Jewel - reflection of the times?

[Webbed]

There was an interesting article on Conde Nast Portfolio this month. It's about how the music industry is changing. The argument went something like this:

Music sales through CDs, MP3s, etc., will continue to decline to the point that it will become free. It will be treated just like music videos in that they will be viewed as promotional items for the artists.

Instead, people will pay premiums for things that cannot be duplicated, like a live concert (which people will pay a major premium for - I know I have) or appearances. They will morph into other forms of entertainment or products (i.e., sell out) like doing TV shows, creating perfumes, clothing lines, etc.

It looks to me that Jewel is already moving that way. It's not a bad thing, really. She's still making money on the CDs, but we all know how amazing she is at concerts, and of course we have been watching her on TV like that country version of American Idol (Nashville something or other). She's lended her music to shavers, etc., but in the end, we may not be surprised to see her start her own clothing line or guitars.

It means that we'll see more of Jewel on TV, etc., which is a good thing.

[Lara]

hmm..very interesting :)

[DreamsLast]

I agree that Jewel may be trailblazing into the future of the music industry. Soon everyone will be doing what she has been and is doing...

[Webbed]

An indication of this new trend is how people are willing to pay a premium for her live concert CDs. I remember how in her 2004 tour, she recorded her concerts and sold them under the Instant Live company. So many of us paid the $25 per CD because we wanted to relive the experience in our cars and living rooms.

I was looking at Jewel stuff on eBay one day, and saw that these CDs were going for $200-$300 a piece. Given that she did many concerts that summer, there were many CDs on the market, all of them at that higher price. These CDs were only sold on the night of the show, so they have become "one of a kind" CDs.

It comes to show the power of Jewel's live performance (and her ability to really bank it in). I for one did not sell my Instant Live CDs, but I sure wished that I bought a few sets that night.

[wackyoverkhaki]

A bit presumptuous, but very VERY interesting. If that ever did happen, I agree that Jewel would be 100% prepared. She has the talent and performance is in her blood.