Why is Victorious Kiam taking a stand for the value of music?
Over the past five years, the phrase ‘value of music’ has been part and parcel of many discussions relating to music.
The downloading revolution has called the phrase into regular usage – often in reference to two particular concerns: the fiscal value of music and the ‘emotional’ value of music.
The music industry is worried that illegal file-sharing, covermounts and giveaways have adjusted the public’s perception of the financial value of music. That is, music fans now considers music almost a free commodity – on file-sharing sites, through newspaper initiatives like the Mail on Sunday’s Prince tie-up and services which offer free streaming such as MySpace and Last.fm.
Meanwhile, the relationship between music and younger people has changed. Whereas music fans once gathered in record shops of a Saturday to admire and purchase vinyl, those under the age of 25, at least, are more likely to share links to personalised ringtones, or build Pandora playlists for the friends to see.
However, to say that music no longer has any value is untrue. The set of values relating to music has simply shifted.
When we first heard Somewhere There’s An Angel by The Thurston Revival, it cut through this debate altogether. We realised that a fantastic song can transcend such arguments.
Music fans, like us, will always fall in love with songs. That’s the true value.
On realising this, we felt compelled to make a statement with this one song. We believe that the idea of releasing Somewhere There’s An Angel with a £100 price tag reiterates our sense that there is incredible value in this song.
The project is also designed to send out a message encouraging people to step back, for a moment, from all the white noise and realise that a stunning song and carefully-created piece of art can still have a value.
So, why did we decide to complement this release with a series of stunning pieces of artwork (see below)?
We believe still believe that a physical product still has value and if it is complemented with something special, it will continue to drive sales.
Music is art – it’s the whole package from start to finish.
If, in the process of this exciting project, we send out a clear and solid message to the media and the music industry itself that there is no such thing as the diminishing value of music, then we have succeeded.
For more information about the release and a special event to coincide with it, email info@victoriouskiam.com
Over the past five years, the phrase ‘value of music’ has been part and parcel of many discussions relating to music.
The downloading revolution has called the phrase into regular usage – often in reference to two particular concerns: the fiscal value of music and the ‘emotional’ value of music.
The music industry is worried that illegal file-sharing, covermounts and giveaways have adjusted the public’s perception of the financial value of music. That is, music fans now considers music almost a free commodity – on file-sharing sites, through newspaper initiatives like the Mail on Sunday’s Prince tie-up and services which offer free streaming such as MySpace and Last.fm.
Meanwhile, the relationship between music and younger people has changed. Whereas music fans once gathered in record shops of a Saturday to admire and purchase vinyl, those under the age of 25, at least, are more likely to share links to personalised ringtones, or build Pandora playlists for the friends to see.
However, to say that music no longer has any value is untrue. The set of values relating to music has simply shifted.
When we first heard Somewhere There’s An Angel by The Thurston Revival, it cut through this debate altogether. We realised that a fantastic song can transcend such arguments.
Music fans, like us, will always fall in love with songs. That’s the true value.
On realising this, we felt compelled to make a statement with this one song. We believe that the idea of releasing Somewhere There’s An Angel with a £100 price tag reiterates our sense that there is incredible value in this song.
The project is also designed to send out a message encouraging people to step back, for a moment, from all the white noise and realise that a stunning song and carefully-created piece of art can still have a value.
So, why did we decide to complement this release with a series of stunning pieces of artwork (see below)?
We believe still believe that a physical product still has value and if it is complemented with something special, it will continue to drive sales.
Music is art – it’s the whole package from start to finish.
If, in the process of this exciting project, we send out a clear and solid message to the media and the music industry itself that there is no such thing as the diminishing value of music, then we have succeeded.
For more information about the release and a special event to coincide with it, email info@victoriouskiam.com
