Comments on: Forget Loss Leaders; Profit is Non-Negotiable http://www.zoomstart.com/forget-loss-leaders-profit-is-non-negotiable/ Start Something Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:22:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: stinson http://www.zoomstart.com/forget-loss-leaders-profit-is-non-negotiable/#comment-4551 stinson Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:57:34 +0000 http://www.zoomstart.com/forget-loss-leaders-profit-is-non-negotiable/#comment-4551 Shane- Thanks for your thoughts. "To survive in a changing world, you have to change your thinking." That's so true, and integral for the future of the music business. I like your idea of thinking of the recording as part of the R&D process of the performing act's career. As far as using the recording as a promo item, that is pretty much the approach we are taking now. We are thinking of the recording as a sort of "electronic business card." It's a shame your friends won't release material unless it's been recorded in a professional studio. As a former staff member of a recording studio, I have seen all kinds of results come out of these high caliber facilities. It's all about the song, the performance of the song, and who is operating the gear; not the gear itself. A hit song is a hit song. Period. All that being said, a healthy dose of perfectionism is important. In the end, you just have to let go and be done though. Shane-

Thanks for your thoughts. “To survive in a changing world, you have to change your thinking.” That’s so true, and integral for the future of the music business.

I like your idea of thinking of the recording as part of the R&D process of the performing act’s career. As far as using the recording as a promo item, that is pretty much the approach we are taking now. We are thinking of the recording as a sort of “electronic business card.”

It’s a shame your friends won’t release material unless it’s been recorded in a professional studio. As a former staff member of a recording studio, I have seen all kinds of results come out of these high caliber facilities. It’s all about the song, the performance of the song, and who is operating the gear; not the gear itself. A hit song is a hit song. Period. All that being said, a healthy dose of perfectionism is important. In the end, you just have to let go and be done though.

]]> By: Shane http://www.zoomstart.com/forget-loss-leaders-profit-is-non-negotiable/#comment-4533 Shane Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:05:26 +0000 http://www.zoomstart.com/forget-loss-leaders-profit-is-non-negotiable/#comment-4533 Hey Stinson, Great comment - makes me think! In my mind this is all about perspective. You're right, the music industry is changing. And it has to ... there's just no going back. I know some musicians who just refuse to put songs out there that haven't been recorded in a professional studio. That costs money. And every one of them has a home setup where they can record music basically for free. And the real truth is nobody listening to it (except them) would be able to tell the difference. It's getting over that perfection wall that's the real hurtle. I've done some graphic design and drawing/painting. It's hard, I know. But this is business and it has to be done. Especially in the beginning. From there you look at a CD as two things: 1. It's the work that went into building the material for the live show. The show and the merchandise are the product. The album is the research and development of those products. 2. It's a promotional item, just like a poster or an advertisement. And you use it to help build your brand and get people to the show. So I wouldn't think of it as a loss leader. And that's the key. To survive in a changing world, you have to change your thinking. ;) Hey Stinson,

Great comment - makes me think! In my mind this is all about perspective. You’re right, the music industry is changing. And it has to … there’s just no going back.

I know some musicians who just refuse to put songs out there that haven’t been recorded in a professional studio. That costs money. And every one of them has a home setup where they can record music basically for free. And the real truth is nobody listening to it (except them) would be able to tell the difference.

It’s getting over that perfection wall that’s the real hurtle. I’ve done some graphic design and drawing/painting. It’s hard, I know. But this is business and it has to be done. Especially in the beginning.

From there you look at a CD as two things:

1. It’s the work that went into building the material for the live show. The show and the merchandise are the product. The album is the research and development of those products.

2. It’s a promotional item, just like a poster or an advertisement. And you use it to help build your brand and get people to the show.

So I wouldn’t think of it as a loss leader. And that’s the key. To survive in a changing world, you have to change your thinking. ;)

]]> By: stinson http://www.zoomstart.com/forget-loss-leaders-profit-is-non-negotiable/#comment-4531 stinson Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:15:54 +0000 http://www.zoomstart.com/forget-loss-leaders-profit-is-non-negotiable/#comment-4531 You make some good points, but where do you think the music industry might fit into a scenario like this? It's hard to stay away from a loss leader model when all recorded music has essentially become free anyway. Additionally, the cost of making a record is cheaper (but still relatively expensive). What many artists are doing is giving away the music for very cheap or free, in order to drive people to the live show and sell merchandise. Which is a loss leader way to do business. There are literally thousands of opinions for how to deal with this change, but what do you think? You make some good points, but where do you think the music industry might fit into a scenario like this? It’s hard to stay away from a loss leader model when all recorded music has essentially become free anyway. Additionally, the cost of making a record is cheaper (but still relatively expensive). What many artists are doing is giving away the music for very cheap or free, in order to drive people to the live show and sell merchandise. Which is a loss leader way to do business. There are literally thousands of opinions for how to deal with this change, but what do you think?

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