This blog will be a channel for the record label Gramtone, which aims to change the face of the record industries. The label has a certain kind of hsitory: We started as a music collective of seven people in a small basement. We grew into 16 people, got hold of a huge and wonderful studio and are just now starting up this record label Gramtone. Our first release is due to the middle of october, with more music following during the autumn.
Our ideas are kind of new. Even though the new medias and distribution methods have been around for ten years, this industry has not been very good at embracing them, as you probably know. A very defensive and aggressive attitude from the companies, and lawmakers that has followed their ideas. What we are trying to do is completely different.
After a lot of research in 2006, on how to start a record label, we found the absurdities and the limitations of the business, so we created our manifesto, in a sort of pretentios way. But these 15 points is more of a business strategy for us. And we want more companies to use it:
1. The live performance is the main product.
2. The recorded performance is promotionmaterial.
3. Artists shall be given the freedom to control their careers without involvment from the record company, but use it as support.
4. The number of middlemen shall be minimized, for maximum revenue to the artist.
5. Each bandfinances their own release. Th cooperative helps with recording facilities, marketing and distribution, web sales and contacts in the business.
6. The music shall be spread with all avaliable media types, where Internet is most useful as a cheap, fast and environmentally friendly alternative.
7. Recorded music shall be distributed for free if the artist wishes.
8. File sharing is a reality and has to be accepted, because it can not be stopped.
9. People sharing music files shall be encouraged to pay by donating to the artist after downloading.
10. The optimal organization for music production is the cooperative, where the artist is a joint owner and has free access to the equipment, facilities and publishing organization.
11. The main part of the revenue shall be paid to the artist, not to the cooperative.
12. Pricing of our products shall be motivated so the audience understands it with a legible pricing policy.
13. The pricing of company products shall be resonable, and by that we mean considerably lower than today’s normal levels.
14. Distribution is a matter for the record company, to help the artist and audience getting closer.
15. The opinions of Mu07 shall be spread actively, to help others use these methods.