Albums Are Dead - Ola Englund's Thoughts

[monsterthompson]

One man's thoughts on the state of things. I can't say I strongly disagree with him.

(a bit of NSFW language)


He's not a household name, but he's got 225K YouTube subscribers, with over 56 million video views. He's been in some decent metal bands, and he's started his own guitar company. I'd say he might be worth listening to for 5 minutes.

Edit 8/24/18 at 9:15am -
I think this post should be amended to include a reference to an alternative way of doing business. If the album is "dead" then what alternatives exist? Patreon seems like a fruitful avenue, and I'm a little surprised I don't see Ola Englund on the site.
This TED Talk on Patreon has some interesting points and examples regarding album sales, and streaming revenue, and ultimately Patreon.

 

[Bassbeater]

He's 110% correct.
I'll build a spaceship before I make a full album. Someone can compile my single releases later. I give less of a $hit about my "album" than he does.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

I don't think that's true at all. Just look at vinyl sales.

 

[monsterthompson]

I don't think that's true at all. Just look at vinyl sales.

That's a subset of the total "album" sales. That format is increasingly desirable to some.

A quick Google search brought up this handy chart.

Edit - from 40 years of album sales data in two handy charts

 

[Bassbeater]

When I talk to young people, what I gather is that they are not concerned with bands as much as previous generations. They seem to have a cognitive separation with two things happening simultaneously.
1. Pop Charts (what they are fed on repeat)
2. Media Personality Saturation (branding)
They seem to "accept" that something is popular and valid because it is repeatedly presented. The same thing happens in the news cycle regarding veracity. This is the essence of viral media behavior IMO. It's easier to repeat a single than it is to repeat an album.

 

[GBBSbassist]

I don't think that's true at all. Just look at vinyl sales.

I'm not saying my experiences are the norm, but many of my friends who buy vinyl do it as a collector. Many of their purchases go unopened if they're new. When they listen to music, they rarely throw a record on their record player. They pull up a streaming service.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

That's a subset of the total "album sales. That format is increasingly desirable to some.

A quick Google search brought up this handy chart.

View attachment 3126078
Edit - from 40 years of album sales data in two handy charts

But I think you're not acknowledging that the resurgence of vinyl sales is also bringing back an appreciation for a long form experience. I also think it has something to do with the idea of collecting things and the ability to hold a physical object in your hands. Digital albums don't give you those same experiences.

 

[Bassbeater]

I think the vinyl "resurgence" is romantic fashion mostly. Serious DJs like it because you can slow down and speed up without artifacts, but other than that it's basically a stone tablet. The people I know don't listen to albums, they list to playlists.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

I'm not saying my experiences are the norm, but many of my friends who buy vinyl do it as a collector. Many of their purchases go unopened if they're new. When they listen to music, they rarely throw a record on their record player. They pull up a streaming service.

Well, we do live in a digital world. I can't play my records in my car or listen to them at the gym. But I have fallen back in love with the experience of sitting down and listening to music again. I mean, I still watch nextflix but I also liking the experience of going to a theater, buying the popcorn, picking me seat and being engrossed by the giant screen.

 

[monsterthompson]

But I think you're not acknowledging that the resurgence of vinyl sales is also bringing back an appreciation for a long form experience. I also think it has something to do with the idea of collecting things and the ability to hold a physical object in your hands. Digital albums don't give you those same experiences.

I acknowledged that it exists, and said it is a desirable format for some. I also think it has more to do with the interest in the media type (vinyl) than an interest in long-form albums. Regardless, the overall trend is certainly showing a decreased interest long-form albums. If a subset of the existing album sales (vinyl) is increasing, that simply implies that other forms (CD) are decreasing, and by a greater amount than the increase in vinyl.

