Monday, June 12. 2006
Just Plain Sad
Now where are all the culture warriors when you need them? They wasted all their vitriol on the Da Vinci Code and are now holidaying in Branson. Because of web serendipity, I came upon this article "Another Record Crash" and a sad crash it is. But the crash is not stocks or cars, it's music.
AOL-Time Warner has dumped its classical music department. And with it go the independent labels that hunters of unusual music and bargain records love. In the 90s, Warner bought up the Europe independent labels Erato, Teldec, Harmonia Mundi and others. It seems the runaway success of the Three Tenors records made them think classical music might make a good investment. However even though the classical music section has been successful, AOL-Time Warner seems to think it is time to spin off all but the most profitable pieces of their business.
So now there are only three major labels recording classical music. I have fond memories of going through the bargain classical record bins in the Gramophone and Peaches record stores. And this was in Oklahoma in the 70s & the 80s.
Update: Well there is good news and bad news. The good news is that Warner says"Nah we are not shutting down classical music, we are just rolling the department over to Rhino Records. Rhino Records...now isn't that the record company that used to reissue novelty records and Rock-n-Roll B sides and other pop music oddities. The treasure trove for 70's radio personality Dr. Demento.
The bad news is Warner bought Rhino in the 90s and all the odd stuff is gone. Now it is just rock-n-roll nostalgia for the PBS crowd. I used to listen to Dr. Demento Sunday nights...I was living in small town Oklahoma...and loved all the odd ball stuff.
This deserves a cry-ie face.
AOL-Time Warner has dumped its classical music department. And with it go the independent labels that hunters of unusual music and bargain records love. In the 90s, Warner bought up the Europe independent labels Erato, Teldec, Harmonia Mundi and others. It seems the runaway success of the Three Tenors records made them think classical music might make a good investment. However even though the classical music section has been successful, AOL-Time Warner seems to think it is time to spin off all but the most profitable pieces of their business.
So now there are only three major labels recording classical music. I have fond memories of going through the bargain classical record bins in the Gramophone and Peaches record stores. And this was in Oklahoma in the 70s & the 80s.
Update: Well there is good news and bad news. The good news is that Warner says"Nah we are not shutting down classical music, we are just rolling the department over to Rhino Records. Rhino Records...now isn't that the record company that used to reissue novelty records and Rock-n-Roll B sides and other pop music oddities. The treasure trove for 70's radio personality Dr. Demento.
The bad news is Warner bought Rhino in the 90s and all the odd stuff is gone. Now it is just rock-n-roll nostalgia for the PBS crowd. I used to listen to Dr. Demento Sunday nights...I was living in small town Oklahoma...and loved all the odd ball stuff.
This deserves a cry-ie face.