Well it's just gotten so if you can't find what you want - FREE - then you are not looking very hard.
Now I'm not a huge proponent of FREE DOWNLOADS, even though my company along with Mike Lawson did the very FIRST Internet download EVER *(and it was LEGAL) via CompuServer before the WWW even existed.
Be that as it may, there's a LOT happening in the STREAMING markets - and it looks like SPOTIFY will be moving to America - of course, there's plenty of other places to go - Mr. "KVETCH" prefers the whole AOL thing but I'm just NOT a fan of AOL/TIME WARNER since they bought out CompuServe and were SO PERVASIVE during the 90's and early 2000's - I've got too many friends using AOL interface for E-mail etc and if they've got a computer issue - it's usually AOL that's the problem - even if you UNINSTALL AOL it still leaves a TON of files all over your computer that you can't get rid of UNLESS you reformat...
But I digress...
I've got Satellite XM/Sirius in my car and the Internet - but I like some variety and don't like to pay for Satellite on my PC/MAC - so while I'm in the car, I usually listen to the Coffeehouse - Acoustic Covers, etc - but while I'm working - I really like Pandora - I've created almost 50 stations and can listen to almost any Genre, song, artist, you name it- but as with all things...I have to deal with the odd commercial now and again, as they become more pervasive - I'll just pay for it - let's just hope we don't get an ISP TAX for CONTENT - as that may WORK well for the Internet Service Providers and in some way for STREAMING SERVICES - but that will NOT BODE well for the CONTENT PROVIDERS - as what METRIC will they use to PAY the ARTIST, SONGWRITERS or even pay the session players, their meager $0.0000000001 cents per play. It's gotten just a LITTLE bit ridiculous but what can you expect when almost every musician or their brother has a home studio and crank out music and then POST almost anywhere and EVERYWHERE -
Hence the reason I like Pandora - (even though it does have an ARBITRON type algorithm to pick other songs) - but I can choose enough channels or create more to focus in on what I like.
But I also query, how do they keep up with people that have two computers side by side - and use ST AUDIO OUT - into STEREO AUDIO IN and just make their OWN copies of what's being played. Well there's NOT much anyone can do! But I do NOT have a problem paying for subscription services as opposed to buying song from iTunes - as once I've listened to a song a few times - I really don't care to revisit it anytime soon. But that's the future - all things available at all times - so get used to it - and learn how to build your own websites, get your brand out there - and work those social networks, because IF your MUSIC IS GOOD ENOUGH the people will COME!!
Royalties may not be what they used to be - nor is there much value in Sync Rights - but I love what Pomplomoose is doing - a simple set up with Pro Tools, a couple of Hi-Def cams and Sony Vegas and they've got their own label - and not even a very good website - but they are doing well and I"m happy for them - it's a brave new world - see be ready for change and go with the flow - as there's never been a better time to try to break out on your own - and with only FOUR MAJOR LABELS left - and EMI about to close the BIG THREE left standing haven't changed - so why not change along with the times!
Keep chasing your dreams and don't wait on success to knock on your door - go out and knock the doors down!
SM @ MSO
