Comments on: Canaan Records http://averyfineline.com/2007/05/15/canaan-records/ Criticism and commentary on southern gospel music and culture Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:07:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Big Ken 54 http://averyfineline.com/2007/05/15/canaan-records/#comment-24516 Big Ken 54 Wed, 23 May 2007 19:52:07 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/05/15/canaan-records/#comment-24516 I notice that Bill Traylor is resurrecting Homeland Entertainment, and that part of that organization includes some famous name labels from the past, including Riversong and Heartwarming. Has there been any announcement about this activity, as there has been for Canaan? http://homelandentertainmentgroup.com/ I notice that Bill Traylor is resurrecting Homeland Entertainment, and that part of that organization includes some famous name labels from the past, including Riversong and Heartwarming. Has there been any announcement about this activity, as there has been for Canaan?

http://homelandentertainmentgroup.com/

]]> By: David Bruce Murray http://averyfineline.com/2007/05/15/canaan-records/#comment-21669 David Bruce Murray Fri, 18 May 2007 06:31:28 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/05/15/canaan-records/#comment-21669 Drop by my blog for an update on the Hoppers and Canaan. http://www.musicscribe.com/blog.shtml The long and short of it is that a Canaan labeled Ride CD will be distributed by Word Distribution in the future. Drop by my blog for an update on the Hoppers and Canaan.

http://www.musicscribe.com/blog.shtml

The long and short of it is that a Canaan labeled Ride CD will be distributed by Word Distribution in the future.

]]> By: Trent http://averyfineline.com/2007/05/15/canaan-records/#comment-20796 Trent Wed, 16 May 2007 22:15:52 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/05/15/canaan-records/#comment-20796 David, you make a valid point about distribution. I have visited several Lifeway Christian Bookstores looking for the Hoppers recording "The Ride", and have not yet found it. It simply was not distributed nationally. Their absence from the public eye in Christian bookstores isn't all that big a deal in the short term, but as they progress through another recording or two, people might begin to forget the Hoppers, at least to a degree. And that would be a shame. David, you make a valid point about distribution. I have visited several Lifeway Christian Bookstores looking for the Hoppers recording “The Ride”, and have not yet found it. It simply was not distributed nationally. Their absence from the public eye in Christian bookstores isn’t all that big a deal in the short term, but as they progress through another recording or two, people might begin to forget the Hoppers, at least to a degree. And that would be a shame.

]]> By: David Bruce Murray http://averyfineline.com/2007/05/15/canaan-records/#comment-20569 David Bruce Murray Wed, 16 May 2007 14:25:48 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/05/15/canaan-records/#comment-20569 If a group like the Hoppers can create great music on their own, that's well and good, but the reality is they have no decent distribution plan in place. You either get _The Ride_ from the Hoppers or you don't get it at all. Maybe they can make just as much profit from direct sales, but are their songs being heard? And if a person in Michigan hears one of their songs by chance and wants to buy a copy, how persistent are they likely to be in chasing down the one website where they can order it? To the credit of Goss and the Hoppers, they are pursuing some avenues that other groups aren't. Word Music just released a choral book of songs recorded by the Hoppers with the Hoppers' name on the front cover to help sell it, arranged and orchestrated by Lari Goss. Several songs from the Ride CD are included. It seems if Word Music was going to go to all that effort, Word Distribution would have worked out some deal to distribute the independent Ride project as well. I'm not so sure independent is the best way to go. I think a better solution would be to create music independently, but then use some sort of distribution machine that's already in place. As for the Florida Boys, they've been needing a guiding hand in the studio for many years. As much as I liked Gene McDonald's singing and as much as I like Josh Garner's singing, the group didn't/hasn't made a really good recording in terms of production quality since either guy has been with the group. The Homeland stuff had a cheap sound...fake strings on "I'm Forgiven"...and the two Cathedral projects were just about as low budget as you could go. This is not a group that makes particularly good recordings WITH a label's help, so I'd expect even less if they go it alone. If a group like the Hoppers can create great music on their own, that’s well and good, but the reality is they have no decent distribution plan in place. You either get _The Ride_ from the Hoppers or you don’t get it at all. Maybe they can make just as much profit from direct sales, but are their songs being heard? And if a person in Michigan hears one of their songs by chance and wants to buy a copy, how persistent are they likely to be in chasing down the one website where they can order it?

