Where Are the Musicians?

From a private discussion list comes a link to Ani DiFranco ‘s letter to Ms. magazine explaining the art-above-bucks ethos that enables her to escape the recording industry’s death clench.

Not caring about money is one way out. But why have there been no — NO — established bands that have been willing to try an alternative revenue model? Why has not a single band that we’ve already heard of released an album over the Internet either for free or for a third the cost of a CD (= 4x what they make from the recording industry)? Why not any experiments in giving away MP3s while selling a year’s subscription to the work of the band over the next year? Is it as simple as the fact that all established bands are locked into contracts that forbid them from innovating? Or have I simply missed the music sites that are economically innovative?

Hell, where are the book writers, too? (Oh, shut up!)

For those looking for the gumption to actually care about little things like profits and revenues, Eric Norlin’s latest econowarrior newsletter is highly recommended.

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