Simon Napier Bell takes on the Music Industry

[The Analog Kid]

... fun read - Guardian article with short Japan mention

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/stor ... 44,00.html

[Meyrav]

He says "After four years Japan had finally broken in the UK".
'FINALLY'? Sounds like he had enough of them, and he was waiting to get rid of them..

[krausy]

Excellent read!!!! Thanks for bringing to our attention by posting here.

Yes, majors had the opportunity to have a piece of the downloading pie so to speak,but were too pompous to take it.......Oh well, now they have to get clever and figure themselves out of this mess. Doubt they are very successful.

Artists don't really need them anymore in my honest opinion.

[godisinthesilences]

I agree totally excellent read!

[Astronaut]

Many Thanks for posting this - it really was a very interesting read and confirmed my already very low opinion of the major record companies. I don't know very much about Mr Napier-Bell, but he makes some very valid points here and his argument is well constructed (as it would be I suppose - since it's based on personal experience).

Once again, thanks !!!

[anortherncod]

Astronaut, you should get down to Heffers/Borders/Waterstones and treat yourself to a copy of SNB's Black Vinyl White Powder. Though, as Paul Rymer says on nightporter.co.uk, you will never look at RB in the same light again...!

Natasha

[Melaszka]

He says "After four years Japan had finally broken in the UK".
'FINALLY'? Sounds like he had enough of them, and he was waiting to get rid of them..

I think he means "broken", as in "managed to break through into mainstream success", not "broken", as in "split up". It's already well documented elsewhere that it took him far longer (and cost him an awful lot more of his own money) to get them into the big time than he had ever expected, so the "finally" seems fair enough to me.

Fascinating article. Thanks very much for posting it.

[Astronaut]

Though, as Paul Rymer says on nightporter.co.uk, you will never look at RB in the same light again...!

Thanks Natasha!

I'm intrigued by that comment about RB! Will trawl thro the local bookstores ASAP. Did anyone else see Simon Napier-Bell on BBC4 TV tonight? He was being interviewed for a programme called 'Girls and Boys: Sex in British Pop - 1980's'. He was talking about Wham!, no mention of Japan at all. In fact no mention of Japan in the entire programme which was a bit disappointing, although my disappointment was somewhat disipated by the interview with Nick Rhodes (looking rather luscious - mmmmm)

[The Analog Kid]

Astronaut, you should get down to Heffers/Borders/Waterstones and treat yourself to a copy of SNB's Black Vinyl White Powder. Though, as Paul Rymer says on nightporter.co.uk, you will never look at RB in the same light again...!

Natasha

Ugh I cannot even find a reference to this book over here - so I wonder what is says on RB!!

glad you all liked the article as I did

[anortherncod]

Does that mean that people would like it if I posted the comment I'm talking about...? You should still get the book anyway though!

Natasha

[The Analog Kid]

Does that mean that people would like it if I posted the comment I'm talking about...? You should still get the book anyway though!

Natasha

i just got my dispatch confirmation from Amazon.co.uk

other than that I would know of no reason NOT to mention somehting that is in the public domain anyway!

[tallulahtaurus]

I have that book - it is a damn good read but I don't know why one wouldn't look at RB in the same way again? I mean presuming RB to be Richard Barbieri...Of course if you are just referring to a different RB then do carry on...LOL

[sisterlondon]

You are all making me way too curious, LMAO!

[krausy]

Me too---what is the "RB" thing?

Did someone say "Nick Rhodes"----and yes, he is scrumptious these days--heck, any day for that matter!!

[Lady Arcadia]

Finally got to reading this article. It was very interesting, and yes I agree with him, the big companies only have themselves to blame.

Independent or boutique labels are the new way to go.

Yes, the divine one looks good in just about every picture I have ever seen!! And speaking of that band, could you imagine how things may have turned out if THEY had started their own label instead of chasing Sony/Epic??