German major labels on the way for bankruptcy

MIKE BURN

Quote:
Die deutsche Plattenbranche hat im vergangenen Jahr den größten Einbruch aller Zeiten erlebt. Die Umsätze mit dem Verkauf von CDs und Schallplatten gingen um mindestens ein Fünftel zurück. "Und das ist nur eine Prognose. Es könnte sogar noch viel schlimmer werden", sagte der Vorsitzende des Phonoverbandes, Gerd Gebhardt, am Sonntag auf der internationalen Musikmesse Midem in Cannes.

Im Jahr 2002 war der Umsatz bereits um mehr als elf Prozent auf knapp unter zwei Milliarden Euro gesunken. Die offiziellen Geschäftszahlen für 2003 sollen im Frühjahr vorliegen.

Auch 2004 geht's nochmal runter

Seit dem Boomjahr 1997, in dem die Branche rund 2,6 Milliarden Euro erlöste, habe die deutsche Musikindustrie nun 40 Prozent ihres Umsatzes eingebüßt. "Im laufenden Jahr wird es noch einmal nach unten gehen", sagte Gebhardt voraus. Ein Minus von weiteren zehn Prozent sei drin. Bis 2006 hofft er jedoch auf eine Trendwende.

Konsolidierung geht weiter

Die Unternehmen hätten sich dann wohl konsolidiert - insgesamt haben Plattenfirmen, Musikverlage und Studios in den vergangenen drei Jahren bereits mehr als 2000 Stellen abgebaut. Hunderte weitere sollen folgen. Kurz vor dem Branchentreff Midem hatte es zwei Spitzenmanager getroffen: Tim Renner, Chef von Universal Deutschland, und BMG-Deutschland-Chef Thomas Stein mussten gehen.

(i.e. Britney Spears, Dido and Pink are signed

with the German BMG label)

Overturns 40% down and more sinking. -50% expected over the next months. Over 2,000 employees (accounting, studios) laid off.

All hail the independent Online Music Scene!

MIKE

10 free song uploads||1 free video upload

markhewer · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 246

Miiiiiiiike!

You are the current events Meister! :wgrin

Follow your dreams!

http://markhewer.com

bbchris

Er... Can someone translate this article??!?!?! Shaun just said: so f**king what?? Rude man! :banana

MIKE BURN

Mark! LOL

Chris.... I translated the bold faced paragraphs already above... again:

Quote:
Overturns 40% down and more sinking. -50% expected over the next months. Over 2,000 employees (accounting, studios) laid off.

bbchris

Mike, I remember telling you last year that BMG was shutting offices all over Asia and that they were in serious trouble then. Considering Asia is such a booming market to dupe new buyers.....

We don't gloat on this board! There are some cool artists on major labels! :banana

daniel · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 273

well...i wish i could say i'm surprised. record labels are finally getting what they deserve! this is happening because of years of industry arrogance and not taking any risks with artists. they shot themselves in the proverbial foot.

Universal lowering the standard price of their CDs is yet another indication.

finally, Goliath is falling.

bbchris

And what happens when all the major labels disappear? Who's got the right business? Any ideas? This is intriguing to me.

rod steel global · Joined: 27 Jun 2002 Posts: 636

one studio or 2.

and a CD/DVD plant as well

bbchris

Quote:
not taking any risks with artists

Daniel, I believe they have been taking risks with artists. My experience is that some people think 'getting signed' = 'getting rich' and don't make the most of it.....

I don't see many indie artists selling their CDs at low low prices.....

LarreeMP3 · Joined: 12 Apr 2002 Posts: 1935

Record companies are being run into the ground by bean counters who only care about quarterly earnings reports.

The best thing that could happen for indie musicians would be the fall of the major labels.

bbchris

And why would that be the best thing Larree? I'm not being blonde here but I want to know what everyone thinks. I get the feeling that no one in this thread would care for an offer from a major label even on your terms so what WOULD you prefer?

droolymutt

Quote:
I don't see many indie artists selling their CDs at low low prices.....

I give mine away for free.

Low enough?

bbchris

I'm guessing you don't rely on your music to make money Drooly..... Or maybe your CDs aren't worth paying for? I'm just playing Devil's Advocate here....

LarreeMP3 · Joined: 12 Apr 2002 Posts: 1935

Well, I remember when there used to be a whole bunch of record companies. But through the merger and acquisition the number has been reduced to...seven? Or is it five or six?

I say, let them crash and burn.

bbchris

It's ahem four now Larree....