JIM CARROLLon music
When the times get tough, the tough get innovating
INNOVATION comes in many different forms. When you’re a record label operating at a time when sales and revenue are on the slide, you have a couple of options. You can do what the big boys are doing: sit on your hoop, hire legal eagles to commence court actions and give out yards about your situation. Or you can actually do something that recognises that the world – and your business model – have changed.
Los Angeles-based Stones Throw is not the first label to come up with the idea of a subscription model, but its particular offering is one we can expect many others to imitate.
For $10 a month, you’ll get every new release from the hip-hop label, which has released records in the past by Aloe Blacc, Mayer Hawthorne, J Dilla, Madlib, The Stepkids and many more. Upcoming releases which will soon be hitting subscribers’ inboxes include an EP from Homeboy Sandman and an album from Quakers, the hip-hop project from Portishead’s Geoff Barrow.
It’s a great deal on many different levels. The price is a snip for those label obsessives who know Stones Throw will always produce the goods, while the casual fan is also likely to be enticed at that price point.
The folks at the label are probably making better dough from the deal than they’re getting from eMusic or the streaming sites. The acts will attract new fans. Everyone’s a winner. All of which begs the question why more labels don’t move in this direction.
Some have, in fairness, worked up similar plans – for instance, there’s the Friends of Richter Collective scheme from the Irish label –but not as many as you’d expect. While the majors seem to be stuck in a state of inertia, perhaps we’ll see more indies heading for the innovative side of the street.
MARY EPWORTH
Black Doe is the reason for the wows from the pews about Mary Epworth’s forthcoming debut album. Powered by a devilish banjo riff, this tune about encountering a deer in the woods is a powerful slab of new-school psych-folk with some unusual brassy hooks in the wash. Consider us smitten.
[ Maryepworth.comOpens in new window ]
NO
The sounds and songs (especially Stay With Me) of this hard-to-Google five-piece band from Echo Park, Los Angeles, are a must-hear for fans of such indie heavyweights as The National and The Walkmen. If you dig strong baritone voices and beautiful melodies, you'll find yourself falling for NO.
[ Nomusicforme.comOpens in new window ]
Gang Colours
Southampton producer Will Ozanne, who recently hooked up with the Brownswood label, makes electronic tunes which zing with daydreamer beats, dark shadows and soft, hazy melodies. We look forward to exploring The Keychain Collection, his debut album of headphone symphonies, due out later this month. Facebook.com/gangcolours
For more see irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord
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