More and more I think of the Bob Dylan song, “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” Well it seems no business or industry is inured from this fact of life and particularly so the music industry.
Quinlan Road began, as many of you know, at my kitchen tabletop and busking on the street. Beyond being a passion, it was inevitable it would become a business. Quinlan Road was built on people hearing the music and then choosing to stay in touch by joining the Quinlan Road Community.
As the music industry continues to evolve, we want to be sure that we don’t lose you in the flotsam and jetsam of the changing times. More than ever, we want to stay close to you, to narrow the distance between ourselves and you and hopefully by doing this we’ll be able to serve you better in a variety of ways. We are hopeful the best way for us all to stay connected is through the Quinlan Road Community – and that you’re enjoying what we have to offer.
As you know, there’s no cost to join and being a member gives you access to front-of-the-line tickets to concerts, participation in online chats, quarterly newsletters, breaking news updates and access to exclusive contests and special offers.
We thank you for your membership and your continued interest in the music and ask that if you know anyone who’s a keen supporter and would benefit from membership, please encourage them to join too.
On a final note, I’d be interested to learn about your thoughts on the current state of the music industry. Do you think music should be free? Do you prefer to get your music online or from a music store? To discuss these and other issues, please visit our message board and share your views.
Dear Loreena, Many words there are and many words that can be said, but the short of it is that it is all about greed and selfishness. That being said, I did start writing many words in regards to that, but it was getting quite deep, so I deleted it. Keep Scottland in the back of your mind, you will know why! Moving on; I have listened to your music for a long time. When I listen, the instrumentation is really nice, but I listen intently to your voice. Miss Loreena, I totally fall in love with you when I hear you sing, I have no words to explain it, accept that; you own my soul while I hear your voice! I have many CD's, I listen to a variety of music, but in my opinion, You have NO competition, period! At any level of musical art. When I seen your prices on Quinlan Road for your music, I thought it a travesty that your prices are that low, you DESERVE (SO MUCH MORE)! Music should be strictly sold in the stores; as long as the problems are the way they are. If people were honest and cared about others and there lives and privacies, online purchasing would be fine, but we know the adverse is true. So, what to do; you will come to know the answer and what could be done, but (I'm sorry) it will never be implemented! I'm sorry for all artists that deserve their time and their due. You will prevail though Loreena...... I know Remember Scottland
Posts: 4 | Location: Ohio | Registered: December 05, 2010
History proves that people would die without art...whether it be music or visual art...and yet, artists have usually ended up with the short end of the stick. Mozart is believed to have died a pauper, Michelangelo always had a difficult time getting paid for his work, and yet all of the really good works of art skyrocket in value AS SOON AS THE ARTIST DIES! What does this tell you? To put it quite bluntly: SUPPLY AND DEMAND. It also proves that we, as humans, do not do a very good job when it comes to appreciating other humans during "The Living Years". However, as long as we remain respectfully vocal, we may get heard and, better yet, heeded! No, music should NOT be free! That is the most ludicrous statement to be broadcast on radio/television in a long time! If music should be free, then so should ALL commodities, ALL services, and ALL pleasures. NOBODY would go for that, now, would they??? If we could do it, it would be well worth it to ban all music for 24 hours. Then people would begin to realize how important it really is. Artists are more blessed than most because their talents come from the Creator, and what better blessing is there than to be able to create beauty in an artistic way? Loreena, you are HUGELY blessed by our Creator! Keep sharing your wisdom with the world. Eventually, you will be heard by the people who have the power to change the "We want everything for FREE but WE must get paid top dollar for our own work" mentality of the Western World!
I'm not really sure if this is the appropriate place to put this as I hardly visit these boards and there seems to be a proliferation of subtopics...
Regardless, what got me thinking about Loreena's music again was the recent hearings on copyright issues taking place in Canada. I'm not even going to pretend I know enough about anything in the Canadian sphere with regards to laws, regulations, the environment of opinions surrounding copyright to say one way or another. I'd hardly venture to say I'm all that well versed in it on the US side.
The impression I got reading Loreena's comments (and some comments in the papers after Loreena's comments) is that we're moving more into a post-postmodern era of further splicing apart pop culture, 15 minutes of fame, and everything in the cultural marketplace into bytes and pieces that goes well beyond what has defined copyright in the past. While I don't disagree with what Loreena has stated, I pessimistically don't think that definition of copyright will be honored or enforced in that way. Life would be so much simpler if things could be how we think they should be based on a moral or ethical thought and everyone worked on the same moral and ethical thought process, but Murphy's Law and everything else states that it will precisely not succeed because the majority has decided they'll do the opposite. Or more exacting, the majority sees the merit in acting in a moral/ethical way, BUT (and there is always a qualifier in their argument), they deserve it. Or they don't make as much as the artist and who minds, the artist won't miss it.
This seems to be a curious problem in music and not quite so much as the arts (or rather, it is a different manipulation in art). Music, by nature of the digital revolution, has been reduced to bytes and bits and can easily be molded and manipulated from one source to the next. The sad part is that one can speculate and figure out problems and solutions to the problems, but it is enforcing the giant infrastructure that is the internet and users of the internet (and aforementioned lack of guiding ethical/moral principles) that will be the true test. And as I said before, not one I'm sure will ever be resolved to anyone's liking.
