Ticket Stubs

Ticketmaster has announced that they are going to follow the lead of Live Nation and not only supply concert tickets, but sign artists and promote them through their own company. As CD prices continue to fall lower and lower it makes sense for artists to go a head and split ways with their respected labels. Live Nation started this trend when they decided that they would sell their own tickets to concerts; they previously went through Ticketmaster. They are also going to sell albums and merchandise for the artists. Sounds great, but isn’t that kind of a developing monopoly? The decision is explained thoroughly at www.rollingstone.com/news/story/24617374/ticket_battle_shakes_music_biz.
I understand why a company would want to do this. In these financially difficult times it makes sense to cut all middle men. If Ticketmaster or Live Nation can own all aspects, then they can save some money that they are losing. My question is where does this leave the major labels. CD sales have dropped 17 percent since 2000.
What about the internet? It seems that bands are starting to figure out that they can promote their own music on their own websites. They can also sell them lower than the outrageous prices the labels have been pushing for years. I think this is the beginning of the end for record companies. Just like vinyl’s dieing days; technology makes certain things obsolete. If I was in a band that was going to get signed why would I sign a contract with a company that really won’t give me the freedom to do as I please. They are going to pick your singles, make big decisions for you and take control of the rights of your music. It just illogical to believe that bands will want to do this anymore.
On one hand it does sound good that artists could have more creative control, but it never works out that way. These companies like Live Nation and Ticketmaster will undoubtedly construct a plan that leads them down the same road as the record companies. The difference is that they will have a super control over all aspects of a musicians career that even the labels somewhat lacked. The addition of tickets can only lead to more greed and money spending. It doesn’t have to be this way, but music is a business. It will inevitably become just as superficial and “pop” as everything else has in music.