Sony and BMG merge. Then Warner and EMI.
Should I bother going into some tirade about how media consolidation is evil, blah blah blah? The major labels are beholden to their shareholders, and bottom lines are muy importante. How much business sense does it make to wait for artists to “develop”? Not much if today’s climate is any indication.
Aw hell — artist development was already an antiquated idea when I was barely out of grade school feeding the Duran Duran frenzy.
And further consolidation? Only makes that bottom line longer.
This merger might make good business sense to the labels, but it’s going to do little — if anything — for music.
(Editor’s note: entry expanded after Tim left his comment.)