ilovefuzz.com

Obviously as a musician labels have value, they help take care of the business side that many of us are unfamiliar with or simply don't want to do.

But as a listener do they still have any value to you?

I'm really undecided, there are labels where I know I'm going to like everything they put out and more importantly know what it's going to sound like before the start of the first song. Last Gang for dancy gritty rock music, Anticon for some thick atmospheric althiphop, Graveyard Orbit for cute electronica, etc.

At the same time does that still matter in the world of 8tracks, spotify, blogs, etc. I mean a label is just curation right? So if you can find an individual who's curation you trust is it less valuable than that of a label or is it the same thing?

Thoughts?

Only some labels for me, the ones with a strong enough identity. As you said, strong curation is what makes a label relevant.

I know that I'll listen to anything from Raster-Noton to see if it's something I like or not.
Mego too but with a lower probability of really liking the music.
I recently bought several records from an Ukrainian label called Kvitnu and I know I'll also give a listen to anything they release because what I got was really good.
And I'll also check anything from Ipecac...

I used to do the same for Warp Records, though nowadays I'm usually not interested in their stuff.
Same thing for Constellation (except that it's probably because I have no idea what they release these days).

Mute Records might be bit of an exception in the sense that they have a very diverse output but the label has always been heavily curated and the stuff they release has historically been worth checking (Blast First included).

Yeah, those labels that are clearly defined enough to have curation value definitely matter to me - I'm signed up for a couple of label newsletters, and when they show up in my email, I definitely pay attention. And as oscillateur points out, there are a few labels that are more diverse but have enough of a track record that I'll check their stuff on principle.

oscillateur wrote:strong curation is what makes a label relevant.

Precisely this, I think we're all on the same page about it, too.A lot of labels seem to operate like bandleaders (at least the bandleaders I've known/played with) in that they have a very specific vision of how they want their entity to be represented.

As to the difference between music taste and a label's taste, a label is putting their money where their mouth is.

I know nothing about labels... so nope! The only reason I know a few label names is because I'm subbed to a few email lists but they are all different from each other and none of them sound familiar outside of those emails

There are some independent labels I like and I'll try anything from them, gotta support local music. When I buy records sometimes the only reason I buy an LP or single is because of the label. Especially if I know the label well but not the artists, could be a hidden gem.

Major labels on the other hand, nah.

it still has value. there are times i take note that several releases i like are on the same label (this has happened most often in recent years with metal labels - Profound Lore, Willowtip, Gilead Media), and then give their other stuff that i wouldn't otherwise listen to a chance.

I don't buy everything that comes out on any labels, though.

yes, but mostly as a means of "if i can't find anything that i want to try out, see what xyz labels are releasing and i'll find something."

the gatekeeper days of media are over (i think?)... but like was said earlier, there is definite value to having musical curators, what with the internet making the signal to noise ratio of media pretty......daunting.