FEATURE:
New Order
PHOTO CREDIT: @thibaultpenin/Unsplash
Utilising T.V. Streaming to Raise Finance and Awareness for the Music Industry
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A few articles and bits of news…
PHOTO CREDIT: @john_matychuk/Unsplash
have come out in the past few days that has made me think about the lack of music T.V. and, when we have streaming giants like Netflix, why do we not have a channel or show that helps raise finance for the industry. Right now, venues are struggling and, whilst the Music Venue Trust has their #SaveOurVenues campaign, a lot of venues are being threatened with permanent closure. Social media and music journalism are great, but so many music fans are either unaware of the campaign, or they assume that everything is okay. I think there should either be a dedicated channel for the arts that allows for greater exposure and awareness, or a show on a platform like Netflix. So many venues require funding, and I think a show that gives information, links and videos from venues would be more effective than various news reports and tweets from myriad venues. A station would be even better, but I think a daily show on Netflix, or some other platform would provide a central and essential source for all the music needs and developments happening. Another heartbreaking story that has arrived is the possible end of Q magazine. Here is what The Quietus reported:
“Music magazines Q and Planet Rock could soon disappear from the shelves of newsagents after German-owned company Bauer Media announced a review of its portfolio of UK print titles.
The magazines are two of 10 print titles that are currently under review with Bauer Media saying that the coronavirus crisis is speeding up the shift of audiences and advertisers to online media. The company – which also owns UK radio stations such as Magic and Absolute – believes that maintaining its current portfolio of print magazines will not be possible beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
IMAGE CREDIT: Q
Following a review of its current portfolio, that will be carried out over the next month, Bauer is considering closing, selling, merging or moving to digital-only format the 10 named magazines. Q and Planet Rock are the only music-focused magazines under review.
"The pandemic and lockdown has further accelerated the trends already affecting the publishing industry," said Chris Duncan, the chief executive of UK Publishing at Bauer. "Bauer publishes nearly 100 magazines in the UK, and some titles that were already challenged, unfortunately, are not expected to be sustainable after the crisis. We must protect the long-term health of our business and ability to invest in future growth by re-shaping our portfolio".
I have been following the magazine since I was a child, and I got properly into music because of magazines like Q. I can understand that fewer people are buying the print edition, but I think a music show would help. There could be ongoing news about how Q are doing, and films made that look at how the magazine has changed through the years; some interviews with musicians and people who have worked at Q. I think the magazine will survive, but there are so many people that might have missed the news or are not sure how to best support Q. There would be many benefits to a music show on a streaming service. Think about the way Spotify treats artists and how little they are paid. Presenting that news and having a discussion laid out would better inform and motivate Spotify, and, in time, I’d like to think there will be real change where artists are paid depending on the quality of their music, rather than whether they are a mainstream act represented by a huge label.
PHOTO CREDIT: @kushagrakevat/Unsplash
The idea of a music television show would not just be about fundraising, but I think the music industry is facing its toughest challenge ever, and there are so many people out there who want to help out. Conversations could take place, important information could be laid out, and there would be a huge portal where people can donate. Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara; Pop singer-songwriter Ella Eyre; James McGovern of The Murder Capital; Jeremy Pritchard, bassist of Manchester’s Everything Everything and the singer-songwriter Jack Garratt spoke with The Guardian about their time in lockdown and the challenges they face. I have selected a couple of questions-answers that caught my eye:
“Lockdown has underlined that most musicians make their living from playing live, not from recorded music. How has the closure of all live venues for the foreseeable future affected you?
Jack Garratt: I’ve got an album coming out 12 June, so what do we do? It has inspired some really creative and interesting conversations but the fork in the road is a really big fork. Touring has completely dried up for the foreseeable future. Everything’s getting pushed until 2021, and even that’s a maybe. So not only is that promotion that I can’t do any more – the thing that I love doing – any revenue that I was going to make from shows, that’s just gone.
Sara Quin: We’re fucked, too. It’s not just about making money, it’s about that ecosystem of our agents, managers, band, crew, our creative collaborators, our merchandise business; they’re all so integrated and the engine is that we get on the bus and play for people. We see the pain of all the people who are working on commission for us, who rely on our contract work. We’re in emergency mode, thinking about: what if we never return to normal? Is there a normal we can build for our business that won’t require us going back to the way it was before?
IN THIS PHOTO: Sara Quin (Tegan and Sara)/PHOTO CREDIT: FSG
Spotify has introduced a tip jar for artists – what are your thoughts? There has been a lot of talk about how unfair to artists the royalty system on streaming services is; is this the time to change it? If so, how?
Jack Garratt: do I bite cats in my spare time? No!
Garratt: It’s offensive to artists that are putting the music on that platform and it’s offensive to the consumer. It’s a platform owning up to the fact that there’s an issue, and the Band-Aid they are putting around that issue is to make it the consumer’s problem to fix it.
McGovern: It’s a load of fucking horseshit. It’s exactly what you’re saying: a PR cover-up for a situation where we’re not being paid clearly for having our music on their platform.
I have seen a lot of live-streamed gigs and, in fact, there has been a host of musical activity, including album listening parties and other interviews. I am not sure how to work it, but I think streaming gigs on Netflix on a dedicated show would offer fans a chance to connect on a bigger scree, maybe pay a ‘ticket price’, so there could be a virtual gig happening.
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That would allow artists to get some more funding whilst in lockdown, and it would sort of be like Jools Holland’s Later… show but with extra dimensions. I have long-argued why we need another music T.V. show. Jools Holland features mainly established artists, but there are a lot of underground acts who have had gigs cancelled who need exposure and a platform. Maybe it comes back to financing, but a mix of big and smaller artists could promote their music and play virtual gigs ‘together’. I am not suggesting a music T.V. show on a streaming platform would fix issues and ensure venues survive and artists are paid, but channels like BBC Four are being threatened, and with that loss would come a huge blow to the arts. So many people are not using their Netflix substitutions at the moment, or they feel like there is nothing on there for them. I would be inclined to get a Netflix subscription and donate to a kitty/various venues/musicians if there was a show/daily show where I could learn about everything happening in music at the moment, and have that balanced with some great gigs, documentaries, interviews and features. Not only could there be a chance to combine everything being reported on social media and on various sites, but it would be another music T.V. show that could mix the current and the classic – I also forgot to mention record stores struggling; a T.V. show could shine a light on them. I really hope, what with a crisis looming and the music industry struggling, that a Netflix-streamed music T.V. show…
PHOTO CREDIT: @glenncarstenspeters/Unsplash
COULD be a reality.