The music world is in turmoil these days. The whole game is changing and few know which way to turn.
Sales are dropping like a rock and counterfeiting and illegal downloads are rising faster than Regis Philbin’s blood pressure.
If things get any worse, record executives may have to start drinking — gasp — domestic tap water.
In this unsure market it is harder and harder for any but the most mainstream of artists to keep a record contract.
Even long-term music stars are searching for new ways to market their wares. Paul McCartney’s latest is being sold by Starbucks.
On Oct. 30, when the Eagles release “Long Road Out Of Eden,” their first studio album in 28 years, it will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club in the U.S. and Canada and their online sites.
The two-disc set will contain 20 songs and retail for $11.88 on CD or $10.88 by download. That’s less than I paid in 1980 for the “Eagles Live” album on vinyl and it only had 15 tracks.
Austin artist Elana James is a good case in point. The 30-something Elana is a triple threat: singer, songwriter and world-class fiddler.
She spent 10 years as the driving force behind the jazz/Western swing trio Hot Club of Cowtown. That was followed by a year on the road as part of Bob Dylan’s band and another year as his opening act.
Elana recorded a savory, seductive and playful solo album of originals spiced with some very tasty covers such as “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good).”
Her songwriting, breathy vocals and her skill with the fiddle and bow all converge on upbeat songs such as “Twenty Four Hours a Day” and “Goodbye Liza Jane.”
“All the World and I” is a new classic. Her mournful fiddle brings images of love’s lament against storm-tossed seas or the mist-shrouded Applachians.
But Elana had to release her stunning debut herself in February — although to excellent reviews.
In this world of niche marketing, her music falls in the slot called Americana music, somewhere between the cookie-cutter worlds of rock and Nashville country. And big companies are shy about starting up their machinery to promote anything that doesn’t sound like everything else.
It doesn’t do much good to put out an album people can’t easily get their ears on.
In a sense, many Tejano and Norteņo bands are in a better position than Elana. Companies such as Hacienda and Freddie are better suited to promote smaller releases. Plus an entire network of small music stores specialize in Latin music and are eager for new releases.
It wasn’t until July that Elana inked a deal for distribution. “Elana James” will now be available in stores nationwide.
“That’s certainly breathed new life into the album,” she said by phone on Tuesday. “It’s almost like a whole new release.”
But don’t get the idea she’s sitting around. Elana James and the Continental Two just got back from a Japanese tour and the trio’s van will definitely be wearing out the tires this fall.
Although selling a few million copies of her album would not upset her, Elana said life is great.
“I get to do what I love with people I love and I get paid for it,” she said.
