Eh. So instead of the record store, it's just the local club that books the indie acts. You go to the show and then go home and download the mp3. To me, the best thing about mp3s is being able to buy a single track. If every artist was like Guy Clark and put out brilliant records start to finish, I wouldn't have a problem with buying the whole record. But even with artists I like, there's typically two or three tracks on an album that are worth listening to more than once. I'm not interested in paying $15 for two or three tracks. Lame.
“it’s just the local club that books the indie acts.”
The problem is very few artists break even, or break out of just playing for their friends. It costs money to print posters, postcards, and drive to a gig. It still costs money to produce creative work on a level where you can make a living at it. Yes, some doors will open as a result of where things are going, but by and large, not even the big names are making money any more.