2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsFresh, local label working to revolutionize music industry
Heather Jarvis
Issue date: 8/28/07 Section: Features
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Although the fresh faces of Springfield's newest record label may look young, these aren't just two kids with a dream. Armed with a modern vision for the future of the music industry, where file sharing is key and a license that gives people free music, they have defied the norm and are making waves with LemonDrop Records, a new record label created this year.
"The key difference between us and a traditional label is that we have a Creative Commons License," said Charlie Rosen-bury, co-owner of LemonDrop Records. "The record industry is going through a big change anyway. We are the future."
A Creative Commons Attri-bution License will make the songs under LemonDrop Records available for people to share and remix under the condition that they attribute the original work to the artist and release it non-commercially.
"The music industry is dying because record companies are too stubborn to change," said Kevin Ehlers, co-owner. "I saw this firsthand during my internship. I would run an idea by them, and they would say it was good, but because they had been doing something else for the past 15 years they didn't even want to give it a chance."
In a day where music file sharing cannot be stopped, Ehlers and Rosenbury have shunned what they say are outdated methods and created a fan-controlled label that embraces the idea of file sharing as a prominent tool.
"We want a lot of fan interaction," Ehlers said. "We will be doing online forums and podcasts where an album will be played in the background while the band does something like DVD director commentary. That way fans can hear firsthand from the bands. We are even thinking of having remix contests for DJs."
In order to actually make money, CDs will be sold online but will be variably priced, giving fans the decision to pay between $5 and $20 for a CD. Bands will get half of the profits from CD sales, leaving the fate of the bands and the record company's profits in the hands of fans. On their Web site, fans will also have the opportunity to purchase other band merchandise or simply donate to the project.
"The key difference between us and a traditional label is that we have a Creative Commons License," said Charlie Rosen-bury, co-owner of LemonDrop Records. "The record industry is going through a big change anyway. We are the future."
A Creative Commons Attri-bution License will make the songs under LemonDrop Records available for people to share and remix under the condition that they attribute the original work to the artist and release it non-commercially.
"The music industry is dying because record companies are too stubborn to change," said Kevin Ehlers, co-owner. "I saw this firsthand during my internship. I would run an idea by them, and they would say it was good, but because they had been doing something else for the past 15 years they didn't even want to give it a chance."
In a day where music file sharing cannot be stopped, Ehlers and Rosenbury have shunned what they say are outdated methods and created a fan-controlled label that embraces the idea of file sharing as a prominent tool.
"We want a lot of fan interaction," Ehlers said. "We will be doing online forums and podcasts where an album will be played in the background while the band does something like DVD director commentary. That way fans can hear firsthand from the bands. We are even thinking of having remix contests for DJs."
In order to actually make money, CDs will be sold online but will be variably priced, giving fans the decision to pay between $5 and $20 for a CD. Bands will get half of the profits from CD sales, leaving the fate of the bands and the record company's profits in the hands of fans. On their Web site, fans will also have the opportunity to purchase other band merchandise or simply donate to the project.
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