Q Notes: How to save the album
By QUINCY JONES
Ever since Shawn Fanning launched the original Napster—and even more so now that legitimate downloading has taken off via iTunes—I’ve been hearing lots of talk about the death of the album. It’s getting louder and louder, and it has our industry running scared. As you all know, single tracks—whether they’re purchased legitimately or downloaded illegally—are cutting into the sales of albums, which are far more profitable.
The big question is, What, as an industry, should we do about this? Do we deny consumers the freedom of choice of buying single tracks, as Jay-Z did with his “American Gangster” album? That’s one way of preserving the art form known as the album, but I think there’s an even better solution.
Artists, producers, songwriters and A&R folks: Rise up to the challenge and make your album so good that fans will want to buy the whole thing. I realize every album can’t have six or seven top 10 singles, like Michael Jackson and I were blessed with on “Thriller” and “Bad,” but you’ve got to try. If it’s good enough, the fans will buy it. Maybe they’ll want to whet their appetite by only buying a track or two at first, but if you keep coming out with good tracks and pique their interest, they’ll be back.
There’s actually an opportunity here to sell more than just the album. Release a digital track early. That’s an easy sell, but make sure the rest of the album delivers that same kind of quality and excitement, and they’ll be back to buy additional tracks and/or hopefully the entire album as you conceived it. And don’t forget special packaging for the physical product. If you and your team deliver quality goods, the fans will want to buy it.
Can you imagine a world in which people only bought a single download of Miles Davis’ “So What” instead of the greatest jazz album of all time, “Kind of Blue”? Or “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” instead of Marvin Gaye’s complete masterpiece “What’s Going On?” Or even a single track from Herbie Hancock’s Grammy Award-winning “River: The Joni Letters” instead of the whole collection?
We need to stop complaining about single-song downloads and instead focus on making better music that’ll make fans want more than just one song.
What do you think of Quincy’s suggestions for saving the album? Is the album worth saving?
This is great, I am a big fan of Quincy and he is a pioneer in music and beyond…Would love to have him as a guest on my radio show… http://www.blogtalkradio.com/expressionloveandpassion
I’d like to say that I completely agree. What we “older folks” seem to have lost
sight of, is that the pop industry, and I mean going back to the 50’s, was a
“single” driven entity. It was always about “the hit”. So, why are we afraid
to re-embrace this again. I also agree that, yes, the rest of the album
better be able to stand up as well. Otherwise, why should a consumer
be expected to pay full price for one or two great tracks, and pony up
for “filler”. I also would like to see more diversity on the pop radio playlists.
I think that we’ve all tuned in to format specific radio for far too long.
Remember the days when you could hear P Funk next to Jonnie Mitchell?
Let’s get back to making great MUSIC again. Let’s “develop” talent like we used to.
Let’s put PASSION back into the industry.
Thanks
Carmine
Dear Mr. Jones,
Your point of view is very interesting. I think today, Artists try to develop their own career and sell their own productions, records on the web. That’s a question of evolution, the future is the web for artists, record producers…. Of course to focus energy, creativity… to make better music it is really important and to get more and more fans but the most important thing is to make concerts, live performances and to organize special events, meetings… on the web through website… there are many things to develop such as new and original concepts…. Even for your own website, you could create special events, meetings…there are many things to develop for your website and which could be very interested….
I really appreciate your work, for me you are a great producer and a creative person with a great sense of music and rythm. Best regards, Alex from France.
I would have thought this wisdom to be common sense, but Q’s the only one I’ve heard say it. Maybe his clout will draw more attention to the truth.
Dido! Great music will sell your album; well CD. I still have albums at home. My son asked me one day, “Mom, what’s an album?” I showed him; and he said he preferred his ipod. However, he does buy CD and puts his favorite mixture of songs on the ipod to carry with him. But, people are correct when they say, only DJ’s are buying vynol and CDs. Everyone else are downloading singles and putting their favorite single on their ipods. Good music, like Q said will sell an an album/CD.
