Re: [ARSCLIST] Musican's compensation, wa CD versus Download was "All hail the analogue revolution..."

[Don Cox <doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 05/10/06, Bob Olhsson wrote:
> Karl Miller wqrote:
>> Consider all of those young rock and roll musicians who put their
>> recordings up on the web and allow free downloads, just to let people
>> hear their music...and so they might be able to develop a following
>> and get gigs. Does the lack of payment for those free downloads
>> discourage them from playing and making those recordings available?
> 
> This has been one of the most specious song sharking scams in history.
> It's unheard of for free downloads to drive CD sales or sell tickets
> to see anybody but a "name" performer. It has been around long enough
> that people are starting to realize this form of "exposure" has been
> an utter failure.
> 
> The working conditions for musicians today are dramatically worse than
> they were when I started during the mid 1960s. Busking on the street
> provides more useful exposure and pays better than most club gigs.

I am told that it pays better than University lecturing, too.

> Nobody can make a living in the minor leagues. This is why there isn't
> a whole lot to choose from in today's major leagues and a lot of the
> public is yawning at the idea of spending money on music or music
> reproduction compared to the past.
> 
Regards
-- 
Don Cox
doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx