1. What is really ironic is that in the "old" days, people that were "indie"(that term wasn't around back then....neither was "alternative")were totally DIY, and they did it at most to FAMOUS, as opposed to RICH, as it happens to be today. Funny the way that works. Those people from the "old" days, punks let's call them, produced some great music, and were VERY influential and had some cool careers, overall. Contrast that with today- a lack of creativity, a generally weak scene, and almost totally motivated by all that (supposed) cash. It would seem to follow that something "indie" would not be mainstream, hence sell less units. That was true in the old days-there weren't that many people that were into punk, but they were dedicated fans. The music has a certain frankness that myself(and most of my peers) find almost totally lacking in todays movement. I hate to quote the old French Romanticists, but 'Art for Art's sake",(and maybe I hope I get famous....)not 'Art for Monie$ $ake'. Call me biased or old fashioned, but commercialism and creativity just don't mix inmy book. It really is the end of counterculter, everything is marketed now.

Posted at 5:47PM on Dec 13th 2006 by Karl Lazlo

2. Karl nice blog you hit the nail on the head the internet open more doors for new artist
and now they have more control of there music and
like you said Art for Art's sake",(and maybe I hope I get famous....)not 'Art for Monie$ $ake'.

Posted at 7:35PM on Dec 13th 2006 by Ronnie Little

3. The entrepreneurial webmasters were far ahead of the record companies when it came to the possibilities the Net presented. The webmasters jumped in and developed sites (some with more resources than others) for the indie and unsigned artists to get that attention, network, radio play, artist development, and learn some music marketing skills. Since artist development is pretty well out the window now, those artists and bands with a willingness to push the envelope online will certainly be a much smarter business person when and if that record deal comes around.

Posted at 9:04PM on Dec 13th 2006 by Donna Liguria

4. Same thing happens with other arts, look on photography. Stunning work, of amateurs on all kind of free and open forums. Must note, that some of the "professional" members work, looks rather pityfull compareing to photographs taken by talented housewifes, or retired cops .
Long Live democracy, and internet.

Posted at 9:07AM on Dec 14th 2006 by Zenon

5. I think the internet is the most important way to scout new talent. Especially in times of Web 2.0 Video-Sites and Karaoke-Communities, nearly everyone is able to be a star. This is a great opportunity for all ambitious musicians out there.

Posted at 10:33AM on Dec 14th 2006 by Andre Songtexte

6. In my opinion the internet is one of the most important ways to scout new talent. Especially in times of Web 2.0 and Karaoke-Communties nearly everyone is able to be a star. It´s a big opportunity for every musician.

Posted at 10:48AM on Dec 14th 2006 by Andre Songtexte

7. People aren't putting up with the RIAA any more. The RIAA is tumbling out of control with all the different law suits and restrictions they moving forward with. They even hope to lower royalty payments. Check out digitalfreedom.org, they are standing up to these big monopolies.

Posted at 3:14PM on Dec 14th 2006 by Charles Martin

8. Hello,

My 2 cents worth..

I agree with most of what has been said, however I think the Internet will mostly serve the young musician who caters for the young listener. Good on them I say, heaven knows the major labels (and major radio and major stores) can take the blame for the steady demise of creativity and avenues for promotion by artists who aren't attached to a major. This is their only avenue to survive.

But, and there is one, the Internet is not helping much the older performer who aims his/her material at the older folks, you know, the baby boomers etc.. Many of these older folks don't even go near a computer, let alone the Internet, yet they were avid radio listeners and avid CD buyers. They didn't have to be technology savy to do that.

Like Porter Waggoner said at the meeting, the days of 'local' promotion are over. My days of fame go back to the late 50s and early 60's when one could plan a tour or record promotion into a certain region and could actually fill houses and outsell others in that area of promotion, yet maybe nowhere else.

This type of promotion formed building blocks for careers. Aim at particular markets and 'sock it to 'em'. Today, one can't get play on 'local' radio cause 'local' radio isn't 'local' any more. They are fed from the major cities who program from major city playlists.

Many of my friends are local radio station managers and program managers and they are so frustrated with the 'corporate' mentality that has taken over anything 'local'. They feel like branch bank managers now, just balancing books. The buzz of the 'show business' has gone. No performers visit them any more, very few tours go out any more and they are not allowed to play anything that hasn't been programed by younger MD's at the feed source.

The domino effect has now entered the 'live' scene and because new and older acts are not heard any more on radio (unless they are with a major), they are slowly disappearing from the 'consciousness' of the radio listener. The 'out of site, out of mind' syndrome is alive and well.. The old fan never gets to hear the new recordings their favourite artist is still releasing so after a while they think the artist has maybe retired or given up.

So, back to the top! Whilst the Internet can help the young get to their young audiences in faraway and distant places, it does little for the established artist whose audience except for a few. are not on myspace or lurking around the web.

I liken it a little to the industrial age in the 18th century. The older folk had their horses and the younger folk had their automobiles.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about the effects of the Internet on the older performer and older listener/buyer, whether you agree with me or not.

Good luck, Merry Christmas and a great New Year to all!

Lonnie

Posted at 5:29PM on Dec 14th 2006 by Lonnie Lee

9. What the entertainment industry (movies, music, TV, etc) doesn't understand yet is technology is doing to the entertainment industry what it did to the manufacturing industry 30 years ago. Robots and computers meant you needed far fewer workers to run a factory.

