Is Peter Gabriel the Answer to the Music Industry's Nemisis, Digital Downloading?
Author's Note of Sadness: I am sadden by the news of the death of Isaac Hayes. We have lost a legend in the Soul and R&B genre.
With the record labels still trying after all of these years, to overcome the problems that digital downloads have made and the decline in CD sales for the music industry, could it be that Peter Gabriel is the answer? He seems to think so. As reported in The New York Times this weekend, Gabriel is known now in the industry for what he's contributing to and investing in music's digital age. According to the article, Gabriel's digital interest all began around 1999 a British investor formed the Internet music venture OD2. In the process, Charles Grimsdale, that investor, tried to get the record labels to license and put their music online. He had very little luck with the labels, so he then decided to approach Peter Gabriel to put his catalog and music online and Gabriel jumped at the chance. Gabriel also invested in the company.
This venture seemed to work where other things other labels were trying were not. How it work according to The New York Times, is that OD2 put the music in a digital delivery platform in which labels like Virgin Records, could use on their Web sites. OD2's success also made Gabriel a success. A success in the online music industry. After OD2 sold in 2004 for more than $40 million, the article reports that Gabriel now has two new online ventures: We7 (an advertising-driven music site) and filter.com which allows customized multimedia downloads. We7 asks users to chose between buying recordings and downloading a free version with a 10 second ad that expires after a month. Royalties are paid to the Record Labels who in turn give a portion to the artists.
Peter Gabriel has become known for his business sense and has made great strides in digital business with the risks he is willing to take. He has always loved new ideas. The New York Times, goes on to state that his career has always reflected this love. Gabriel began with the band Genesis in 1965 and departed the band in 1975 to begin his solo career. His music always reflected state of the art technology. Gail Coson, a former manager, stated that Gabriel could see where the music industry was headed technology-wise before others. When he signed with Geffen Records, Gabriel retained the right to pay for and retain ownership of his videos. You can see Gabriel's savvy technological ideas in his 1986 video Sledgehammer where he used stop-motion, collage, clay animation and other special effects. The video according to the article became one that was highly imitated. Filter the other venture Gabriel has invested in, uses technology developed by OD2 will allow users to download their music, video and film based on preferences.
Hopefully, Gabriel does have an answer for at least the artists as it relates to music downloads, and maybe it will help the record labels if they are willing to try something new. I did love, however, Gabriel's final quote in the article:
I don't believe in the death of major record companies, Gabriel says. But as an artist, I'd love to seem them reinvented as service companies.
Rock On!
With the record labels still trying after all of these years, to overcome the problems that digital downloads have made and the decline in CD sales for the music industry, could it be that Peter Gabriel is the answer? He seems to think so. As reported in The New York Times this weekend, Gabriel is known now in the industry for what he's contributing to and investing in music's digital age. According to the article, Gabriel's digital interest all began around 1999 a British investor formed the Internet music venture OD2. In the process, Charles Grimsdale, that investor, tried to get the record labels to license and put their music online. He had very little luck with the labels, so he then decided to approach Peter Gabriel to put his catalog and music online and Gabriel jumped at the chance. Gabriel also invested in the company.
This venture seemed to work where other things other labels were trying were not. How it work according to The New York Times, is that OD2 put the music in a digital delivery platform in which labels like Virgin Records, could use on their Web sites. OD2's success also made Gabriel a success. A success in the online music industry. After OD2 sold in 2004 for more than $40 million, the article reports that Gabriel now has two new online ventures: We7 (an advertising-driven music site) and filter.com which allows customized multimedia downloads. We7 asks users to chose between buying recordings and downloading a free version with a 10 second ad that expires after a month. Royalties are paid to the Record Labels who in turn give a portion to the artists.
Peter Gabriel has become known for his business sense and has made great strides in digital business with the risks he is willing to take. He has always loved new ideas. The New York Times, goes on to state that his career has always reflected this love. Gabriel began with the band Genesis in 1965 and departed the band in 1975 to begin his solo career. His music always reflected state of the art technology. Gail Coson, a former manager, stated that Gabriel could see where the music industry was headed technology-wise before others. When he signed with Geffen Records, Gabriel retained the right to pay for and retain ownership of his videos. You can see Gabriel's savvy technological ideas in his 1986 video Sledgehammer where he used stop-motion, collage, clay animation and other special effects. The video according to the article became one that was highly imitated. Filter the other venture Gabriel has invested in, uses technology developed by OD2 will allow users to download their music, video and film based on preferences.
Hopefully, Gabriel does have an answer for at least the artists as it relates to music downloads, and maybe it will help the record labels if they are willing to try something new. I did love, however, Gabriel's final quote in the article:
I don't believe in the death of major record companies, Gabriel says. But as an artist, I'd love to seem them reinvented as service companies.
Rock On!
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