Co-Op
Welcome!
This is an introduction to a concept development area for musicians, songwriters, producers, publishers, studio owners, promoters and venues.
I’ve had this idea for several years and posted bits and pieces of the concept here and there…
I think (as scary as that is) it’s time to let everyone start kickin’ the tires on this to see where it can go… if it’s even able to go anywhere…
The initial concept was an outright Co-Op for local musicians… strictly for bulk purchasing and collective assistance on the audio production front. Whereas the co-op members would benefit from everything from health and gear insurance, to helping each other stuff inserts in CD’s and playing on each other’s albums.
My “vision” has been somewhat altered and expanded.
The triangle of supporting music is fairly straight forward… Artist, Promoter, Fan.
Artist’s need fans to buy their music. Promoter’s need music, to attract people in seats. Fans want to go see the live music and be entertained.
I’ve been concentrating on the artist side without regard to the fans or promoters. This is an incomplete view. What I think “we” should be doing is working out a model that incorporates the whole triangle.
The business end of the model is to ensure that the profits are turned back into the “business” itself to keep costs minimized to the members/employees (or whatever the heck “we” are). The legal side has GOT to ensure that there cannot be any loophole to allow any one, or group, to rape and pillage the coffers and thereby screw the whole thing up.
In operating principle, the artist/producer side would work a bit like this; Each member pays “dues” according to level of involvement… you want health insurance, copyright attorney and distribution, you pay those rates. If you just want instrument insurance… you pay that rate. Whether this would be based on an international, national, regional or local level, I dunno. That’s part of what needs to be worked out.
Because of the web, this thing can/must go world wide… therefore, maybe we can do something like volume purchasing on stuff like strings, sticks, amps, etc… again, does that mean we need to look at some kind of distribution system? or can we get good enough deals to have items dropped shipped? Maybe we could tie in with some music distribution company like Kaman?
The second side is the promotion/venue side. This will take some serious involvement of time and effort, but I really think it’s a concept who’s time has come. There are enough artists and styles to actually give an offering of just about any type of music. Making that list available, and promoting the “stable” of artists through a central clearinghouse (website/”offices”) makes it easier for promoters and venues to get qualified artists in their venues.
“We” could also run an internet radio channel to do streaming feeds of live shows, which could/would/should include video on certain conditions. Part of those conditions need to include carrying out contractual obligations to artists for sale of their wares… whatever that might be. (CD’s to T-Shirts)
The third side is the Fan side. This is by far the most important. It’s got to tie the other two together. It’s got to be seriously easy and cheap for the fan to find music, so that they can support the artists they like.
They need to be able to communicate with the artists, buy their merchandise and find out where they’re playing.
There should also be some additional premium content available… e.g. the streaming webcasts, exclusive online interaction, discount tickets, advanced album sales, etc…
This will work.
We can, and in my very humble opinion, NEED to do this. It’s clear in my mind that this could very well be the real future of what a “label” will look like and be.
I want to kick the tires on this and kick them damn hard. If we can work on making this thing the right way, I know in my heart it WILL work.
Rather than just saying that it won’t work, prove why. That way we can try to find a way TO make it work.
So, do you think the general structure should be? local units tied to an international unit? national units, or just one international??
Any other ideas as to distribution, promotion, etc?
Legal concerns?
If you are interested, please contact me.
