What does the future hold for musicians, writers, movie directors etc?

franktheplank

I know there's been a couple of threads about illegal downloading before but i wanna ask it from a different angle. In the future if we are to assume that other media go the same way as the music industry, where does that leave us in terms of getting quality output?

If these industries can't generate income how are we gonna keep getting movies, books, music etc.

As a music fan and aspiring musician how can I both make a record and expect others to make records if their not getting any real money from it. The way the music industry is gone, the only people making money are the Simon Cowells and heritage acts of the world.

A few years back acts could expect to make a decent enough living from the live scene but thats really dried up with the recession.

As the major cultural forms can be freely downloaded how can we expect the quality to remain high. If no-one can be a full-time musician can we still expect great records to be made?

squod

franktheplank wrote: »

If no-one can be a full-time musician can we still expect great records to be made?

Great records are being made.

franktheplank

squod wrote: »

Great records are being made.

Im not hearing them especially in the last five years or so. And in the future how can standards possibly remain high?

If people can't commit fully to being a musician or writer or director because they're not expecting an income how can they acquire the skills necessary?

coffee_cake

Radiohead had a voluntary donation setup and made money from it didn't they?

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/radiohead-publishers-reveal-in-rainbows-numbers-20081015

Lyaiera

It doesn't cost that much to be a full time writer or musician so they'll be fine. I accept that some films and computer games cost a lot of money but there's plenty of brilliant games and films made at a fraction of the cost of the big blockbusters. Hollywood and the games industry will just have to re-evaluate what people are willing to pay for a film or game and budget according to that.

smash

can't generate income? Even with illegal downloading they earn a fortune.

Miguel_Sanchez

franktheplank wrote: »

Im not hearing them especially in the last five years or so.

You're not listening to the right records then.

Wacker The Attacker

At least three members of one direction will have been eaten by Glenda Gilsons growler.

On a serious note, there has always been good music made. Once you look past x factor and other shows of its kind.

Casillas

Lots of writers, movie directors, actors, musicians etc. are getting involved in the gaming industry.

Lots of profit in that still.

Zascar

Maybe it will go back to artists doing what they do for the love of the music, not the money

franktheplank

bluewolf wrote: »

Radiohead had a voluntary donation setup and made money from it didn't they?

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/radiohead-publishers-reveal-in-rainbows-numbers-20081015

But they're Radiohead, already a huge name and that move got a huge amount of publicity.

Say you're an 18 year old kid, with a decision to make to you stick to becoming a musician or writer with all the hard work or dedication that would take with just the hope people will donate you money in the end?

They say it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in any area. Can you dedicate that much time and effort to something if a) there's no financial reward in sight and b) you still gotta make a living from something else?

Wacker The Attacker

franktheplank wrote: »

I know there's been a couple of threads about illegal downloading before but i wanna ask it from a different angle. In the future if we are to assume that other media go the same way as the music industry, where does that leave us in terms of getting quality output?

If these industries can't generate income how are we gonna keep getting movies, books, music etc.

As a music fan and aspiring musician how can I both make a record and expect others to make records if their not getting any real money from it. The way the music industry is gone, the only people making money are the Simon Cowells and heritage acts of the world.

A few years back acts could expect to make a decent enough living from the live scene but thats really dried up with the recession.

As the major cultural forms can be freely downloaded how can we expect the quality to remain high. If no-one can be a full-time musician can we still expect great records to be made?

The plank and walters

Derekmcauley7

A musician should be able to make money from performing live. It has never been easier to make music and have it heard e.g. Garage Band, YouTube, Sound Cloud, MySpace and Facebook. I don't know(or care) about the film industry but you will be able to make a living from music by playing live. It might not make you rich but you can make a living.

FloatingVoter

People still pay into movies, use iTunes etc. Bond and Batman proved that this year. The IFI doesn't look like its going out of business judging by lunchtime trade.
Simon Cowell exists because he has an audience. You just need to make better music than the rubbish he incites. btw Elvis and The Beatles would be conning their way into meetings with the guy - getting the publicity then going their own way.....actually, The Beatles did something similar at the start.
Overpriced boxsets and crap greatest hits reissues may need to find a new life however.
TV needs to look at international licensing (it already is to an extent). The likes of Breaking Bad is already a classic yet barely screened in the British Isles (Heisenberg hat off to TG4). That will be due to streaming / downloading.
Lincoln will be heavily pirated due to its early release date in the US. This crap needs looking at.

