Diabolik
Member
I think the people we are talking about originally who are just there to be seen is the types who dont buy CD's, go to shows and pretty much just get drunk and have no clue really who most of the bands are but are there because it is something to do and they are there with freinds. Or these are the same types to who are there to be band hanger-ons also. One looking to party afterwards or to be able to brag to thier freinds how they hung out with the band and stuff. I see this a lot at shows. I guess when you are younger it is something cool....but after decades of shows....it just isnt appealing to me. I cant also figure out the ones who get so drunk they are already passed out halfway through the show or dont even know where they are anymore.....it is like...why did you even leave your house...just get drunk at home and listen to a CD. It is much cheaper and safer for everyone.
Perfect example of the typical downloader....about 6 years ago when metal started to really get on the rise and more tours were happening Jasonic and I ran into this kid at a couple of shows. He was a fan of the music and was trying to always get a band started. He was always talking about his 20,000 songs on his hard drive that he downloaded. He had no clue on what songs were from which albums and also he hasnt even listened to over half of them. He just knew a few songs from whatever band he was going to see next. A few months later....vanished. Probably moved on to the next trend that came through. These types are the ones that bother me the most. Kind of just stopping by for a year and jumping to the next trend.
I am not saying that everyone should have complete knowledge of every band out there but the metal scene is one of the few genre's not played on mainstream radio so you kind of have to search it out. So if you are checking out bands you would think you would want to know a little bit about them...but that is just me. I think the younger fans have grown up on getting all thier info online and downloading so they really dont know what it was like having to get zines / go to stores / and look around for flyers for shows. Now they just go to myspace or different boards to find out this stuff. I have also noticed at shows these are the ones who are texting and on thier phone during the show. It drives me nuts to no end when you see people up front but texting the whole time. I see this more and more. People have almost become dependant on it. Instead of enjoying the show they are seeing they are to busy telling people they are at the show. Makes you wonder if the live experience will eventually just be something streamed online for people to watch and not be something you go to live anymore.
We can debate this till the end of the world but unfortunatly we are in quick changing times. With downloads to people supporting shows and bands. We can go into every little thing and analyze it to we are blue in the face, but in the end it is going to continue. I think one of the biggest things bands need to do is make stronger touring packages. The folk metal and thrash bands are doing this. This is where the power metal acts fail huge. You get a band like Edguy....touring with 4 metalcore or bands that dont fit your fanbase isnt getting more people to the show. You are turning people who are on the fence who want to see you but with a lousy line up why bother. With more tours coming through it gets easier to skip shows now.
But back to the subject at hand. We know there are people who download and then buy. There are people who just download because they cannot afford CD's. There are people who just buy CD's. I think the more and more we bow down to the digital age we are going to see less and less physical media. I work in broadcast and I already see it with the media we work with. People dont want hard tapes or bother with storing things anymore. Look at stuff like netflix and ondemand on cable. You can call up whatever at the touch of a button. How soon till a record label does something like this. You pay a monthly fee for unlimited axcess to thier library or parts of it.
Should be interesting. But as a buyer of CD's. The writting is on the wall. It is a dead medium and I think before the end of this decade they will be gone or pressed in smaller quantities.
Perfect example of the typical downloader....about 6 years ago when metal started to really get on the rise and more tours were happening Jasonic and I ran into this kid at a couple of shows. He was a fan of the music and was trying to always get a band started. He was always talking about his 20,000 songs on his hard drive that he downloaded. He had no clue on what songs were from which albums and also he hasnt even listened to over half of them. He just knew a few songs from whatever band he was going to see next. A few months later....vanished. Probably moved on to the next trend that came through. These types are the ones that bother me the most. Kind of just stopping by for a year and jumping to the next trend.
I am not saying that everyone should have complete knowledge of every band out there but the metal scene is one of the few genre's not played on mainstream radio so you kind of have to search it out. So if you are checking out bands you would think you would want to know a little bit about them...but that is just me. I think the younger fans have grown up on getting all thier info online and downloading so they really dont know what it was like having to get zines / go to stores / and look around for flyers for shows. Now they just go to myspace or different boards to find out this stuff. I have also noticed at shows these are the ones who are texting and on thier phone during the show. It drives me nuts to no end when you see people up front but texting the whole time. I see this more and more. People have almost become dependant on it. Instead of enjoying the show they are seeing they are to busy telling people they are at the show. Makes you wonder if the live experience will eventually just be something streamed online for people to watch and not be something you go to live anymore.
We can debate this till the end of the world but unfortunatly we are in quick changing times. With downloads to people supporting shows and bands. We can go into every little thing and analyze it to we are blue in the face, but in the end it is going to continue. I think one of the biggest things bands need to do is make stronger touring packages. The folk metal and thrash bands are doing this. This is where the power metal acts fail huge. You get a band like Edguy....touring with 4 metalcore or bands that dont fit your fanbase isnt getting more people to the show. You are turning people who are on the fence who want to see you but with a lousy line up why bother. With more tours coming through it gets easier to skip shows now.
But back to the subject at hand. We know there are people who download and then buy. There are people who just download because they cannot afford CD's. There are people who just buy CD's. I think the more and more we bow down to the digital age we are going to see less and less physical media. I work in broadcast and I already see it with the media we work with. People dont want hard tapes or bother with storing things anymore. Look at stuff like netflix and ondemand on cable. You can call up whatever at the touch of a button. How soon till a record label does something like this. You pay a monthly fee for unlimited axcess to thier library or parts of it.
Should be interesting. But as a buyer of CD's. The writting is on the wall. It is a dead medium and I think before the end of this decade they will be gone or pressed in smaller quantities.
