While it’s 9/11 and there are far more tragic things to grieve about, today Hydrahead Records announced that it will be shutting down after a 20 year run. Starting this December, HH will “remain operational only in the interest of maintaining our back catalog, with the ultimate aim of repaying our rather sizable debts.” Get the full story straight from the horse’s mouth at hydraheadlines.blogspot.com.

It’s a sign of the times that a seemingly “successful” label, with a dedicated, albeit niche, following, finds itself closing its doors due to massive debt with no bailout in sight. Plain and simple, even rabid music fans aren’t actually BUYING records at a high enough rate to sustain the business that keeps their beloved artists afloat, even when that business is a grassroots outfit like Hydrahead. Of course this isn’t news, it’s been completely obvious for ages, but apparently it isn’t important enough to consumers to do anything about. We just shrug our shoulders and keep downloading or streaming away. And in effect we are letting the terrorists win!

You can’t go against the tide of history I suppose; technology has made it far too easy to listen for free, and I’m not sure the concept of paying for music is one the current generation is familiar with, even with the ease that smartphones and iTunes or Amazon have made possible. Streaming services like Spotify or Rdio reportedly pay artists a pitance, yet who can argue with having all the music in the world at their fingertips for a small monthly fee? Meanwhile, as the music industry crumbles at the feet of the internet, artists are empowered to put out their own work by the same tools they use to pirate the music they love. However, to rise above the glut of music now available, one has to be more of a business person/promoter than a musician. Although Warhol once famously said that business IS the ultimate form of art, what does this do to the actual level of ARTISTRY that garners the most attention? It’s highly debatable whether major iconic artists of past times would sink or swim in today’s murky waters, or whether we will ever have another Beatles or Nirvana in this age of 15 minute fame.