Going For The Single

Why do major record labels push artists to aim for that single rather than a completely solid album? So many times mainstream artists have their one or two songs from their latest album on radio and MTV, but if you listen to the rest of the album will you find the quality (I use that term loosely here) you find on the released singles? I would bet that's a big fat "no." A lot of times, money is spent to create the "hit" and very little time is spent on the rest of the album. It's like serving filet mignon with potato chips - something just ain't right.

Why do major labels get artists to publish the one or two "insta-hits"? It's all about the Benjamin's, baby. Music is a business, sad but true, and labels want moolah to keep the business going. They don't want to waste time waiting for an artist to come up with 12 good songs, instead they get someone else's tunes and have their artist perform them. Blah! Who suffers from this? Mostly, it's the purchasing public, while the artist may suffer a bit from lack of creative output.

I'm a huge supporter of independent music. GOOD independent music. I'd rather spend my money on a band you and your eight cousins have never heard of before than buy the latest and greatest pile of poo, with that number one hit! I buy a lot of local and underground music that sounds SO GOOD, but gets no airplay because they don't have thousands of dollars promoting and backing them. Thank God for college radio and the Interweb.

Musicians and labels wonder why so many people have gone the route of pirating music and illegally downloading songs. Maybe it's because so much of today's music is utter crap. Maybe the purchasing public only wants to acquire those one or two decent songs, rather than an album full of tunes they don't want to hear. iTunes and other similar websites have helped in this realm and make it easier for you to get music you actually WANT to hear.

I have much more respect for artists that continue to produce the solid album rather than the solid single. Sure, the major labels may not like this, but if you're passionate about your music you may have to make some sacrifices and stick with the independent labels. At least you'll be producing something worth a damn and you'll be proud of yourself for sticking to your guns.

'Nuff said.