Found Around: Lefsetz to Artists: Wake Up!
Written by Aidan Rush Posted in: Found Around on November 30, 2011
We'd be lying if we said Lefsetz's latest offering was anything other than another one of his classic rants, but it's a good one. An attack on many angles and processes of the established music industry, it's poised to make you think a little, if nothing else. Give it a read through, and let us know which points you agree with and which are ridiculous in the comments! -Aidan
(Lefsetz Letter) Dreese on Retail
Credit: Bob Lefsetz
"So (the big music chain's strategy was) not about trying to excite the customer. To extract value from the labels seemed to be the pursuit. In essence, there was a lot of value available because not very much of that value (from the product being sold) was flowing to the artists. (Retailers and labels) would be sitting there on a $10 wholesale (CD) item, and it was basically $9 available to be thieved. If Best Buy could grab $2 of it on a mark-down, the label could use the rest for car service and fancy meals; I guess that worked for a long time."
Mike Dreese of Newbury Comics, as told to Larry LeBlanc: http://bit.ly/aQpmuY
The major label business model is theft. I have no idea why so many artists revere the major labels. It's like staying with an abusive spouse, fearful of the great big world outside the house, afraid you won't find something better. It's like a poor person voting for a Republican. It's against your interests. But since big media controls the debate, look at the Big Brother SOPA legislation it's ramming through the legislature as a result of paying off Congressmen, ignorant artists believe the labels are on their side. They were never on your side.
