It's just nice to see the "mainstream" media recognising that, unlike what the RIAA is saying, the sky didn't fall in as a result of the internet. As a musician myself I wholeheartedly embrace the new distribution methods because they are better for the consumer. The biggest challenge for me is defining what my product is (generally not an easily copied mp3 download) and then making this super effective and properly targeted. This is a good thing, however, as now that the IFPI and the RIAA have been all but taken out of the equation, the freedom we have to make innovative packages is pretty damn awesome.
Yes. When I was in New York one day, I happened to attend a meeting by some socialist musicians about how the internet has changed their livelihoods. The theorists and old guys talked about how we need state support and forming a union.
The younger pragmatists where content with giving away their mp3s and selling T-shirts.
That's interesting, however the position of the older guys is quite understandable in some ways. The entertainment industry over in the 'States is pretty unionised in the professional part of it, so I guess those guys were just advocating what they know.
Obviously this young musician is a pragmatist, though.
