ON THE RECORD: JIM CARROLLon music
There’s one area of the debate about the future of the music business which rarely gets aired and that’s the question about whether there is actually a future for the industry.
The recent huffing and puffing about Spotify payments brings realities about future revenue streams to the surface. Put bluntly, no one is going to be able to afford a Los Angeles pad from streaming royalties alone.
Add in the slump in revenue in other sections – and there is a slump, despite the regular spin from industry bodies to the contrary – and you’ve an industry desperately looking for new options.
One possibility is downsizing and becoming a cottage industry again. When Wiredmagazine asked some observers for their views on what was to come, CD Baby founder Derek Silver predicted that the "'music industry' will become an unusual phrase, like 'poetry industry'. Making music is as easy as writing poetry. There's no money in it."
While acts earning the sums of money which powered the lore of the dirt-rich rock star may be rare, there is still a viable possibility of making a living from music. It all comes down to realistic expectations. Those dreamers who expect the big record deal and everything that comes with it may have to keep on dreaming, but there is still room for those who are pragmatic about what they’re doing and what they can earn.
Such downsizing can be energising. As we’ve seen with the retail sector, from new boutique stores such as Elastic Witch and Plugd to the upcoming 7s-Eleven one-day record label market in London, it’s all about fresh things and new approaches.
The old days may be over, but why dwell on them when there’s future potential to be tapped?
NOW PLAYING
Keith Jarrett Rio(ECM) Music of intricate, delicate beauty and dashing, spellbinding colour from the pianist live show's earlier this year in Brazil.
Korallreven An Album By Korallreven(Acephale) Lucious dream-pop from Swedes Marcus Joons and Daniel Tjader, who play Dublin's Twisted Pepper on December 8th.
Robert Glasper Experience Black Radio(Blue Note) One of the albums of 2012? Glasper and band are joined by Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco, King and many more for a barnstorming new-school jazz-hop masterpiece.
Walls Coracle(Kompakt) Adventurous electronica for mind, body and soul from Alessio Natalizia and Sam Willis, who played an excellent gig in the capital last weekend.
Drake Take Care(Young Money/Universal) The Canuck Romeo from Degrassi High's rhymes about lost love and heart- break over some thrilling productions.
NEW MUSIC
LOWER ENTRANCE
The Polish beats producer living in Ireland is the man behind Lower Entrance and a fantastic EP of wobbly hip-hop and jazzy breaks on Warsaw's U Know Me label. Best of the six tracks on the EP are Unknown Variation, with vocals from Natalia Grosiak, and the slinky Back Entrance. Soundcloud. com/lower-entrance
FOXES
Loui Rose Allen is the 22- year-old behind Foxes and some beguiling pop tunes like Neon Gold debut single Youth and Hearts + Daggerswhich will remind you of the first time you heard Marina and The Diamonds or Florence and The Machine. She's got the voice and the sass to do the right thing. Soundcloud.com/iamfoxes
RACES
Strapping indie-rock with plenty of bittersweet bruises comes from the Los Angles band formerly known as Black Jesus.
The Big Broom EPwill keep you going until their debut album arrives in 2012, especially the highly infectious All For You. Racesband. tumblr.com
