DOWNLOAD: Six Organs of Admittance - Jade Like Wine (new MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Valerie Project - Introduction (new MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Major Stars - Portable Freak Factory (new MP3)

Is $7 an album enough to keep an indie label in the black? Not according to Rian Murphy, sales manager at Drag City Records. Murphy's label decided to pull its catalog from digital subscription service eMusic because it had to sell three times the amount of songs to make the slim profit iTunes already provided. The service provides plans that can whittle the price of a song down to 27 cents — appetizing to consumers but nauseating for artists.

"Keep your eye on the bottom line, and if it doesn't make sense, don't do it," Murphy said. "Things become known eventually. You don't really have to force them down people's throats."

Murphy says it's up to independent labels to resist slashing their own prices just to fit someone else's corporate business model. Drag City albums sell for $9.99 on iTunes and $8.99 on Amazon, though Murphy says Amazon is swallowing the difference.

"There are too many people out there who don't value their own exposure, who want (their music) to get to the maximum number of people and they don't care what they have to do," Murphy said. "This is the reason, as far as I'm concerned, that the industry is in trouble." [The Seattle Times]

Six Organs of Admittance's new album Shelter From The Ash is out November 20th on Drag City ($15.98 at Amazon...or is it?). The Valerie Project and Major Stars also have new albums coming out on Drag City that day. Tour Dates, and more info, below...

Continue reading ""Indie rock, get to know capitalism. Or else.""