The Music slam download culture

Rob Harvey feels disillusioned by the digital revolution

Sep 5, 2008
14 Comments
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The Music singer Robert Harvey has criticised download culture, saying the rise in digital sales and the fall in record sales has made music too disposable.

Speaking to BBC News, Harvey also criticised big bands for giving away free downloads and not helping unsigned acts.

"Songs have just become an accessory now, they're not something to believe in anymore and they can't change lives like they used too," he said.

"I think it's becoming increasingly more difficult for unsigned bands to do anything," he continued. "I find it bizarre that bands who give music away act like saviours when they could quite easily be helping smaller bands on the label who can't afford to even tour.

"I just feel there is less investment in real music now."

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Comments (14)

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wowzer555

Sep 5, 2008

I totally agree with him. Im in an unsigned band and while it's fine for bands who have had success pre-file sharing madness who can afford to tour, record and promote themselves, without a deal this becomes almost impossible. And while I appreciate that music has in some ways benefitted from the fact that people with real drive are the only ones left, it does mean that we have also developed a culture of gimmick bands, one hit wonders and unstustainable careers. I still applaud radiohead for having taken on the majors and saying... fuck you, we're not gonna bow to your water tight contracts which screw us financially anyway. For small bands this is just a really hard time to make records. My bands just spent Â£8000 on a modest recording, working on a really tight budget with a proper producer, not everyone can record in their bedroom. But we've done It cause we believe in it and want people to hear it. Musicians just have to seek other ways of making money now. And as such I can only think that ultimately music suffers. If people look at the industry and say... its all shit. You have to ask yourself before you download the next free thing on limewire or whatever... am I fueling it?

milesihamer

Sep 5, 2008

Sigh. Give over Harvey, your band was vaguely popular for about three minutes (or however long "Take The Long Road and Walk It" is) back in 2002. Now fuck off and take your Sony Discman with you.

jlong5000

Sep 5, 2008

maybe the music should work on cutting a record worth paying for?

Ghvinianidzigol

Sep 5, 2008

I do agree with Robert here. I may come across like a very old man (and I AM too old to be posting on an NME blog), but there was something magical about stumbling upon a long-sought song in, say, a small shop in Antwerp. It's not the same to go on elbo and find any song weeks before its release with the press of a button. When a song is something you can hold in your hand like a single or a CD and not just abstract data at least I seem to attach more emotions to it. You remember where you got the thing, you connect memories to it. You have in your hand a reflection of the effort that went into making it. Thing is, though, times have changed. Irrevocably. Also i do doubt that a song that mackes your spine tingle does so less when you only have it as an mp3. The Music again have made my spine tingle on numerous occasions and I hope they will get the chance to do so furthermore. It's so frustrating to see great bands who would easily have had a carreer a few years ago struggle to even keep on going. So support your favourite artists. Give something back.

acedrums

Sep 5, 2008

i agree with his anti-download stance. I love buying cds as you have a product that you can touch and feel. you get the artwork and the booklet and it just looks like a quality product. now people just download music, legally or illegally, and it is just a matter of course. you cannot treasure an album that is just a bunch of files on a computer. just as i would buy a book and not just read the text off a computer. obviously people disagree but i think music is worth so much more when there is a tangible element to the product.

outtathaway67

Sep 5, 2008

I HATE digital downloads myself. Even after Radiohead released their album for free I still went out and got the vinyl. I find it exciting taking a cd or a record home and not knowing what it's going to sounds like till you throw it on the player. It's part of the fun. That and I always enjoy an artist who includes the lyrics.

jeffn

Sep 5, 2008

This is a bit short-sighted - I don't agree that downloads make songs accessories - it depends on the manne rin whihc they are gained and the type of music they are. Where big bands can go it alone (radiohead), small bands need a community to use as a boost. Enter sites like CherryEcho.com, Noisetrade, and sellaband, even aralie and slice the pie. These allow a forum for bands to upload music, and the best will be succesful - it puts the power into the hands of the listener. If the music only appeals to a few, then only a few will listen, but if it appeals to lots then it can be succesful on a wider scale through these sites. CherryEcho.com alos aims to keep the CD format alive while utilising the power of the internet and free downloads. It's all about innovation people, and not being short-sighted.

randomgirl666

Sep 5, 2008

It isn't downloading that has made indie music disposable, it's the existence of so many disposable bands - the Music being a prime example. Downloading has opened music up - it's not just the anoraks and the well-off that can listen to a wide range of music now - anyone with a PC and a modem can check out a new artist without having to spend Â£12 or more for the priveledge. Thousands of artists have benefitted the fact that listeners can now "try before they buy." If the Music are unhappy with their record sales, they need to look at the quality of their own output and the details of their recording contract.

mozafan

Sep 5, 2008

I tend to agree, I'd much rather have a CD than an mp3 download

rubbersoul7

Sep 5, 2008

I completely agree with Ghvinianidzigol, its far better to have a cd or LP than an mp3 download. The day that music is no longer available in a physical format is the day the music dies. milesihamer and jlong5000, get over yourselves you fools, The Music are miles better than a lot of the garbage out these days. 3 Quality albums and hopefully more to come.

barrinho

Sep 5, 2008

I disagree, I've discovered a lot of new bands from sites such as Last.fm and Myspace from downloading a previewing their music first. I've spent a hell of a lot money in the past year than ever on gigs from bands who put their music on the Internet. Robert Harvey's band has gone down hill in recent times , they were great when they started. He shouldn't have picked such a crap name for a band which is why he has issues with the Internet. I struggled to find their officially website. Just Google 'The Music' and see what i mean.

jeffn

Sep 5, 2008

Mozafan, that's why CherryEcho.com is on a mission to save the CD format while embracing the MP3 at the same time. There's room for both - one does not have to spell doom for the other.

hurta1234

Sep 8, 2008

The Music are simply the best live band in the world.Fact

hatekitty

Sep 8, 2008

Downloads can be a great way of getting your music heard. The price of cd's is so ridiculously high now that it's not worth buying it if you've not heard a lot from the band and you may only like one song. Revenue is generated a lot more by gigs nowadays (anyone else remember when gigs were under Â£10?). Fair enough, if you are an up-coming band then getting that money from gigs is going to be a lot harder, but by putting a couple songs up for download, and their are a few websites out there to do this through legally, you'll get yourselves heard by many more people. It's the younger fans that seem to download more as it's generally cheaper to do so, but you'll also find that limited edition cd's/vinyl albums quickly sell out also because people like the extra bits you would never get digitally.One extra point on downloads - you can find albums that are no longer available in hard form. People are getting quick to dismiss downloads or cd, but at the end of the day if music companies are going to make money then they'll have to find a way to fit digital in to the schedule.