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Molek FMOn the Download: The Industry, The Musician & The Internet – Part I
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KARMAL
The hip hop scene is rife with mixtapes and albums being released to the general public without a fee, you could even argue that it is the most piracy friendly genre (this is music that gave birth to sampling after all). Being one of the more active MCs in Klang Valley, Karmal has released his works through every possible method. From physical release with Bangkit, YouTube videos of remixes and singles, to the digital download of mixtape X last year. In discussion with us, Karmal reveals that it’s not a bad thing to put out album-quality releases for free. Instead, what artists should be wary of is releasing a bad product.
Back in the days, MCs would put up their mixtapes on CD-Rs and push them at hip hop gigs. But these days it’s all about putting them up for free on file sharing sites. Why do you think rappers tend to release mixtapes (sometimes album-quality mixtapes) online?
The internet is the easiest way nowadays to connect with people and promote your work. Easy access. One link and the fans are able to download your mixtape, but it really depends on who your target audiences are. Why some release album quality mixtapes online? For every rapper who cares about their career, it’s just the right thing to do to make sure that every release is always a high quality product. Free or not.
As an artist, is putting up your work online for free a wise decision?
For me, it’s good because it’s easier and faster for people to discover the talent that you have and your work. The only bad thing about releasing your product online is when that product is really not good at all.
The traditional music industry is hard at work curtailing illegal download. Do you think working against file sharing sites as counterproductive to connecting with the modern music audience?
Naw, I don’t really think so. At the end of the day, it really depends on how good your work is. If it’s good, regardless of what form and way it’s being released, the fans are still going to get it. If we are talking about connecting with new audience, there are other ways to promote yourself and share your work. All it takes is a bit more hard work.
With sites like bandcamp, musicians can cut off the middle man (record label, distributors) and communicate with fans directly. Do you think record labels and the traditional physical release will be obsolete in the offing?
Not everyone has internet connection, so the physical release will still be relevant to some people. And same goes for the existence of record labels. No matter how talented the artist is, it is always better to have the right team and people to promote, market, and push you to go further in your career. That’s their job.
Like Karmal on Facebook at facebook.com/karmalonline, he might just put up another mixtape online.
