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Scott Ian- Anthrax
LPs or Long Play Records have always been a storied tradition in recording music. Some of the greatest songs, production achievements and artists have emerged through the success of being put to LPs. However, Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian has stated that the bands long awaited follow up to 2016’s For All Kings may not be a LP at all. As sad as it is, this writer agrees with Ian in this regard. No one listens to Long Plays anymore. While not saying they don’t have their place in music history, in a world where attention spans and spending money dwindle, LPs aren’t as big as they used to be. Several other bands including members of Slipknot have gone on to back up Ian’s claims. The reason behind LPs lack of popularity in the 2020’s include, lack of audience interest, production costs, and outside factors harm the need for records.
One Of Rocks Longest LPs.
One of the biggest issues regarding the necessity for LP records in the 2020’s is audience interest. Whether it is an old favorite like Pink Floyds Dark Side of The Moon or Metallica’s upcoming 72 Seasons, audiences simply don’t have time to listen. In today’s economy, people are working intensely, allowing for very little downtime. Due to the current state of the economy, the average record listener has maybe two hours of downtime per day. Time rather spent catching up on TV or with friends than given to a LP. When given the length of a record like 72 Seasons, which clocks in at 1 hour and 10 minutes, a listener may want to use their free time elsewhere. While it is a sad fact, most people just don’t have the free time like they used to. The last Anthrax LP clocked in at 48 minutes, the one before that at a little over an hour. Scott Ian is not saying he doesn’t want to stop recording, he just wants to give audiences something to enjoy in the short time they have to hear new music.
The Rolling Stones Cost Their Producers Money!
Releasing music in the EP format could save a band money. Believe it or not, making LPs aren’t excuses for band members to just hang out and drink with each other. There are production costs to be considered when recording. Even back when the Rolling Stones cut their 1972 classic Exile on Main Street, it took the band 2 years and $2 million to produce. Studios today won’t allow for that kind of time and that much money to be spent. Sessions today are 4-6 months, and bands need to get exactly what they need out of those sessions, so it doesn’t cost management any more than it needs to. While there are no hard costs to make an LP, the soft costs are where a bands money is spent.
Producing Costs Can Kill LPs.
LP records typically are produced with a budget that ranges anywhere from $150,000 to $1 million dollars. However, when soft costs are added in addition to typical production costs, the cost of making a record skyrockets. The studio producer would set his fee based on how well past LPs would have performed commercially. When the record is a multiplatinum seller, the producer feels entitled to charging more, knowing that he will have another huge hit on his hands. However, when outside factors reduce sales of a record, fees will be re-adjusted, causing the band to pay more for the producer’s time.
Your Time Costs A Dime.
Other costs that going into making an LP include catering to the band and Screwing Around Costs. Yes, a band can get charged for messing around. Whether it’s just tinkering on their instruments, joking with other members or inhaling various substances for “inspiration”, bands get charged for it. This type of messing around would cost upwards of $800 a day in studio time. Other costs include catering to the band, which sometimes gets out of control. From endless spending on food, to renting houses or Ladies of The Night near the studio, this adds to the cost of making a record.
Online Piracy Plunders The Music Industry.
In addition to production costs of making records, outside factors play a role in making records. These factors specifically include online piracy. Online piracy has been a thorn in the record industry’s side since the days of Napster. However, it continues to wave its black flag in the face of the music industry. The reason producers charge more for making albums is because there is a lack of interest in purchasing records. With costs of everything having gone up since the 90’s, no one is willing to shell out $12.99 for a CD or digital copy anymore. A majority of listening audiences would prefer to torrent music from a streaming site or Youtube. The industry alone loses $2.7 billion a year due to online theft; this writer is guilty of contributing to such loses. This outside factor has hurt the recording aspect of the industry time and time again and will continue to do so until it is snuffed out.
The End Of LPs As We Know It?
While records have been an integral part of the music industry, launching careers of bands, and becoming a part of a music fans life, the time has passed. While we must not forget what records have done for us, we must acknowledge that they are no longer a profitable form of entertainment. Gone are the days where a multi selling LP would earn someone the nick name “Diamond” David Lee Roth. This writer is not negating the value of LPs importance, Wish You Were Here, Rumours, Boston (76), and Welcome to My Nightmare were all detrimental in early music taste formation. Album cuts such as The Rolling Stones “Live with Me” or Fleetwood Mac’s “Jewel Eyed Judy” may not see the light of day on future LP recordings. This is largely due to picking the presumed hit songs that will make back the money spent on production. Leaving little to no room for filler tracks that could have fan favorite potential in the process.
This writers’ First LP
At the end of the day, the reality is that LPs are not as popular amongst listeners anymore. If habits in how music is consumed does not change, listeners will have no choice but to accept a future where EPs are the norm. Audiences, including this writer, only have themselves to blame for what could potentially be a curtain calling on historic art form.
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