering your thoughts as this is an issue I guess I had taken for granted for years and years…” – Joel A.
Joel,
I don’t want to appear as if I am tossing the baby out with the bathwater when I mention the excessive problems of packaging that are plaguing this world and the beloved liner notes of any album. Just as I have said before, in agreement with Thom Yorke of Radiohead and others, that the way we are experiencing music is constantly evolving and we should be aware of those changes, especially if the impact on the environment is negative.
I’m not suggesting the elimination of liner notes and art that a musician feels necessary to send to its fans. Maybe we can offer a solution to the packaging issue by making the liner notes and art an optional download with the digital music files: Something that I’m not aware of any digital vendor offering at this time.
Bands like Radiohead and Phish are going far beyond the liner notes and offering web casts, streaming audio, live performance recordings and anything else they can think of to push the envelope. I think these forms of interactive media can be equally and sometimes much more powerful than the several sheets of liner notes, print art, and plastic to wrap them.
Like you, I still sit down with the liner notes for a long read and I suppose I always will. Evolving our musical experiences should never include the elimination of nostalgia and artifacts from music past. My vinyl collection will sleep well tonight knowing I feel this way.
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
1.01.2004
Happy New Year!
Hello regular readers and guests, we’re all back in the saddle at PhreshWater.com from all the holiday hoopla. Expect to see me here frequently in the days ahead in 2004…
Last night on PBS they aired the U2 – Live at Red Rocks concert right at the turn of the new year. As I sat and watched this explosive concert I was turned back in time to high school when U2 was one of my favorite bands of that time in my life. They knew exactly what was in my heart and how I felt about the state of the world that we live. And while I watched Bono and The Edge ignite the stage at Red Rocks Ampitheater with the crowd going mad I realized that I haven’t changed much at all since then. The world I see around me hasn’t changed much either and there is a lot that troubles me. Just as these thoughts happened The Edge belted out his memorable piano and guitar reverie on New Years Day and I felt that my concerns were not going unnoticed…
This year I want to do the best I can to unite my brothers and sisters around the globe. I feel this is my duty this year seeing how we in the USA are facing one of the most important Presidential elections in our history and the world is watching to see who the REAL inhabitants of this country are. Are we going to blindly let GW Gump and his radical right-wing Gestapo mislead us again and again or are we going to stand up and not take this shit anymore?
I want a world of peace and I’m going to do my part to bring it about this year. If all I have left is this pen and keyboard that is my mission along side of bringing truth and honesty into the music media, a shared goal of all of us at PhreshWater.com
Peace on Earth in 2004!
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
Hello regular readers and guests, we’re all back in the saddle at PhreshWater.com from all the holiday hoopla. Expect to see me here frequently in the days ahead in 2004…
Last night on PBS they aired the U2 – Live at Red Rocks concert right at the turn of the new year. As I sat and watched this explosive concert I was turned back in time to high school when U2 was one of my favorite bands of that time in my life. They knew exactly what was in my heart and how I felt about the state of the world that we live. And while I watched Bono and The Edge ignite the stage at Red Rocks Ampitheater with the crowd going mad I realized that I haven’t changed much at all since then. The world I see around me hasn’t changed much either and there is a lot that troubles me. Just as these thoughts happened The Edge belted out his memorable piano and guitar reverie on New Years Day and I felt that my concerns were not going unnoticed…
This year I want to do the best I can to unite my brothers and sisters around the globe. I feel this is my duty this year seeing how we in the USA are facing one of the most important Presidential elections in our history and the world is watching to see who the REAL inhabitants of this country are. Are we going to blindly let GW Gump and his radical right-wing Gestapo mislead us again and again or are we going to stand up and not take this shit anymore?
I want a world of peace and I’m going to do my part to bring it about this year. If all I have left is this pen and keyboard that is my mission along side of bringing truth and honesty into the music media, a shared goal of all of us at PhreshWater.com
Peace on Earth in 2004!
S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Submit Editorials, Questions,
or Comments to : editor@phreshwater.com
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