ViolaTribe

Posts Tagged ‘classical music sales’

The quotes in this entry are taken directly from The Tennessean, August 1, 2010.  I just had to bring this to your attention.  Has Naxos’ business model contributed to the de-valuation of performing artists?  I’m just wondering…..

“Digital Music Pays Off for Naxos.”  I ask… does it pay off for the musicians and ensembles who are creating the recordings?

“Cheap Musicians Hired…..use relatively unknown- and therefore inexpensive- orchestras and artists, pay them upfront and retain all the rights to the music.”  Having been one of those cheap artists in the Naxos catalog, I can tell you that we could have used some of the money from these recordings to support the now defunct orchestra.  I prefer to be referred to as inexpensive…certainly not cheap.  There is nothing cheap about being a classical musician.

“The orchestras have come around to the idea that they won’t make money from the recordings and, in fact, have to subsidize their own records”, Valentine said (Executive Director of the NSO).

Sounds like Naxos modeled itself after terrestrial radio stations, who insist that it’s all about promotional value.  While it is true that cheap labor can benefit from the promotional value of being heard on the radio or heard on a CD, where is the line?  What makes it ok for a company to put a performer’s copyright protection to the side for their own gain.  The record company makes money, but the artist doesn’t.  I submit that all recording artists should receive royalties from the products they create, that are essentially made to promote and disperse their creative energy to their audience.

Was the Guarneri String Quartet’s audience seeking out the record labels?  Did their audience want to take home a piece of vinyl because they just couldn’t live without the record company?  Would the Guarneri String Quartet have been able to perform for free ?  Record for free?  Teach for free?

The good side of Naxos is that people who want to learn about classical music can be encouraged to purchase recordings.   There is promotional value.  There are benefits.

Perhaps Naxos only thinks of music as a catalog to conquer, not as a an art to be cherished.

My wish is that Naxos would find it’s good side and stop taking advantage of performers…and stop the de-valuation of musicians’ creative efforts.

My answer… strengthen copyright protection.  Provide a universal royalty system for recording artists.