I think the album is worth saving cause some music is conceived as a long work or a set of songs . That does not mean that you can choose to download any song but I think that Kind of Blue, The Wall, Sgt Peppers,Quadrophenia,A love supreme,etc. and a thousands more function very well as albums and the pleasure is in listening the whole structure from beggining to end.If the album is good as a whole I don´t see any problem with the “salvation” of the album.
Dear Mr. Jones:
One way we could save the album may be for the artists to provide a playlist so the listener can actually hear what they’re buying. I purchase the majority of my cds and etc., from Amazon.com, and I thoroughly enjoy listening to the music first before it’s purchased. However, some new releases, like the new Eric Benet’ will only give you a playlist, without the benefit of listening to the cd. Since his new release seems rather promising, I still might purchase it at face value.
Buying direct from the artists is another suggestion. Similar to what Prince is doing. Go directly to their website and pay to download. This way the monies are going directly to the artists.
Just food for thought!
Quincey,Thanks for your advice for making better music&albums!And yes passion does need to be brought back in!After all,it’s in the lyrics&soul of the song that matters!The “Thriller album”was the bomb,I played it over&over,plus Danced to it,in the clubs…We miss Michael Jackson&his energy!
I enjoyed your piece on Roots and
its music. I was unaware that the
drum was taken away. I just know traveling to the Caribbean and
taking African dance classes made
my spirt connect to rhythm and
timing (beats) stronger like never before. I love your music genius.
Thank you for sharing.
Rhythm Penne
A: I voted early
B: I agree with your views on albums vs. 1 song but it
would also appear that the music companies do not
nurture artists as they used to and if a dollar isn’t
made quickly enough, then it’s onto the next thing.
Consequently, talent can’t bloom as it used to and
even tho’ each decade of music has had alot of
mediocrity- it has never seemed so prevalent as
now and I love all kinds of music that is really
true and that has heart and soul.
C: If, please please please, you put out a c.d. of
“Gula Matari” which I love so much- I’ll buy the
whole thing. Promise and thanks. Dana Cohen
I think that you are right. The concentration has been on the money and not the music. As artist we are responsible for what we display and we have to be careful about letting things slide by because it has an awesome beat. We are missing compositions, and arrangements, and the magic of music and when we only concentrate on the bling element we lose what is important.Preserving the album is hard… but a fight that I am willing to participate in.
First off, I have to say “thank you” for your meaningful and heartfelt contribution to Roots. Roots resonated with me in the most meaningful way. My heart bled. (Being a white woman, this may come off kind of strange, but I’ve always been one who feels too much) Just three nights ago when we finally elected our first black president I was pinned to CNN. Absolutely riveted. An thank goodness for live feed playbacks online because I must have listened to Obama’s speech a dozen times. The times they are a changin’ and though there’s still work to be done, I, for the first time in a l o n g time, felt proud to be a citizen of the US.
I wanted to thank for all you’ve contributed to the music industry. I grew up listening to you and to the records of those you collaborated with and that music shaped my life. You have a great depth to you that touches me and I wanted you to know that I recognize that in you. Your wisdom, your willingness to keep on growing and changing whenever you see the need. These are the signs of humility, of substance, of integrity … of a great man.
Thank you.
Kelly, having left out my pithy thoughts on the selling of singles and what that bodes for artists’ sales in the future.
I love when an Artist makes a CD
that I can put on and enjoy all
the way through. I am guilty
of taking one or two cuts off
a CD an making my own compulations
because that’s all I care to here.
I have Never downloaded a Song or
a CD.
Rhythm
The quality of complete albums worth listening to has gone away. This is the main reason for single sales. I remember when putting a album out took over a year to do. Now, artists are putting two and sometimes three albums out within two years. Of all those songs, how many are actually good? Here’s a question for the masses…What was the last complete album you listened to….and enjoyed? Thank you Mr. Jones.
I need to contact you – Quincy.
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I’m working on teaching my new music theory in braille as well.
Please respond!
Mark Herrick
HELP PLEASE!!!!
Quincy~
I have listened to you and loved you for about 30 years. Please sign big Mike, as he has the prettiest blues/rock/etc. voice I have ever heard. We still love you here in Texas! Come see us soon!
Dariff Barrow