The Album Is In Deep Trouble

[shoodBworkin]

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... it-753795/

[funsongs]

Without reviewing the linked source, here's some contrasting perspectives I heard - by Mentors - at this year's Road Rally.
The majority would be in agreement; one even said it plainly:

"Don't do albums. Do one song at a time, digitally, and when possible - include a video on social media like Facebook or You Tube - even if it's just a slideshow of the lyrics, if it's a song."

Another's response when collecting CDs from folks at our table - when several of us lamented at our 'outdated format'
(i.e. - do you even own a CD player?? Many new cars don't even come with a CD player option any more - it's either USB or Bluetooth) -
this Mentor's response was,

"You'd be surprised how many people tell me they're gonna do this and that - and never do the work. (holding up a CD he continued) -
as a Publisher - this shows me you did the work - you completed the job... and you have the physical proof you can put into someone's hand. That says a lot about your commitment."

Likewise - I've had people tell me they still like getting a product that has all the artwork, lyrics, and credits of all the contributors to the project.

SO - this all boils down to a financial decision, where marketing strategies may conflict with a "collector's" personal keepsake choice.
Getting the best bang for your/our buck is likely gonna drive that decision.

What's your choice gonna be?

[DesireInspires]

I am going to work with the publishers that pay money. That is the only thing that makes sense.

If they want this or want that, they need to offer money. No more working hard as hell to please people who offer no money.

[melodymessiah]

"Don't do albums. Do one song at a time, digitally, and when possible - include a video on social media like Facebook or You Tube - even if it's just a slideshow of the lyrics, if it's a song."

i'm with that, totally. i've always been "single minded"

[ShannonM]

Interesting article. If you remove the financial aspect from the picture, I think there will always be artists creating albums, because if an artist has something to say with their music that can't be contained in one song, sometimes you just have to create a body of work like an EP or full album. Even better if some of the songs end up standing on their own as hits.

[Unstar]

This has been the situation for at least a decade now. I feel like "the album" hasn't been much of a concern in quite some time. Obviously bands still put them out but I don't think it's been part of the musical DNA for quite some time.

[Len911]

https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200

When you look at some of these albums,eg. Bob Marley, number 104 this week,top position 5, and 547 weeks in the top 200??

I grew up in the '70's, I don't think we had many albums from decades before remaining on the top 200 albums.