by SHANE SINNOTT

I’ve been thinking lately that it would be appropriate during this economic low point to find some songs recorded during the Great Depression. But the thing is, yours truly doesn’t really know a whole lot about music during the Great Depression. What I do know, though, is how to work the Internet machine, which led me to a site called Manufacturing Memory: American Popular Music in the 1930s (tinyurl.com/367goq). It’s a thoroughly researched site, and there’s a specific section on the Great Depression, so you can stream some Cole Porter for free and shudder at the thought of your stock portfolio. Also check out “No Depression in Heaven” from 1936, by the the Carter Family—one of the most famous songs of the era—at tinyurl.com/6mwlq8.

You know who isn’t going to fare well if we have another depression? Major record labels, who are starting to use disturbing methods in their attempts to remain viable. Edgar Bronfman Jr., CEO of Warner Music, gave a keynote speech at the Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco recently where he revealed that a third of his roster, and all new singings, are under “360” deals. If you’re a musician and haven’t heard of these, get ready to shudder. A 360 allows the label a cut of all of a band’s activities—concert revenue, merchandise sales, online what-have-you etc. In what Bronfman is presenting as the only way forward—of course, sagging CD sales are to blame—it’s a set-up where a label doesn’t release a band’s work as much as own the band’s “brand.” So the irony here is that the online music revolution that helped so many artists may turn against them in the end, making the average record contract seem like a film one from the studio system days—you truly do sign your life away. Alan McGee, founder of Creation Records (My Bloody Valentine, the Jesus and Mary Chain) recently offered this on the subject: “It raises the question of legality. If you want a record deal, you have to give up money you earn from other endeavours. Isn’t this a form of extortion? What’s next? Will oil companies own our cars?”