 

[Bassbeater]

Kids these days don't have those memories of sequential linear passtimes to draw from. Their culture is basically transient, it changes course midstream constantly. That's kind of what defines it IMO.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

I think the vinyl "resurgence" is romantic fashion mostly. Serious DJs like it because you can slow down and speed up without artifacts, but other than that it's basically a stone tablet. The people I know don't listen to albums, they list to playlists.

I'll freely admit that there's a "romantic" aspect to my vinyl hobby. I think most vinyl heads will. But that's really short changing it. It's also about the valuing music in a different way that you don't get with downloads. Listening to music on an iPhone makes you skip around. Listening to an LP means you've made a commitment to however long that side of the album lasts.

And I'm not going to try to convince you that vinyl sounds better (although I think it does), but my '70/'80s stereo is lightyears superior sounding than what's sold as computer monitors and headphones/earbuds. Most computer monitors and surround sound systems are completely lacking in mid-range. They're mostly 2" tweeters and bass kicker. Great for movie explosions, not so great for listening to Zappa.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

I acknowledged that it exists, and said it is a desirable format for some. I also think it has more to do with the interest in the media type (vinyl) than an interest in long-form albums. Regardless, the overall trend is certainly showing a decreased interest long-form albums. If a subset of the existing album sales (vinyl) is increasing, that simply implies that other forms (CD) are decreasing, and by a greater amount than the increase in vinyl.

Oh definitely! You can't give CDs away these days. Last year I cleaned out my dads house and I tried to sell my old CD collection to a used record/CD store. Out of 6 milk crates of CDs they bought around 60. I gave the rest to my buddy. I thought I was sitting on a goldmine but it turned out to be a pain to get rid of.

 

[Bassbeater]

There's nothing wrong with vinyl, or collecting it. I also enjoy vinyl, it's a luxury.
Releasing albums is no longer a good band/musician strategy.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

Kids these days don't have those memories of sequential linear passtimes to draw from. Their culture is basically transient, it changes course midstream constantly. That's kind of what defines it IMO.

I agree with that. But I think it's also about what they're listening on. If you have access to every single song ever created competing for your attention, you have to make an effort concentrate.

 

[Bassbeater]

I agree with that. But I think it's also about what they're listening on. If you have access to every single song ever created competing for your attention, you have to make an effort concentrate.

IF...
You do have access, almost everybody does. They are generally not making extra efforts to concentrate, that's why short format media releases are dominating. It is more economical to change the promotion and packaging formats to accomodate behavior than it is to change the behaviors.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

Releasing albums is no longer a good band/musician strategy.

That's the point of the video and if I look at it with a certain set of eyes, it is NOT a good strategy. I'm just not one of those consumers he's complaining about so it's hard for me to relate. I still get excited when my favorite bands release a new album.

I think another factor is the death of record companies as gatekeepers. With iTunes and the internet, IMO there's far too much music released now. Every kid in his basement now has the same distribution power as Warner Bros. And it's all competing for your attention. That's why websites like Pitchfork and apps like Pandora are so popular. They curate for the listener.

Here's a question I'd like to put out to you guys: HOW do you learn about new music now?

 

[48thStreetCustom]

IF...
You do have access, almost everybody does. They are generally not making extra efforts to concentrate, that's why short format media releases are dominating. It is more economical to change the promotion and packaging formats to accomodate behavior than it is to change the behaviors.

That's true. John Mayer released his last album in batches of 3 or 4 songs and then made it available as a full album download.

 

[Bassbeater]

Every kid in his basement now has the same distribution power as Warner Bros.

It's not about distribution power, it's about promotion power. Specifically it's about targeted promotion with the goal to start viral sharing behavior.
Ironically I find out about most of my favorite music from forums and fileshares. Then as irony icing... I eventually stream them! I haven't owned a physical form of music in a very long time.
This is what the extreme isolation caused by complete connectivity has led me to do.

 

[InternetAlias]

People still make albums? Wow. Yeah, they do. But albums are mostly sh!t because most are fodder + singles. Bands who can make every song a single will do so. Bands that can't will make albums with a ton of fodder.