- Joined
- Jul 29, 2013
- Location
- Melbourne, Victoria, AUS
Think there's a lot of extra money for labels when they brand a night, from what I've been told. Not sure every label does it but some of the figures I've heard a shocking. Litterelly just for booking/branding a night at your club/promoter/promotion "Label Night", it's not wonder a lot of indie promotors are disapearing.
What got me into this scene was variety and the showcase of the widest range of styles which encompass DNB. Going to a club and seeing the likes of Andy C, Fabio, Fierce, Hazard, dBridge & Mampi Swift on a line up in one room is something you'd never get now. Which is a shame. It grew my love of this genre because every set was different and it pushed me on to find out more about the styles they were playing and find my own way.
Feel like sometimes these days people are just into Hospital, or Shogun or whatever a lot of the time. Might be wrong, but it's just the way it comes across to me. I don't think I'd have the passion for this music I do now if I was just getting into the scene. That might stem from the way dubplate culutre and the industry has changed generally but that's another can of worms in itself.
TL;DR- THINGS AIN'T LIKE THEY USED TO BE BOY.
I think LSB has a firm point, only because this seems to be the main direction rather than the exception these days.
It can be hard for some artists to feel like they're getting noticed unless they're attached to a particular camp which i think is a big shame.
Personally i see it from both sides but if im honest, in regards to events, I prefer a mixed bag regardless of branding. The onus should be on promoting a good night for the punters to have a memorable night and dance their socks off, but it can be very difficult to anticipate what does that and it takes a lot of work and experience to learn how.
The pressure to strengthen brands I feel is taking the focus away from the music and more into a concept that looks good on paper rather than one that makes sense in the end. Were being dragged into a rabbit hole where we are slowly becoming defined by what we consume rather than being defined by our own personalities.
Branded nights certainly can work. Hospital have succeeded massively with Hospitality, not only with their music but because they put an unbelievable amount of effort into putting on a special event. It might not be to everyones taste but its worked for them. One downside to it is the pressure its put on everyone else to try and do the same thing but without the workforce, finance and know how.
I was a big fan of Bunch Of Cuts, ironically a branded night for a brand that didnt actually exist but ended up being a grouping of like minded individuals and great music and most of the time a fantastic atmosphere. I think the fact that there wasnt an active brand behind it may have led to its demise which is a great shame because it feels like if there isnt an angle to exploit these days then its a waste of time.
That's hardly a problem in a global scale then? I wouldn't know a place anywhere outside the UK to be able to push a lineup like Riisu posted, which were without any doubt the biggest d&b dj's at that time, nobody could afford.. As well some of these names are just not as relevant anymore as they used to be.
I see where people are coming from with all the label nights popping up in plan b but come on, that's not all. When I was over in London at the fizzy party in brixton in 2014 they had doc scott, pennygiles, storm & klute on the same lineup. That is varied IMO
Case in point thoguh surely.... It's an independant night and can still offer variety.
Sometimes it does appear the answer to falling sales is to release more music. say sales have dropped by a half, so let's release twice as many tracks to keep revenues the same. Quality will inevitably drop.
I mean top selling releases are selling a tenth of the copies as ten year ago in some cases.
Having to. Flick through 150 new tunes a week is not helping me buy records. If we all did moved forward and looked for quality over quantity everything would feel better.
Having to. Flick through 150 new tunes a week is not helping me buy records. If we all did moved forward and looked for quality over quantity everything would feel better.