How To Make Money In Music - the models to choose

So, you’re a major artist and you have to decide on your next move. Which one are you going to pick?

o The ‘Radiohead’ model - Fans pay what they want, straight in to your pocket
o The ‘Prince’ Model 1- Give your new album away with newspaper (Soon to be followed by Ray Davis)
o The Prince Model 2 - Packaging your current album with gig tickets
o The Marillion model - Fans pay in advance for your new album
o The ‘Simply Red’ model - Manage digital yourself and sign licensing deals to each territory
o The ‘Charlatans’ model - give album away via a radio station, in this case, Xfm
o The ‘Madonna’ Model - sign up with live promoter who take a share of live, music and merch
0 The ‘Passenger’ model - Get your management company to acquire VC investment with 360 degree rights
0 The ‘McCartney;’ Model - sign up with a global coffee brand
0 The ‘Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’ Model - retain all rights and sell via mail order
0 The ‘Robbie Williams’ model - Get huge advance from label in return for giving them share in all income

What’s apparent, apart from the diversity, is that record labels are not pioneering these changes - it’s virtually all artist / management driven. However, it also illustrates there is no dominant model right now - other artists, such as Ray Davis or Korn, are following the lead of the pioneers but none are standing out as the best to follow.

Other models not yet tried could be: the subscription model, the mobile model, the handset model, the P2P model, the widget model, the Facebook model and Digital TV model. We’re happy to discuss further if you send an email.