A
Look At Music Video Distributors
It is no secret that the music industry is in trouble and
beyond copying issues, the industry has bungled catching onto trends, did not
launch a successor to the CD in time before MP3s became the rage, do not want
to back any new important talent in the long term and are increasingly run by
more and more people who know much about money and mergers, yet absolutely
nothing about music. Another thing the
major record labels in particular have not particularly well is release a
constant stream of solid product in the DVD format. Despite being an early boom market, the major labels did not take
the format to its logical next step, so some other companies managed to take
advantage of this gap. No company has
done a better job of this than Music Video Distributors, a company out of Oaks,
Pennsylvania that has managed to become the top seller of music DVD titles in
the business.
While the major labels have key concerts and artist's
music video collections still collecting dust on the shelf when they should
have been issued already, MVD (as they are also known) have been creating
product in virtually every genre and licensing some exceptional product and
series from other companies we would likely never see in the U.S. and North
American market otherwise. As part of
our ongoing efforts to go where no other site has gone, we decided to ask Vice
President Ed Seaman about that and much more.
1) Mr. Seaman, do you have any comments about our opening
statement?
First,
overall regarding music industry, my biggest problem with their stance on Music
DVD is that it is primarily viewed as a way to sell more CDs. It is dinosaur mentality of "We are in
the CD business - how do we sell more CDs?" and once the industry saw that
the Music DVD has some potential they have been using it as a freebie to
include in CD packs - "bonus DVD enclosed". The problem with this is that the music DVD has been
de-valued. The music industry is taking
the one thing that is actually working and on a growth curve and giving it away
for free. Mind-boggling.
2) Now your company has been around since 1986. When did the VHS/Beta market bring you to
the decision to launch the company?
Tom Seaman, who founded the company, has been in the music
biz since around 1960. His last role
prior to MVD was with JEM Distribution, where he headed up the music video
division. Tom saw the potential for
music video very early on - as soon as he saw the early picture discs in the
70s he said "why just hear it when you can hear AND see it?"
3) How long did you produce Beta before it was concluded
that the format would be eclipsed by VHS?
MVD barely got into Beta.
There were only a handful of sku's by the time MVD was rolling and it
never really took off.
4) Did you ever produce content in the old 12' LaserDisc
format?
Never did a LaserDisc, but I liked their packaging.
5) What were the music genres you focused on early on?
We have always focused on punk rock, but our selection has
always been guided by opportunity and availability. We used to sell a lot of imports from Japan, especially heavy
metal. Metal in general was a strong genre back then - this was pre-Nirvana
days!
This interview continues at the following link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/interview/3508/Music+Video+Distributors+Interview+-+Part+Two
