Today I had a very interesting and insightful conversation about the music industry. In this conversation I promoting my current standpoint that albums are not the right model for the current times. I feel that EPs and singles are the way to go. Let’s examine the 3 models and you will see that albums might not actually be completely dead but can serve a purpose, slightly redundant however.
For as long as I can remember I bought albums. The thing I loved most was opening it and looking at the cd booklet or fold out panels that were in cassettes. That was one of the things I kind of miss these days with digital music. I still love looking at liner notes but for a totally different reason. I like seeing who engineered the track and where the samples came from and all that. The reason I am against the album is because it don’t think it is cost effective any more. First off time. It takes quite a but of time to release and promote an album. When you are writing an album, your name value is declining. Meaning that people are forgetting about you and only your hardcore fans care. But even with those fans your name can decline especially if you take too long to release any new product. Essentially I find it to be a catch 22. Promoting takes time away from creating music and creating music takes time away from promoting. So if we kill off the album that leaves us with singles and EPs.
But my last line in the first paragraph says that there still is a purpose for an album. I did think of one. Its not something I really like though. Let me tell you a little story, I remember seeing greatest hit albums of bands that have been around for a long time or who have broken up. As time went on, I started to see more of these greatest hits albums coming out with younger artists. It never dawned on me until tonight why these greatest hits albums are created. The obvious reason is it creates product in a time of no product. However I think the real reason is because of the reason I hate most albums these days. The greatest hits album is an album filled with the good music that the artist produced. While their regular albums consist only of a few good songs several mediocre songs. This is where I think albums have a good role. Just to clear up when I mean album I don’t mean cd. I’m referring to what it is with the medium it is on. It’s just several songs released at one time.
In the title of this post it says EP’s are the new albums. My reasoning is that a mini release allows you some time to promote and then go back and create more. It enables you to make more product available in a shorter period and keeps lessens your name devaluation. In addition you can just put your good songs on the EP and leave out the mediocre ones. Better for everyone.
Singles seem to never die. I never really did like the single format. I always thought they were over priced for what they are. But then I guess I can attribute that to the greed of the record labels and their price fixing. Ever since I got in to djing and drum n’ bass, I been more accustomed to thinking in terms of singles. Things move so fast in the dance music world that if you take too much time you it will pass you by. This is why I like singles, more product available quicker and less promotion leaving more time to make more product.
Of these 3 formats I like the EP best it’s the nice happy medium between albums and singles. Don’t be scared to promote the idea of EP’s being the new album and praising longevity to singles.