Comments on: TopSpin’s Ian C Rogers – Keynote Speech at Grammy MusicTech 08 http://www.pampelmoose.com/2008/11/topspins-ian-c-rogers-keynote-speech-at-grammy-musictech-08 music . media . web. culture Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:16:05 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dave Allen http://www.pampelmoose.com/2008/11/topspins-ian-c-rogers-keynote-speech-at-grammy-musictech-08/comment-page-1#comment-115261 Dave Allen Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:39:26 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1867#comment-115261 @Justin, Welcome back! It seems to have been a while since you posted one of your insightful comments. And yes, I agree with all you are saying. The opportunity for a label to become a holistic company embracing the 'band and label as brand' concept is a great step forward and yet ironically a few steps back too - think 1976 and Stiff Records in the UK - Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Ian Dury, awesome roster, awesome label. In other words it's about time. Currently Epitaph, Anti and Vagrant, as well as Sub Pop and Kill Rock Stars are the labels off the top of my head, who are 'branding.' As for which label is pulling away from regular retail distribution I doubt that any of them would do that. Retail is still a powerful friend in the mix if they get it right. The Byrne/Eno model is interesting - use Topspin to put up a site on their platform and service the customers needs online, create multiple packages for the customer to choose from, then pick a distributor to do the ground work at retail (I think they picked Red Eye Distribution for the job, maybe Ian will correct me.) Bottom line - this all very exciting and offers new areas of success for the labels that embrace the idea.... @Justin,
Welcome back! It seems to have been a while since you posted one of your insightful comments. And yes, I agree with all you are saying. The opportunity for a label to become a holistic company embracing the ‘band and label as brand’ concept is a great step forward and yet ironically a few steps back too – think 1976 and Stiff Records in the UK – Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Ian Dury, awesome roster, awesome label. In other words it’s about time. Currently Epitaph, Anti and Vagrant, as well as Sub Pop and Kill Rock Stars are the labels off the top of my head, who are ‘branding.’
As for which label is pulling away from regular retail distribution I doubt that any of them would do that. Retail is still a powerful friend in the mix if they get it right. The Byrne/Eno model is interesting – use Topspin to put up a site on their platform and service the customers needs online, create multiple packages for the customer to choose from, then pick a distributor to do the ground work at retail (I think they picked Red Eye Distribution for the job, maybe Ian will correct me.)
Bottom line – this all very exciting and offers new areas of success for the labels that embrace the idea….

]]> By: marko http://www.pampelmoose.com/2008/11/topspins-ian-c-rogers-keynote-speech-at-grammy-musictech-08/comment-page-1#comment-115258 marko Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:46:53 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1867#comment-115258 hey dave, mark montgomery here. sorry we didnt connect after the panel, was really interested in talking more with you. seems we are reading out of the same playbook. loved your ability to approach things philosophically, but then to drill down into nuts and bolts of the doing. ian's a bright guy as well, we need more voices like ours talking about whats possible, rather than complaining about whats changed. a great quote from eric hoffer sums up your post: “In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” keep going, lets connect soon... hey dave, mark montgomery here. sorry we didnt connect after the panel, was really interested in talking more with you. seems we are reading out of the same playbook. loved your ability to approach things philosophically, but then to drill down into nuts and bolts of the doing. ian’s a bright guy as well, we need more voices like ours talking about whats possible, rather than complaining about whats changed.

a great quote from eric hoffer sums up your post:

“In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”

keep going, lets connect soon…

]]> By: Justin http://www.pampelmoose.com/2008/11/topspins-ian-c-rogers-keynote-speech-at-grammy-musictech-08/comment-page-1#comment-115233 Justin Sun, 09 Nov 2008 07:35:34 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1867#comment-115233 Thanks for Responding Dave! Well then, might I respectably submit that I deem the industry trend of Record Labels acting more like a marketing company than a distribution company to be a good thing. Distributing is simply a branch of the music industry that should best keep its own interests in mind rather than that of the record labels. So what's wrong with labels focusing more on artist development and helping musicians channel their artistic message clearly? That sounds like a healthy bit of evolution for the state of artistry in the music business. Will it make bank? Thats the real question. Which labels are moving away from distribution and finding it profitable? Are any? This could be an opportunity for some good music journalism. I, for one, hope we would find that companies that focus on marketing, digital media, and making their artists image interesting are the labels that are pulling ahead today. At the very least, a record label can't break out with a company-wide marketing plan that includes marketing their own "label-image" I'm Interested to hear any thoughts on that... Thanks for Responding Dave!

Well then, might I respectably submit that I deem the industry trend of Record Labels acting more like a marketing company than a distribution company to be a good thing.

Distributing is simply a branch of the music industry that should best keep its own interests in mind rather than that of the record labels. So what’s wrong with labels focusing more on artist development and helping musicians channel their artistic message clearly? That sounds like a healthy bit of evolution for the state of artistry in the music business.

Will it make bank? Thats the real question. Which labels are moving away from distribution and finding it profitable? Are any? This could be an opportunity for some good music journalism. I, for one, hope we would find that companies that focus on marketing, digital media, and making their artists image interesting are the labels that are pulling ahead today. At the very least, a record label can’t break out with a company-wide marketing plan that includes marketing their own “label-image”

I’m Interested to hear any thoughts on that…

]]> By: Dave Allen http://www.pampelmoose.com/2008/11/topspins-ian-c-rogers-keynote-speech-at-grammy-musictech-08/comment-page-1#comment-115193 Dave Allen Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:03:11 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1867#comment-115193 @Justin, I'd say that it is neither. It's an observation. The point here I believe is that bands used to sign to labels for their pull in terms of distribution and marketing and promotion - all of that is now at the bands' fingertips, online. But, if a band is on Epitaph, Sub Pop or Kill Rock Stars for example, they are part of a brand, in fact they become a brand within a brand. One more cog on the gears that help exposure... @Justin, I’d say that it is neither. It’s an observation. The point here I believe is that bands used to sign to labels for their pull in terms of distribution and marketing and promotion – all of that is now at the bands’ fingertips, online. But, if a band is on Epitaph, Sub Pop or Kill Rock Stars for example, they are part of a brand, in fact they become a brand within a brand. One more cog on the gears that help exposure…

]]> By: “It’s about me providing value to you, and if I can’t, then I should get the hell out of the way.” « Penny Distribution’s Blog http://www.pampelmoose.com/2008/11/topspins-ian-c-rogers-keynote-speech-at-grammy-musictech-08/comment-page-1#comment-115192 “It’s about me providing value to you, and if I can’t, then I should get the hell out of the way.” « Penny Distribution’s Blog Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:00:14 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1867#comment-115192 [...] Dave Allen, over at the awesome Pamplemoose, has some great insight into Ian’s keynote too… Possibly related posts: [...] [...] Dave Allen, over at the awesome Pamplemoose, has some great insight into Ian’s keynote too… Possibly related posts: [...]

]]> By: Justin http://www.pampelmoose.com/2008/11/topspins-ian-c-rogers-keynote-speech-at-grammy-musictech-08/comment-page-1#comment-115188 Justin Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:04:11 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1867#comment-115188 “a record label is not about distribution, it’s about branding and marketing.” And that is so true. Is this supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing? “a record label is not about distribution, it’s about branding and marketing.” And that is so true.

Is this supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing?

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