I used to think that I liked indie music. I guess I still do. But I have been sucked into the indie turns into mainstream market. About the only new indie stuff that I buy is from existing non-indie bands who put records out on their own labels (Travis, Supergrass).
So, The Verve are back again. Having released a teaser Jam session (the "Thaw Session") last year free through NME, toured the UK at the back end of last year (which I didn't manage to see) and backed that up with various festical appearances this year, there is a new single and a new album out very soon. A good reason to start blogging again.
A lot of stories circulating recently about EMI, the esteemed record company that was bought by a private equity firm, Terra Firma, with lots of bands saying that Guy Hands does not understand the music business. This after he said that he would sack a lot of them and not pay them more than they deserve. I think his main point is that they spend too much on too few bands, and I guess he wants to diversify.
Tony Wilson, founder of (the now defunct) Factory Records in Manchester has died (see here).
In a way, Tony Wilson got me into music.
I'm disappointed that Deltasonic have jumped onto the CD/2x7inch format bandwagon.
I read this article on bbc.co.uk about "Retailers and record labels who are campaigning for a charts overhaul to boost flagging sales of the CD single".
Prince released his new studio album as a free CD with The Mail on Sunday. I wanted to buy this as it was a first, bypassing majors. I couldn't get a copy. I'm glad in the end.
YES! The Verve are back (after three splits?). They are in the studio and have dates lined up. I can't wait. Shame all the tickets are sold out. Of course, if you pay double they are on ebay. I hate that. I hate that more than majors. That is shameless profiteering at the expense of fans and it disgusts me. I don't care about whether it divides people who can afford it and those that cannot (probably because I fall in the former camp) but I think it is not right for people to profit on things like this. My way to stop it in the future . . .
I have been deep in discussion with some fellow bloggers about the role of the major labels. Prompted by this, and also an amusing blog by Fake Steve Jobs, I thought I would attempt a concise consolidation of my thoughts.
