when we measure the wrong things

Last spring, I moderated a panel at the Belmont/Leadership Music Digital Summit about the changing metrics of the music business. I hoped that the panel would convey that when industries change, the very measure of success often changes. Anyway, a good music/metrics story made it onto NPR's On The Media recently, and here it is. 

It features Duncan Freeman, founder of BandMetrics.com who was on our panel. The piece suggests that even if "the charts" once meant something in the pop music business, they mean little today. They've always been something of an illusion, a contrivance meant to serve the needs of an industry interested in getting us to consume a lot of just a few artists rather than ranging across the new and the old for a fulfilling listening life. Before SoundScan, the system methodically and negligently under-represented country and hip-hop. And SoundScan has been far from perfect. The whole Hit Parade concept has gone on to suffuse other industries such that who's on top, who had the biggest share or the biggest opening weekend has defined most of our public dialogue about our culture's art. And that's just a sorry place to be. Every real artist I've ever known wasn't aiming at a chart, and as a consumer, the charts have almost never influenced my purchases. The charts will be used one day to lobby for Rascal Flatts to go in the Country Music Hall of Fame, which would be a farce if they sold 100 million albums. The charts are used to rule out entire genres of American music for wider marketing and distribution and exposure by powerful entertainment companies. Anyway, check out the story.

Comments

[Scott Rouse]

Ahhhh... thank you, thank you, thank you for saying all that.

[George]

Economics 101: Supply & demand. As supply of music increases, due to increased media outlets, increased number of artists releasing music, lack of gatekeepers, and no need for labels to control distribution, the demand will decrease, resulting in a drop in value. Which is to say, the public expects to get its music for free. Free via the net, free live performances, and free home entertainment. Which is where we are right now. Music is everywhere, the public is inundated with music and artists, there are no limits, no rules, and no money. Other than that, everything's fine.