Album Reissues: Exploiting Our Cultural Heritage

Reporter Fiona Sturges has penned a rather thought provoking article where she poses the question as to what happens when the major labels begin focusing too much on re-releasing, deluxe edition granting, and ultimately living off the back catalog, as opposed to actually investing in new artists and releases. She paints an interesting perspective of what happens if financial incentives align towards catalog and away from new artists, at a time, when the likelihood that they will be able to recoup the initial investment has been greatly diminished. The takeaway:

“Re-issuing old albums is, essentially, money for old rope, and certainly a safer financial bet than ploughing millions into a young and untested newbie. But it's not enough to re-release the same old songs every 10 years in a pretty new case and with a bonus track. Artist back catalogues are part of our cultural heritage, something to be cherished and preserved, not degraded and exploited. Reissues should honour both the artist and their fans, both artistically and financially. If they don't, then perhaps they would be better off left in the vault." (Read the rest.)