To the credit of Goss and the Hoppers, they are pursuing some avenues that other groups aren’t. Word Music just released a choral book of songs recorded by the Hoppers with the Hoppers’ name on the front cover to help sell it, arranged and orchestrated by Lari Goss. Several songs from the Ride CD are included.

It seems if Word Music was going to go to all that effort, Word Distribution would have worked out some deal to distribute the independent Ride project as well.

I’m not so sure independent is the best way to go. I think a better solution would be to create music independently, but then use some sort of distribution machine that’s already in place.

As for the Florida Boys, they’ve been needing a guiding hand in the studio for many years. As much as I liked Gene McDonald’s singing and as much as I like Josh Garner’s singing, the group didn’t/hasn’t made a really good recording in terms of production quality since either guy has been with the group. The Homeland stuff had a cheap sound…fake strings on “I’m Forgiven”…and the two Cathedral projects were just about as low budget as you could go. This is not a group that makes particularly good recordings WITH a label’s help, so I’d expect even less if they go it alone.

]]> By: Trent http://averyfineline.com/2007/05/15/canaan-records/#comment-20133 Trent Tue, 15 May 2007 22:31:18 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/05/15/canaan-records/#comment-20133 The recent trend for many big-name groups is to part ways with SG record labels in favor of making independent, custom projects. It's an interesting cycle, because most of them started out that way, went with a label, and are now once again out on their own. Some examples are the Hoppers and the Florida Boys (I think the FBs are independent now). There are others. Group owners are thinking, "I can make more money out on my own without the record label taking a big chunk of it." So...the opportunity here for Canaan is big, but they MUST offer something different from today's labels. As Avery stated, Canaan needs to demonstrate something other than a big name with past successes. They must be innovative in enabling groups to increase profitability. The recent trend for many big-name groups is to part ways with SG record labels in favor of making independent, custom projects. It’s an interesting cycle, because most of them started out that way, went with a label, and are now once again out on their own. Some examples are the Hoppers and the Florida Boys (I think the FBs are independent now). There are others. Group owners are thinking, “I can make more money out on my own without the record label taking a big chunk of it.”

So…the opportunity here for Canaan is big, but they MUST offer something different from today’s labels. As Avery stated, Canaan needs to demonstrate something other than a big name with past successes. They must be innovative in enabling groups to increase profitability.

]]> By: Realistic http://averyfineline.com/2007/05/15/canaan-records/#comment-20124 Realistic Tue, 15 May 2007 22:09:01 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/05/15/canaan-records/#comment-20124 In response to the 3 new releases Doug critiqued: Always follow the money trail. In today's climate, a record label will always cut the songs of their signed writers or artist/writers, even if better, more substantive songs are pitched to the project. The logic? "If we can produce sub-par songs well enough, fans won't know the difference. They will be just as happy when we send these songs to radio, and we'll make more money." The nightmarish little secret? Record labels actually lose money in the long run. Even if a sub-par song does well on the radio chart, it doesn't have the staying power or emotional impact to sell the CD. And we all lose. In response to the 3 new releases Doug critiqued:

Always follow the money trail.

In today’s climate, a record label will always cut the songs of their signed writers or artist/writers, even if better, more substantive songs are pitched to the project.

The logic?

“If we can produce sub-par songs well enough, fans won’t know the difference. They will be just as happy when we send these songs to radio, and we’ll make more money.”

The nightmarish little secret?

Record labels actually lose money in the long run. Even if a sub-par song does well on the radio chart, it doesn’t have the staying power or emotional impact to sell the CD.

And we all lose.

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