The speed that things have changed (not for the better) is incredible. I don't care about the music and whether it's shitty or just unoriginal replicas of music from the past. Ok I do care, but that's not the point of this post. My issue today is how the opportunity of growth and development for an artist or band has become a thing of the past at a major label. Now before I hear all about the indies, etc, that also is not the point of this. I'm more talking about the boutique labels that existed as placed to grow and nurture before the big money and hits came. Labels that existed within a label or were distributed by a major system, but didn't have the major label money to spend to develop those bands. Sure the costs today are higher and the demise of record stores are also part of that, but there is always a way to adapt and adjust while still carrying on with the same marketing strategy.
Labels like IRS, Stiff, Reprise are ones that immediately come to mind. But more important to me, Sire. Sire was home to The Ramones, Talking Heads, The Smiths, Madonna... The list is endless of great artists and bands. Sire was special mostly because if their large range of musical taste. What they brought was almost always quality stuff that was new or important (even if we didn't know yet). The commitment they had to artists was what mattered. I didn't work with any bands that were on the label, nor did I work there (so those people might have a different thoughts), but I base my opinions on how I saw it. Some of these bands broke into super stardom, some never got as big as they should have, but they did make a careers worth of material to be a band as a career (for the most part). But specifically, Sire put out albums that made a mark and were important in their quality and what they will mean to people in the future. Benchmark albums that get cited in the "most influential album" lists.
I just got the brilliant new album by Against Me!
Transgender Dysphoria Blues is an album that belongs on Sire. The only problem is, Sire dropped them 4 years ago.
Against Me! Had the luxury of putting out 3 albums independently and 2 on Sire. The first release came out on (very small indie) No Idea. Got a place to grow and build a fan base with Fat Wreck Chords for 2 albums. Following those releases, they then made the bold move to Sire for the next 2 releases. I'll be honest, I would always get mad when punk bands did this move to a major. And I'll say it. This was always because I was jealous that it wasn't me doing it. That's the truth.
The move to Sire was to grow bigger, get more opportunities, sell more records. Makes sense. Sire made sense. Shit, if I was managing them, I would have done it too. Only at this point the business was changing and the major label system wasn't changing with it. The life span of a new or developing artist is not very long. The numbers needed to keep a band working on a major are also amazing. Because a release that sells 50,000 copies is a huge success on an indie, but a flop on a major.
Against Me! did exactly what what it was supposed to do. They made 2 great album and got bigger. They grew with the opportunity. They were following the Sire model. Only, Sire wasn't that Sire anymore and that model was long broken. I'm not blaming those that were there, it's just the system and the loss of artist development vision. They tore the trees from the field for not growing fast enough. Sure, sometimes things happen faster, but that's a fluke (Offspring). They failed to let them grow even though the roots were strong. The billboard debuts for both records showed they were on their way. New Wave entered at 57 and the follow up White Crosses at 34. The touring was growing and the merchandise was insane, radio was playing them. So why drop them? It became a numbers game and the cost of keeping them wasn't worth it. If this was the case back in the day, The Ramones would never have gotten to Road to Ruin, The Smiths would never have gotten to The Queen is Dead and Talking Heads would never have been able to release Fear of Music.
It looks like it became a blessing in disguise because on January 21st, 4 years after White Crosses came out, Against Me! debuted at number 34. The album was released on Total Treble Music, the bands own label.
I'm happy for them, because this is a true rock and roll record. If say punk album, but the word has been butchered so much, it would devalue it. They never gave up and instead Laura Jane Grace and the band put it all into this, almost rebirth of Against Me!
Transgender Dysphoria Blues is an album about depression, living as someone you aren't, all the things that come with it and changing who you are and the what comes with that. I think it's a important album for anyone who is struggling with any of these issues to know they aren't alone and hopefully gives them strength to live a full and happy life. It's also an album for people to feel the pain some people have when dealing with these issues as well. Learn how they feel and how to be supportive.
I hope as an indie, it gets the attention it deserves, but I can't help but wish it had a chance with the support of a Sire of yesteryear. This album would fit right up there next to classics like Meat is Murder and Music for the Masses or Remain in Light
When The Smiths released the album "Strangeways Here We Come", the song Paint A Vulgar Picture always stood out to me. Mostly because of the music and melody, but also because of the lyrics. I kind of got what Morrissey was saying, but not really until I got into the business. The story behind the song, is basically when an artist dies, the record company finds a way to parade the catalogue and anything they can to make a buck from what's over.
Catalogue is the meat of a label to make money. It makes sense. Exploit the catalogue, hope to please fans and make new ones while getting as much from your investment than you can.
But to sell a catalogue, you need to have a catalogue. Having a greatest hits album with only 2 albums worth of catalogue is not a career.
By not developing artists anymore like they used to by investing time and money in something they believe in is killing it off, shortening careers and aborting the possibility of what could be.
Just imagine if the business was then how it is today. I'm sure you can make a list of bands who would never have made it.
I would post a link to stream Transgender Dysphoria Blues, but I would rather you plopped down $9.99 and supported the independent artist, rock and roll and future careers.
Here's to the the underdogs and here's to Laura Jane Grace.
