To follow is a blow by blow account of the Music Ally 'labels in the dock' session at the Great Escape festival in Brighton. Played out to a packed house it's an interesting insight to the debate around whether artists really need labels in the digital age. Presiding judge: Paul Brindley, Music Ally. For the prosecution (anti-labels) Scott Cohen – The Orchard Denzyl Feigelson – AWAL Ian Grenfell – MD drowned in Sound, Simply Red Manager For the defence Fred Bolza – VP strategic Development, Sony Music Tom Frederikse – partner Clintons Korda Marshall – MD of indie label Infectious Scott Cohen opens with a direct statement that labels are “guilty of being irrelevant.” A bit contentious this since most of his clients are labels. The distribution and marketing and promotions are the labels’ key strengths. “They have lost that power.” He says. Tom Frederikse, making the case for the defence, opens with a quote from U2 guitarist the Edge “My instinct is to stick with the record guys.” Says The Edge “They have to sell your records or sell the downloads, whatever it ends up being. To do that, first of all, you’ve got to love and understand the [...]
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