the future (end) of Boards of Canada

[oscillik]

the whole situation with Warp lately (and indeed labels in general) has gotten me thinking...what will happen to the roster of artists currently signed to Warp?

Warp have been making some rather questionable decisions lately, and to me it points to a label that is trying to stay afloat in an industry that is admittedly dying out due to the internet and piracy.

So what will happen to BoC when Warp sinks? because it will happen, and i would be bold enough to say that there won't be any Warp30 celebrations.

i personally see two choices:

• 1. Boards of Canada do the whole "Nine Inch Nails" style self-distribution through the internet thing
  
  or
  
  2. Quit releasing music publicly altogether

since Boards of Canada have openly shown their disdain for the internet in the past, i really don't think they would embrace digital distribution in the same way that Reznor has. ok, the internet presence of Boards of Canada has improved somewhat with the intermittent cryptic clues from our dear mdg, but on the whole i think that BoC would go for option 2, simply because their whole stance on music has been that they make it for their own enjoyment, and for the enjoyment of people close to them. i think they have more integrity than to bow to the pressures of a music industry going under, and i think they would much prefer to sink back into the obscurity whence they came.

discuss?

[Numerator]

rather depressingly, you hit the nail on the head...

[dono]

Mike and Marc seems like really down to earth normal people. Despite their previous distain for the "internet" in latter interviews, I believe I saw in a more recent one that they have finally embraced the internet for networking, and music and quite enjoy it. These rumors coupled with the psychological assumptions of the type of people who love music as they do, spend a significant amount of time doing it, and are very normal really lead me to believe that they have a greater appreciation and respect for their fans that what we give them credit for, or that they even show according to our expectations.

I honestly believe they would self release if warp died. They wont stop making music, it's part of their life. They are full time musicians and artists... why wouldn't they release?

[oscillik]

They wont stop making music, it's part of their life. They are full time musicians and artists... why wouldn't they release?

because making music does not equal making a living from it.

Music is art, not a business.

too many people forget this, and BoC seem like artists that definitely hold this notion very true to their hearts

[dono]

They wont stop making music, it's part of their life. They are full time musicians and artists... why wouldn't they release?

because making music does not equal making a living from it.

Music is art, not a business.

too many people forget this, and BoC seem like artists that definitely hold this notion very true to their hearts

They do love music. And I am glad they do it because they love it, not for a living.

Seeing as they don't have other jobs that I am aware of, they are doing it for a living, despite their reasons. I just can't see either of them taking time away from their art, to take on other jobs to keep them going. Why wouldn't they continue to do what they do, and just self release? Just because they get paid for their work, doesn't mean that's why they are doing it.

[novayshun]

what a load of twaddle. warp is in a much healthier position than ever. it will only cease if they decide to cease.

basically you are just sour because they are not releasing what you want at the times you want.

and at boc's productivity rate they will be contractually tied to warp for infinity+3 years

[Fredd-E]

and at boc's productivity rate they will be contractually tied to warp for infinity+3 years

word up.

[oscillik]

what a load of twaddle. warp is in a much healthier position than ever. it will only cease if they decide to cease.

basically you are just sour because they are not releasing what you want at the times you want.

and at boc's productivity rate they will be contractually tied to warp for infinity+3 years

actually that's not the reason i'm writing what i'm writing. how assumptuous of you.

i'm talking about the "money-making" schemes that are going on

[jcotteri]

warp is in a much healthier position than ever. it will only cease if they decide to cease.



and at boc's productivity rate they will be contractually tied to warp for infinity+3 years

so true

[Magic Brenda]

I would hazard a guess that the music isn't BoC's sole income. Very few artists can genuinely make a living purely from record sales, and the majority of income is from live performances/ PRS cheques. Earnings from gigs is obviously... negligible, their music does get used commercially but not really on big enough deals save the BBC who obviously have a retainer with Warp, so I can't really see there's a great deal of income generated from that, if they were smart enough not to accept an advance from Warp then they won't have to repay as much money before they get to see any profit from sales (though if memory serves me right it's approx. 12p per unit or somewhere in that region), so realistically to think that 2 people can exist solely on the revenue generated from the 6/7 officially released products in the past 15 years is highly unlikely. So, in the unlikely event that Warp folds (record labels won't disappear, they're just going to have to completely overhaul the antiquated contracts that are being used currently), I dare say BoC will just think "Meh" and as likely never release a single track ever again. they obviously aren't that fussed as, from what I can gather, for every official release there's 3 other albums that never made it, and clearly not sub par stuff otherwise they wouldn't play it out live, they could have released at the very least an e.p/ mini album a year to keep things ticking over if they so chose. Both for their benefit and their fans alike.

