Music Wire: Another problem the music industry has is a lack of quality artists and releases

-SHOMARI HINES For years the music industry has been looking down the barrel of the digital era, but some ignored it thinking it won't have that much of an impact on traditional physical sales at record stores. But after Shawn Fanning turned the industry upside down with a little file sharing site called Napster, dozens of digital music sites started popping up like blogs pop up today. Now some years later, major labels are having to change their whole approach on everything, especially their recording contracts. However the rapid climb of digital favoritism among the record buying public isn't the only thing keeping them away from record stores. These days record labels seem to take gimmicks over talent and artistry. The bullshit played on the radio today is hell on the eardrum of many including us. Whatever happened to real production, real songwriting and real hip hop? Oh we know it went down the toilet to make way for sing songy dance this way, dance that way music which the majors have come to embrace because stupidity sells for them now, but we digress. New York Times' Jeff Leeds takes a look at what major labels, known for raping artists over the years through lengthy agreements are doing now to make sure they get their due via this new digital way of life. The future may also see more and more artists in control, and outdated record execs out of a job. The Album, a Commodity in Disfavor [NYT]