Where this brings me to you, Loreena, is that I find it a shame that your career and music has been reduced to a catch-22. You're damned if you make a new CD as it will be disseminated upon its release into bytes and bits and innumerable renditions on Youtube, and you risk losing the viewing population you have by not releasing something new. Given what's been said about the conundrums of figuring out tour logistics and the time and money needed for such an enterprise, I don't think anyone should take it as a surprise if I say that this might be it? Not that you (or anyone) wanted it this way. I've been watching you embrace life away from the music business with your duties as the Honorary Colonel and much like the singer of the Fugees running for president of Haiti I would not be surprised if you step back completely into everyday life.
As for solutions, I have none. In the words of Louise Bourgeois, I propose no remedies or excuses. I suppose I wanted to let you know that I've been reading along, pondering along, to what you've had to say and I'll be the one voice in the wilderness that understands the complexities of why you may not visit my state on tour.
Sad as it is, music industry always change. From the traveling bards in the middle ages, The nobles patronage in the renaissance, to cd and tape, and now Digital Download. And pirate will always be pirate.
Live and adapt, that's what we musician do. Copyright? Important, but not everything. I like the road you are taking, create your own label and everything. I'll say forget the pirates, forget piracy, it will always exist. Instead concentrate on the people who love your music. your live concert is amazing and unique. Digital download you provide, all you need is more coverage (i never heard your name till i watch highlander 3 again and looked up for the songstress -.-")
You have proven you can adapt. 1985 up to 2010 and still going. From the early Elemental to The Ancient Muse, your music evolved with age (more beat,background sound). Santiago (1994) with Santiago (Alhambra) is so different, and you showed you can do it. Why not the same in the changing music industry?
also be mindful that your genre is not pop, you will never ever compete with pop idols;they feed on the masses, while you are more of a traditional folksong. Your music is beautiful, and i can see how much you like it too, as we do all.
Continue to survive and create beautiful music dear Loreena. Dont get dragged in copyright hell and mindless chasing piracy like big music group. People who loved your music will always buy the Original and Attend the Concert.
Hugs and Hugs (no do on kisses :P) Al
PS:really...your genre is so...unique, and i like it. I happen to like unique genre like Irish Loreena, Russian and Japanese Origa(great singer who fades in obscurity), and Yasunori Mitsuda (one heck of a Composer)
On a final note, I’d be interested to learn about your thoughts on the current state of the music industry. Do you think music should be free? Do you prefer to get your music online or from a music store? To discuss these and other issues, please visit our message board and share your views.
LM
Honestly, "free" music should be highly limited/restricted, and those who are enjoying the music should support the artist in some way or another by buying an album or other product. My older cousin Ryan is trying to enter the music and/or acting business (Lord help him!), and believe me, he is good at both! But it's really difficult for him because he told me that nothing's sacred anymore. Upstarting artists publish their work, and people steal it right away. He told me his buddies have run into those issues and have even had to go to court. Their solution: mail the original lyrics to yourself. The postmark will be evidence enough, in most cases! As for obtaining music, I make it a point to buy the music from a store, usually Barnes and Noble, Frys Electronics (LOVE that store!), or Quinlan Road. I have seen some songs of yours online that may have been on cds from previous tours that were only one-time-offers (or possibly from questionable sources...Ahem! ). Anyhow, I was wondering, if and when you create a new album, could you include those songs? I believe a couple of these songs are "The Ballad of the Foxhunter" and "Mary and the Soldier."
Anyway, I hope things start looking up! Yours truly, Semaspa A
Posts: 189 | Location: Cal Poly SLO | Registered: July 21, 2009
This article is kind of scary, especially if you bother to read through all the three pages and reach the end.
Loreena, I'd like to know what you think could be done to prevent illegal downloads. I think that tracking them down must be like Don Quijote's battle against the windmills. Do you think there is a possibility to stop them?
Please keep us updated, esp on your recording and touring plans.
And thanks to Imelda for finding that article! :-*
Cheers, Anni ThisThis message has been edited. Last edited by: Elizabeth Tudor,
this article has a lot of whacky comments, I can't believe people actually think like that
Well, sadly, it's so true! Take it from me, a california high school senior. Kids brag all the time about how they've downloaded the latest whatever for free! And 99% of the time, they're doing it illegally! It's bad for the person who's worked so hard to create their work, but are not getting any credit for it.
Posts: 189 | Location: Cal Poly SLO | Registered: July 21, 2009
I’d be interested to learn about your thoughts on the current state of the music industry. Do you think music should be free? Do you prefer to get your music online or from a music store? To discuss these and other issues, please visit our message board and share your views.
LM[/QUOTE]
I always pay for a good performance. Expect nothing for nothing. What I would love to see is a return of the Reel to Reel format. Not so easy to pirate that. Very first class way to present your music and some may argue "better sounding". Emailed with Ian, did he present this to you?
On changes in music industry. Have there been any at all? The air-time music is about the same, over the years. The private collectons are someting differnt all together.Popularity in differnt artist varies upon degree of interest at the time's at hand.Music comes from ones soul as the saying goes.I would say ones musical taste depends on the color of thier soul. As far as LM from Canada I would say her soul is a good one indeed. But whom am I but a beggerman.
Posts: 24 | Location: United Sates of America | Registered: March 15, 2009
). Anyhow, I was wondering, if and when you create a new album, could you include those songs? I believe a couple of these songs are "The Ballad of the Foxhunter" and "Mary and the Soldier." 