The internet you need far fewer people to promote a band. In the next few years the goofy videos we're watching on youtube will evolve into movies and the video podcasts on itunes will eventually become TV shows, all distributed over the internet. Somebody will produce something that will catch the attention of mainstream America, 1,000 copycats will arise, a financial model that allows money to be made will fall into place, and TV falls away as the web becomes how we get most of our entertainment.

It's no where near close to that point right now obviously, but it is only a matter of time probably less than a decade away. Somebody needs to come up a TV box that can do this while being easy enough for anyone to use. and we need a "killer app" some piece of content that people want to watch, but through either quality or novelty you can't get anywhere else.

Posted at 2:08PM on Dec 18th 2006 by skyrous

10. This editorial from the San Fran Examiner really relates to this posting:

http://www.examiner.com/a-468698~Digital_technology_can_help_music.html

Digital Technology Can Help Music

John Colleton, The Examiner
Dec 21, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO - As the front man for a rock band, I just don’t get why I should have to worry about Congress making my job harder. But I do worry, because now — in addition to having concerns with booking gigs, cutting demos and touring incessantly — I have the government, prodded by the big record labels, trying to limit the ways my music can be heard.

Let me explain. Because my band isn’t well-known, we rely on creative and innovative ways to get people to listen to our sound. Affordable, off-the-shelf recording equipment gives us the ability to create and mix our own tracks without having to schedule expensive studio time at professional facilities.

But more important, the Internet has given us a unique opportunity to reach out to an infinite number of potential fans and labels. Web sites such as MySpace and YouTube give us the chance to upload our music and even videos. Every day, tens of thousands of people go to these sites and others like them, looking for the next hot band.

Internet word-of-mouth and viral marketing have the ability to drive new fans to a group’s Web site where songs can be legally downloaded and CDs purchased directly. For bands such as mine that are starting out and trying to rise above the fray, this is the only way to grow a fan base quickly and even make a living.

We don’t even need a contract with a major recording label. Sounds great, right? But these new digital possibilities are also the root of the problem, because major record labels feel threatened by them. So they’re trying to get their friends in Congress to limit and restrict these new technologies.

The labels like the way things have always been, where only a small fraction of the very talented groups performing professionally ever get a recording deal and access to a broad audience. Even though this model limits the variety of music and art that can be out there, the record labels want to keep it this way, because they make a killing on theses contracts. The independent music model, using new digital technologies, doesn’t compute with their antiquated business model.

But what they don’t understand is that their business can only flourish with our success. The greater variety of up-and-coming artists there are out there, the more they benefit from helping them get to the next level. For example, in the 1980s the only way many artists could be heard was to record mix tapes and distribute them to friends. Many artists in hip-hop made a name for themselves before they were even signed through their success on the street.

The labels should recognize that we’re at a similar point in music history. Digital technology can help their businesses — not hurt them.

Satellite radio is a great example of how new technologies have opened people — and even business — to more possibility and opportunity. Subscribe, and listen commercial-free to hundreds of bands, DJs and others that would otherwise never be heard from. Just because it’s not played by your favorite FM station or on MTV, doesn’t mean that there isn’t talent out there worth hearing. The best part is satellite radio lets us test our sound on air virtually free of charge.

This is a stark contrast to the large majority of those bands that are lucky enough to land a recording contract, yet are paid a modest advance against sales, and never actually sell enough CDs to recoup the label’s investment. These groups often quickly fade from sight. New technologies offer hope and huge opportunity for new artists.

I hope a label picks us up and signs us to a deal. I hope we get booked on more and more tours across the country. I hope we make a name for ourselves and our music is heard by our fans everywhere. I worry, though, that our dreams will never be realized because along with the financial burdens of starting up a band, we’re fighting a lobbying campaign from the record labels.

Artistic freedom is at risk and it needs to be protected.

Johnnie Colleton is a singer, guitarist and songwriter for the San Francisco-based band The Bonedrivers and member of the Digital Freedom Campaign.

Posted at 3:57PM on Dec 21st 2006 by Charles Martin

11. In comment to Lonnie's blog, yes what you said is true of older performers and their fans!

I myself would be classified as an older performer and yes, it is important for older folks to keep up and learn or practice computer technology!

I figured out quite some time ago that if we didn't get with the computer technology atleast basic operation, that older folk were going to get left behind in the dust paramount to being illiterate and unable to read or write during the pioneer and industrial age!
So yes, if older folks do not take their place in the computer age they will lose a lot of quality rights and enjoyment like music preferance etc.

If you put nothing in you'll get nothing out, as with everything else you have learned!

it is very important and really not hard to get atleast a basic handle on computer technology!
Cliff Dawe
www.artistopia.com/Cliff_Dawe

Posted at 5:10PM on Dec 25th 2006 by Cliff Dawe

12. As a representative of the digitalfreedom campaign, I think Colleton's op ed is right on the money. Digital technology makes is possible for new artists to get noticed and compensated, without signing up with a big label. It's clearly the future of music. I'd bet many other young artists feel the same way.

Posted at 5:41PM on Jan 2nd 2007 by Jim McGann