Tell Us What You Think Of Warner Music $3.3 B Sale
What do you think of today's sale of Warner Music Group to a Russian billionaire for $3.3 billion? Good news, because someone else will be running WMG? Bad news, because you think this guy cares even less about music and more about money than the last owners? Do you think he'll try to buy EMI?
Tell Us What You Think Of Today's Warner Music Sale:
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Horseshit. Because an industrial company led by a corrupt Russian billionaire knows just what to do with a once-legendary music company. The major labels died ten years ago. It’s time to finally throw the dirt on them.
I’ll probably write something more extensive soon. But to to get the conversation started, here are some initial thoughts:
Bronfman & CO. were smart to bail.
Purchase by and investor rather than a music group was almost inevitable. Who in music really has this kind of money to risk. But the further and further that the ownership of these large music companies gets from people who care deeply about music, the more they guarantee their irrelevance.
In an era where musicians have the ability to go direct to fans and fans have unlimited choices, there is less and less room for large scale gatekeepers.
Just had to share this line from RockRap:
“Pop is about to get a new paymaster….”
I agree 100% with that Bruce. We’re beginning to see the “gatekeeper model” crumble, but as long as there are artists who think they need em, they’ll stick around. 🙁
They probably will unleash a slew of catalogue releases upon record stores, making them look more like a museum of yesterday’s charts than places where today’s music still happens. It’s sad because financial investors know even less of new artist development from a creative point of view than today’s label executives who turned the music business into the business business in the first place.
I feel sorry for the young kids of today who may never get to know the authentic record store experience (including listening to music in its full uncompressed, lossless glory) ever since market researchers have found out by testing choruses of songs on the phone to unsuspecting interviewees that songs with no verses, no solos, no bridges and consisting only of a chorus sell best. But how could they not when only choruses were tested and the verses were not?
Yet, there will always be independent self-releasing musicians who know that it’s their right to decide what musical structures they want their fans to listen to in their songs, not that of market researchers.
I agree with Bruce
Unfortunately this sale wasnt made to someone that has a genuine passion for the art form…therefore not much is going to change.
Personally I dont think it matters as long as artist continue/start going down the path of “independency” with direct to fan tactics and utilizing technology to create/ distribute their work…all the majors an fall to the wayside.
MUSIC WILL LIVE ON!!!!
What concerns me is the fate of Warner labels like Rhino. They do a magnificent job with the reissues, and I would hate to see that change. I have a bad feeling it might thought.
These are investors who have seen the financials and they know they’re going to recoup on actual music revenue. They clearly have other plans — which probably involve strip-mining Warner’s assets. No resurrection in the works, just some big money grave robbing.
They’re NOT going to recoup on music revenue. Funny how leaving out a single word can change so much. *facepalm*
I think that….. no, wait….. nope, don’t care.
Everyone so far seems to take the “bad move” approach,so let’s look at it the other way. He has watched executives play musical chairs, going from one label to the next. This of course brought on no real change. It was a top-heavy industry made up of the same top players. One way to change this is to change the top players. WMG now has a new top player. Time will show us soon enough, but one thing for sure is that things definitely weren’t changing playing the same game with the same players.
Record labels are like restaurants, everyone thinks they can run one.
Interesting points, Bruce H. We think that this move will likely create greater economic stability — it better positions Warner Music Group to realign its operating costs around the ever changing realities of the digital music space.
@Tiffany: When you say we are you speaking on behalf of WMG or are you speaking as an Industry Executive on behalf of other Industry Executives. I for one think it was an excellent move and certainly look forward to seeing what direction this will take WMG in. For better or worse CHANGE has taken place…
One rich guy making some other rich guys richer! Look what happened to Blockbuster…the days of hands on record stores are almost dead. The only sucessful ventures are the independants owned either by crazy yonge/old fan boys or a record label who is artist friendly. Who carry the “New Music” or re-released/used old “New Music” that either you heard about through word of mouth, a college radio station or my personal favorite at a show-walking up and talking with the band. If I like, I buy it-and get you to sign it. A real face to face with the music…I am older and I want physical reminder of the experience. I can always rip it to my electronic device, don’t need instant satisfaction of a download card-I can see the use as a quick short term attention getter give away at a music festival and don’t forget your QR code http://searchengineland.com/what-is-a-qr-code-and-why-do-you-need-one-27588 and make sur your site is mobil friendly…The sale of Warner Music is a begining of the end of the record store look to see a rent for use scheme like “Netflicks” most of us today have the attention span of a nearly burnt out light blub you know who I am talking about we all have those friends…Hell I give that apperance to some of my friends so they leave me alone. The ture music fans will always now how and where to get the music the fact that if has a underground or back alley feel to it is what makes it that much more thrilling.
russian drug cartel runs a legendary record label?
this is the beginning of the end…
What’s the basis behind everyone saying Blavatnik is corrupt, involved with drug cartels, etc.? I’m not denying it, just wondering where everyone is getting this information from. Is it because people hear “Russian Billionaire” and automatically assume corruption? Or are there actual facts behind this?
I personally think change in the music industry is good. Whether the change leads to WMG rebounding or the demise of the company, only time will tell, but for now change is needed and this is a start.
i believe the change is needed but this is not for good.. come on a Russian business man runs Atlantic records? What does he know about retail business? or record production?
this is just cleaning dirty money more..
i know this cos’ there are so many examples secretly goin’ in the music scene..
and if record business in decline why the hell this Russian businessman buy WMG? is that makes sense? all clear explanation is they need the company to use for the expenses.. just like opening a very fancy billion dollar hotel..