This machine kills...?

I work in the music industry because I support artists and their art. I work with their best interests in mind, and try to remain conscious of what other influences and pressures they are under in regards to their label, manager, agent...how much they have to tour, how many records they are contracted to sell...endorsements, radio play, merchandising - its all part of the mix.

Everyone knows labels are drowning under the weight of P2P file sharing, blogs dropping records eons before the release date - most people don't care...but the labels are scrambling, and have shat out something called a "360 deal". You may have heard about a big one recently.

The NY Times just wrote about it this week...obviously a self-conscious and subjective approach...but it lays out the groundwork.

Of course, Bob Lefetz has something to say about it...and how.

He's livid, and I'm...unsure. Don't get me wrong, I GET IT; I get why the labels are freaking out and why bands are desperate for a sense of security, for some feeling of accomplishment and career-building. I get where the concern for Artists lies - that's my camp...I can't help but feel this is bad news. Why is that? Your 2 cents, please?

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I leave you with something I've been loving this week - a band called The Mae Shi, and their track "Eat The Prize". Fitting, nes pas?

Have a good weekend, superfriends.