[dark_lord]

Yes, but think about it: the very minute my band publishes a song, I no longer can charge anyone for it, because it is already FREE on the internet. So who can make a living writing or playing music?

This is the same problem facing anyone who tries to produce software for money. I suggest some ways to make money for musicians in this situation:

(1) Give the music away on the Internet. Charge for giving concerts.
(2) Make the music available for free on your website. Charge for tee-shirts, coffee cups, and anything else you can "brand."
(3) Sell music to PC & video game makers as background and scene music.
(4) Provide music as scene music to "indy" film makers for "free" in exchange for a cut of the take. Which means a cut of the video tape sales and rental income.

[The Old Hoosier]

I don't even necessarily object to the death of the industry--my favorite bands are broken up already.

All I'm saying is, you don't know what you're unleashing. it's not the free market, it's a world in which property rights are not respected.

[KevinB]

Exactly right. Check out www.patdinizio.com (Pat DiNizio being the leader of the Smithereens) and see how he's doing it. Very creative!

[BurbankKarl]

I didnt really pay much attention to Dave Matthews until I started seeing someone who listens to his music. They pretty much let you record anything at their concerts, with non professional equipment...kind of like the Grateful Dead's old policy. They have a fan club, with a website, etc. You get discounts when the new CDs come out, and more importantly, priority on concert tickets for the yearly tour. This way, they can sell their best seats to their best fans, and avoid ticketmaster surcharges, etc. For years the artists have complained that they havent been paid well by the record companies...which, I guess its true. The record companies are the ones hurting the most from the online trading, etc. The artists make it up on the tours, merchandise, etc.

On another unrelated note...we deal with some production companies in the movie industry....they hand out DVDs like they are Halloween candy. The production companies are only charged a buck for each of them, and they hand them out to visitors, vendors, etc. So, the consumer pays the $29 for a DVD, but those inside the industry get them for free.....also, most the people I ever knew ripping of cable with illegal converters were the ones in the industry...



>>>1) Give the music away on the Internet. Charge for giving concerts.
(2) Make the music available for free on your website. Charge for tee-shirts, coffee cups, and anything else you can "brand."
(3) Sell music to PC & video game makers as background and scene music.
(4) Provide music as scene music to "indy" film makers for "free" in exchange for a cut of the take. Which means a cut of the video tape sales and rental income.