[discostu]

Tours have always been where the money is for the artist, that's why the Grateful Dead became the richest band in the world inspite of not issuing a studio album for 15 years. But how do you get people to go to the shows without the big promotional machine of the music companies? How do you get the name recognition? Without the record companies there won't be a music industry. Another problem with your model is that CD-R aren't nearly as durable as regular CDs, because the business end is open to the air rather than sealed a regularly used CD-R only last a couple of years, I still listen to my first CD (Dark Side of the Moon, got it 15 years ago).

As for an honor system. Please. People don't pay for what you give them free, never happened never will.

[rdb3]

Tours have always been where the money is for the artist, that's why the Grateful Dead became the richest band in the world inspite of not issuing a studio album for 15 years.

Same can be said about MAZE featuring Frankie Beverly (a soul/jazz band from New Orleans). They never had an album go #1, yet are one of the most successful and profitable touring R&B bands in history.