Duggy747

Porn stock music is the future

franktheplank

smash wrote: »

can't generate income? Even with illegal downloading they earn a fortune.

Who? In the music industry the only people making money are those with a target audience that doesn't download. The kiddies and oldies basically. If you look at some of the great bands from the last 20-30 years, whose success was marginal at the time, they simply wouldn't be able to do what they did today. Joy Division, Pixies, My Bloody Valentine etc. not very successful when they were around but were kept going simply because record companies had money to take a chance on bands.

Revenue is drying up across the creative media. Granted the games industry is one of the few areas still profitable but thats not gonna be enough to keep everything else going.

Lyaiera

franktheplank wrote: »

They say it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in any area. Can you dedicate that much time and effort to something if a) there's no financial reward in sight and b) you still gotta make a living from something else?

Why would they get no financial reward? People will always buy merchandise and go to gigs, and pay for music because they want to support the band. Groups won't earn U2 or Madonna levels of money but so what?

franktheplank

Derekmcauley7 wrote: »

A musician should be able to make money from performing live. It has never been easier to make music and have it heard e.g. Garage Band, YouTube, Sound Cloud, MySpace and Facebook. I don't know(or care) about the film industry but you will be able to make a living from music by playing live. It might not make you rich but you can make a living.

Lots of costs associated with playing live. Very few original bands making a living playing live at least not the kind of living you could depend on or would dedicate years of training towards.

smash

franktheplank wrote: »

Who? In the music industry the only people making money are those with a target audience that doesn't download. The kiddies and oldies basically. If you look at some of the great bands from the last 20-30 years, whose success was marginal at the time, they simply wouldn't be able to do what they did today. Joy Division, Pixies, My Bloody Valentine etc. not very successful when they were around but were kept going simply because record companies had money to take a chance on bands.

That's rubbish. The artists make a fortune from gigs and still make a lot of money through sales. Show me an established artist who's struggling? (one without a drug habit)

For others thinking of going into the industry they should be doing it because they like it. And if they're actually talented they'll get a deal.

keith16

The internet has a key role. There needs to be a killer app that will deliver content as well as acting as a platform for new talents. This is what the record companies have traditionally done but their insistence on an outdated model is their undoing.

This model relies on users buying physical units which are too expensive, with little of the profit going to the established artist, or supporting upcoming artists.

TwoShedsJackson

Death.

Rothko

franktheplank wrote: »

Im not hearing them especially in the last five years or so.

You need to listen to more modern music then. I think 2012 has been a great year for music.

Chuck Stone

Talented artists have never had it easier as regards getting their material to the public.

Just ask Rebecca Black.

joydivision

Dont worry bout it dude . Concentrate on your music play as many giggs as you can . Let the money men suss how to make money from it.

MichaelGUFC

You can make a decent amount of money from youtube ad revenue

SafeSurfer

The number of people who are able to make a living purely through music is small. The number that go on to live the rock n roll lifestyle is tiny.

But the same is true of all arts, writing, painting, photography etc. It is also true of sports. Many people love playing sports but will never make a living from it.

If you love doing it keep doing it but don't expect to make a living out of it.

Piliger

franktheplank wrote: »

In the future if we are to assume that other media go the same way as the music industry, where does that leave us in terms of getting quality output?

The music industry is booming and flush.

Piliger

franktheplank wrote: »

Who? In the music industry the only people making money are those with a target audience that doesn't download. The kiddies and oldies basically. If you look at some of the great bands from the last 20-30 years, whose success was marginal at the time, they simply wouldn't be able to do what they did today. Joy Division, Pixies, My Bloody Valentine etc. not very successful when they were around but were kept going simply because record companies had money to take a chance on bands.

Revenue is drying up across the creative media. Granted the games industry is one of the few areas still profitable but thats not gonna be enough to keep everything else going.

What nonsense. Illegal downloading is vastly over stated by the Music Industry and many independent studies have shown that the biggest downloaders are the biggest spenders. The Music industry is extremely healthy. But they never ever have enough and they have a policy of whining about it incessantly in the hope that they will get yet more tax breaks and insane copyright laws.

padd b1975

Wacker The Attacker wrote: »

At least three members of one direction will have been eaten by Glenda Gilsons growler.

Not a bad way to go.


On topic, I think any musician that can put on a decent live show will be ok.

I think the movie industry is fcuked because of illegal downloading.