Thom Yorke Warns the Music Business 'Will Fold in Months'

I dont want to sound stupid, im only 14, but what does this mean for new bands? Im in a band and we are just about to get a record label, should we back out of it? Im confused.

I love the music of Thom Yorke!!! Like his comments in the article above, It's always come across to me, as genuine and raw. We should appreciate artists like Thom Yorke, and Radiohead that are leading by example and creating a roadmap for Indie viability.

However, I imagine that his comments are coming from his perspective and experience, because though immensely successful, after years of dealing with the industry, it sounds that he's certain we are better off doing things much differently. It's not that disheartening to hear him tell young artists to avoid the industry, because what it sounds like he's saying to me is, "Don't let yourself be taken for granted!"

The old music industry model worked well for the huge record companies (with the under 15% profit margin to adjust for the loss of merchandise based upon the estimation of how many records might be broken during shipment) but it doesn't work well for them anymore.

It might make for great holiday parties but it's not economical to pay whole departments budgets out of your release money when you can pay five of your friends to help with the production, marketing, and distribution.

It's increasingly working better for the independent artist that offer's free downloads as promotion for live show performance booking and other indies who sell direct.

What the new music industry needs are individuals who have broad skill sets, artists with business sense, managers with artistic sensibility, working in teams that plug the gaps in providing what the people want...good times enjoying great music!

@dave, wow! Yeah, I see the connection. We spend so much money on empty emotional purchases. We project how much money we're going to make in x years based on x factors but how much do we really need and what's it worth if we ruin the best thing about it! Here Here, Rock and Roll all night and Party Every Day! :)

@neil harris I understand where your coming from because thom yorke is a big star that was once signed to a label who gave him and his band amazing outlets for promotion. However, like you said, I agree, none of us were there, who knows what happened. Either way the fact is that by now having had success with indie distribution, they and other artists, take Jay-Z for example, set a precedent and a blueprint for signed artists that want to be independent and or create their own imprints with lower overhead and more custom incubative environments for the sounds to develop.

asia lakay

EMI Canada used to employ 500 people they now employ 2 it's just a matter of time before it all collapses. I spent 30 years perfecting my trade (audio engineer) and now I fix doors!

We will probably turn to how musicians operated before mass distribution. It has really only been for the last 40 years, that musicians made much money off music. They used to earn their keep by playing music, rather than selling rcords.

I really don't think music will die. Up and coming bands have never had much support from labels. They usually get ripped off. It is not for the musicians that the record companies want to maintain status, but for themselves.

Totally agree with Thom Yorke... We started preparing for this at 7th Angel Records by trying to sell music direct.. Check out our site at myspace.com/7thangel and if your in a band you may want to join. thanks Kevin

music is good but not when its sold as a product products mean more garbage.lets take all the broken cds,guitar hero,rockband,magazines,tshirts,hats and anything to do with music industry and bunch it all up into a ball and stuff the oil spill hole in gulf mexico.that would be the most usefull thing the music industry would ever acomplish in its intire history.yes im a hipicrit its not my fault though.rockn roll allnight and party everyday.

music, of course, won't die at all ...

just an outmoded distribution system ..

fine by me

this is a bit disingenuous. thom yorke has a career in large part of the promotion department of EMI getting creep, high and dry etc on the radio (and of course making good records to allow these people to do their job).

whatever their relationship evolved or devolved into later on, it's doubtful radiohead would be where they are now without EMI's initial efforts.

Michael G - to say that file-sharing hasn't been a large factor is just plain wrong (says the file sharer who spends a lot less on music and a lot more on gadgets and high speed broadband these days).

However much I wish it would happen, the labels who hold a large back-catalogue of classics will primarily focus on the packaging and re-packaging of the catalogue.

This article, as with so many others, falls into the same trap of believing that it's file-sharing that's killing the music business. It may play a part, but it isn't the primary force. It's the industries own fault. Clinging on to formulas, no longer developing artists' careers and not taking risks on new sounds and styles.

Although I hope he's right I don't think it will happen that way. These companies are too big to go down with out a long extended fight.

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