[oscillik]

I would hazard a guess that the music isn't BoC's sole income. Very few artists can genuinely make a living purely from record sales, and the majority of income is from live performances/ PRS cheques. Earnings from gigs is obviously... negligible, their music does get used commercially but not really on big enough deals save the BBC who obviously have a retainer with Warp, so I can't really see there's a great deal of income generated from that, if they were smart enough not to accept an advance from Warp then they won't have to repay as much money before they get to see any profit from sales (though if memory serves me right it's approx. 12p per unit or somewhere in that region), so realistically to think that 2 people can exist solely on the revenue generated from the 6/7 officially released products in the past 15 years is highly unlikely. So, in the unlikely event that Warp folds (record labels won't disappear, they're just going to have to completely overhaul the antiquated contracts that are being used currently), I dare say BoC will just think "Meh" and as likely never release a single track ever again. they obviously aren't that fussed as, from what I can gather, for every official release there's 3 other albums that never made it, and clearly not sub par stuff otherwise they wouldn't play it out live, they could have released at the very least an e.p/ mini album a year to keep things ticking over if they so chose. Both for their benefit and their fans alike.

very valid points there

although Merck did just disappear

[Archrival]

what a load of twaddle. warp is in a much healthier position than ever. it will only cease if they decide to cease.

basically you are just sour because they are not releasing what you want at the times you want.

and at boc's productivity rate they will be contractually tied to warp for infinity+3 years

I completely agree. Warp is just fine (signing more commercial artists then ever) and selling better than ever.

I mean come on !!! (Chk Chk Chk), Grizzly Bear (playing on Letterman and Leno), Maximo Park, Battles etc etc all shit bands except for maybe Grizzly Bear...

Its all bullshit that Warp is going under.

Boards Of Canada will keep releasing albums on their own or Warp no worries, maybe mdg could fill us in.

[Moebius]

I can't really see BoC releasing music without it being a physical product in at least some way. I think they'd keep going so long as they could find a reasonable partner for handing the manufacture, distribution, payment, etc., but I don't see it as something they would take on by themselves.

But I don't think Warp is in any particular trouble, either.

[rdy2bz]

BoC definately has the chance to self promote them successfully. They have a dedicated fan base, are more or less known and the most important thing: they really delivered quality music up to now. The big music catalogue of old songs almost cry for an internet release. I see kind of a market niche in that.

But let's wait, I'm rather confident that Warp will be around in the next years.

an industry that is admittedly dying out due to the internet and piracy.

First conclusion is right, second one is crap. This industry dies because it has lost its right to live in times of the internet, when everyone can release. It's the same reason as weavers died out when looms came out. Only little survive.

[Joebot Kill]

what a load of twaddle. warp is in a much healthier position than ever. it will only cease if they decide to cease.

basically you are just sour because they are not releasing what you want at the times you want.

and at boc's productivity rate they will be contractually tied to warp for infinity+3 years

I completely agree. Warp is just fine (signing more commercial artists then ever) and selling better than ever.

I mean come on !!! (Chk Chk Chk), Grizzly Bear (playing on Letterman and Leno), Maximo Park, Battles etc etc all shit bands except for maybe Grizzly Bear...

Its all bullshit that Warp is going under.

Boards Of Canada will keep releasing albums on their own or Warp no worries, maybe mdg could fill us in.

again with the battles hate. but i agree with what you said. of all the labels out there, i think warp is making the move into the 21st century more gracefully than most. one word: bleep... enough said.

[polar sky]

Who the hell knows. Really. Only they do. I don't think there is anything wrong with Warp, they are in way better shape than most.

[polar sky]

They wont stop making music, it's part of their life. They are full time musicians and artists... why wouldn't they release?

because making music does not equal making a living from it.

Music is art, not a business.

too many people forget this, and BoC seem like artists that definitely hold this notion very true to their hearts

I agree. Unless you have a huge fan base and tour out the ass you're not making money. So yeah, WARP wants BoC to make music for them to release, not the other way around. I'm sure they have real jobs on the side. Maybe one of them works at McDonald's, making hexagon shaped burger patties.

[audiotrack]

if BOC toured just once they would make a small fortune..
i cant believe they wouldnt realise that.

[oscillik]

if BOC toured just once they would make a small fortune..
i cant believe they wouldnt realise that.

i really don't think they care. they really don't seem to be in this for the money

[audiotrack]

if BOC toured just once they would make a small fortune..
i cant believe they wouldnt realise that.

i really don't think they care. they really don't seem to be in this for the money

i think they do care about the money. i think they get frustated with piracy. the statement from hex sun made that clear about who should profit etc etc.