Why is Torman Maxt making their new album available for free downloads? I get that question all of the time. People on the receiving end of the free download, the everyday music fans, have been generally happy about getting the album, especially one that is well done and has received some pretty good reviews. However, it is the people who are closer to the music business (other bands, managers, etc.) who aren’t as excited about the concept as I am.
Here are the top five most interesting negative comments concerning free downloads that I have gotten so far:
1. “Stop begging for fans.”
2. “Giving your music away totally cheapens your product.”
3. “You guys are no Radiohead.”
4. “People will take anything for free.”
5. “How do you expect to make any money?”
I have been thinking about this quite a bit since we first started offering the free album downloads back in December, and for me, the fundamental disconnect I have with the above comments, is that they all have a similar premise: that making a musical album is a means to an end. That presumed end is money (not to mention the fame that would go along with a successful musical career). I would be lying if I said that those things were not goals at the onset.
But as time has gone by, for me, money has ceased to be a motive for making music. This has brought incredible freedom…freedom of thought, freedom of expression, freedom of religion.
There is a great deal more to be said about this…but I think you can see where this is heading…
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3 comments:
Refreshing. I've always wished that artists would, especially in this electronic age, simply give away their music. Several ends are achieved by this "uncapitalist" approach. First of all, the power of the music industry is severed, allowing music to take its more natural, evolutionary course. Moreover, it takes the inherent commodity out of music, returning much of its value to the social community, where it always, to me, seemed better placed. Secondly, prospects of making a "living" as a musician are not eliminated. Live performances, which I think are the core of any genre of music, are still a paid affair, as well they should be. Can one become a multi-millionaire purely from shows? Doubtful. But should musicians be filthy rich? For that matter, should anyone? Philosophical questions for, perhaps, another day.
As gnutella servers and bitTorrent technology flourish, the chances for people to make money from selling an album continues to diminish. It is almost as if the problem is going to take care of itself. Do I download albums that I am interested in? Sure. Do I feel guilty about it? Not really, because I generally attend shows for those bands anytime they are in my area. Exceptions include "Europe-only" bands, like Ayreon, and I just paid for Luccassen's latest Ayreon album for that very reason.
It isn't hard to give away music, Radiohead-style, when you are already insanely wealthy from previous sales. Kudos to you for doing this as you are. Living up to one's own philosophies is one of the hardest and rarest things to accomplish, and I always nod my hat to those with the unassailable integrity to keep such difficult standards in place.
Next time I'm in Los Angeles (my parents still live there), I'll try and catch a show! Love "The Problem With Pain: Part I". Keep it up.
I came across your page doing a search for Rush cover bands. I have been a fan of their's since I first heard them in concert in 1974 when I was touring a hotel circuit with my band at the time. I have always aprreciated their musicianship and more importantly the sheer artistry of their sound that has gotten better with age.
With that, it may suprise you to learn that I have recently retired from full-time ministry as a Pastor in a somewhat conservative Pentecostal denomination in the US. I became a Christian in 1980 after some radical things happened in my life and felt the call to ministry shortly after that.
ANYWAY, The titles to your songs caught my interest and I gave them a listen. As a result, I downloaded your album and I wanted to say a big "thank you" for it. I also have been reading your blog and wanted to say how refreshing it is to find someone who shares my feelings on why you do what you do. As I look back I can truly say that I would have delivered every sermon and sang and played every song for nothing in return except to one day stand before God and hear him say "Well Done." But He has been good to me through the years and has more that provided for my familiy's needs. Keep doing what you are doing and I am certain that God will provide for you as well.
I am going to give a copy of this album to my youngest son. God gave him my talent for music and multiplied it one hundred times over. He is probably one of the best musicians I have ever heard, especially on the lead guitar and drums. Unfortunately, he is taking the talent the Lord gave him in a direction that will ultimately bring him despair instead of blessing. I pray that your album will show him that you can work out your style in playing music and still glorify the Lord in doing it. Please help me pray for him in that way as he listens to your album.
Once again, I appreciate what you are doing. I can tell that you guys have put your hearts into it. Keep up the good work and may God pour out His richest blessings in your lives!
You aren't Radiohead? Sure, and you aren't Michael Jackson or Shania Twain, either. What does that have to do with anything? All this comment does is show the subjectivity of the person leaving the comment. And it shows a bias, too. Not to mention a shallowness and narrow-minded attitude toward anything new.
You can't pick up a CD and shake it and say, "Hmmm, this feels really good! And HEAVY!" You can't hold it up to your ear and listen to it to decide if you like it. All you can do is let people sample it. You can say, "Sounds like", but everyone is doing that and the comparisons aren't always accurate or a fair judgment--and they are subjective, as someone else may think you sound like another band altogether.
Even record stores will play songs to get attention to it. Walk into one that isn't and see how empty it feels. Some will play a sample for you on request and there are listening booths with headphones quite often now.
Again, we come back to this simple analogy: you learn to like or dislike yogurt by tasting it! By eating it. There is no other way. Type O Negative released a whole CD for free, with an ad placed in the center of each song--"Buy it if you like it", basically. All you have done is keep it clean.
I can't wait to hear it. The samples sounded great.
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