RE: The Steem Music Blockchain Revolution is Coming, Slowly
I do see a revolution (maybe more like an evolution) for music in general. Technology will be able to start fighting the establishment. However, history showed that the establishment in the music industry is big and very strong, and many artists who make a living from their music are reluctant to move away from the establishment, since those channels have power and can help artists to keep being relevant for their audience. I have several good friends in the music industry and have already for years discussions with them to move away from the establishment and take matters in own hands, or at least more in own hands. But without success, even when more and more services emerges that allows to bring their music in different ways to the public. I suppose, those who earn a living from what they do, will be the least prone to jump into a revolution, since that may cost them their bread and butter.
Completely agree with you. I think that artists who are already earning decent money are the LAST ones to come on board this new revolution.
It's those who have not found success or a good income yet - they are open to new ideas, seeking a better future - and steem is a great home for them.
Steem and other blockchains are more likely to co-exist alongside the label system than to destroy it
I do agree, more like co-existence than overthrowing. At least for quite some time to come. More and more services are emerging, also in the automated booking of artist. These are also more for the small artists, but at least it is a beginning of a better way of promoting gigs and artists while not having to spend a lot of money on artists bookers. That said, bookers are not earning that much money when calculating this back to hours spend, but the work that needs to be put into booking artists is a lot. A difficult industry that is very fragmented from event and booking point of view with low level of automation.
Booking shows is a nightmare! When the blockchain can improve that side of things it's gonna be heaven
I'm not sure if blockchain is required for bookings, already quite a few webservices emerged offering a marketplace to bring artists and promoters together. However, booking an artist for a promoter is generally a manual activity not because it cannot be automatted but because the promoter may have some artists in mind, but can be influenced to book some other artists when sold to him/her. That is the profession of a booking agent. To know what the promoter likes, to offer the artists(s) at the right time, to know what artists can perform together in the same room / party at the same night. The promotion of artists is like selling expensive products to B2B players, this cannot be done automatically, at least not for those who make a living out of performing. The fees are such high that it is one of the biggest expenses for a promoter, ie it requires emails, phone calls and such like to get to a deal. Once a deal is made, the rest can be done automatically, ie generate a contract etc. The logistics like travel etc, could potentially be done automatically, but also here the schedules of an artists are generally not set in stone and dynamic, and feedback from the artists or manager is generally required to make the right arrangements. Blockchain could help in sharing the contract, schedules etc, but can not become the prime automation service/DB to cover the whole process of booking and management.