It raises some interesting questions. I first went on the internet in January 2006. I downloaded like crazy. But I also bought more than 100 CDs that year, whereas in previous years I had probably averaged less than 10 a year. Nowadays I download a lot less, and I also buy a lot less. I'm not typical - I know of people who use the internet to make sure that they don't spend any money on music. I don't know how it averages out. Artists aren't getting money because shops/stores take 50% of the cost of a CD, then the transport and warehouse people and everyone else get a cut. And finally the record companies have always ripped off artists. So is the jury out or am I being naive?
ill download older blues stuff cause there so much of it that i wouldnt ever afford it all. like i have every single album out there from certain artists. an most places dont even stock them. an most of them are dead anyway so there not looseing any money. so i could either download it for free an listen an know the music or not have any money an never get to hear it. i think the first choice is better. but if the artist is new ill download it an if i like it, ill go buy it too out of respect, an cause i like the covers an whats inside them etc... like when i saw jason i got his albums from him, an i got the new one off amazon. an when i go see satan an adam, if he has some albums ill buy those too. but say its like a major lable super rock star with millions of dollers. fuck them. ill download there shit an never pay for it. lol. unless they offer some thing like a cd/dvd package wich alot of artists do now probobly because of that reason.
I've just remembered something. A long time ago John Williams (Australian classical guitarist) was in a group called Sky, and I heard an interview with him. Everyone assumed that being in the group was earning him a fortune, but no, he said, his classical concert tours were far more lucrative than the royalties from Sky's records. I don't know if that's relevant to anything.
Last Edited by on May 17, 2009 3:12 AM
Interesting, I have a question that this interview brought to mind. I've seen Jason 6-7 times and he invites you to video, take pictures etc and I've always thought that was smart way to get exposure and build a fan base. When I've seen others like Charlie Musselwhite, Kim Wilson, James Cotton and Mark Hummel especially the video stuff and no flash photography they make such an issue of it at times I've felt like sayin "piss off" to them. No ones going to make money off selling some little video clip of your favorite harp guy doing a classic it's just a way to re-live it later after the moment. Can anyone explain the issue a performer would have with say fans video taping off a camera? Or Flash photography?? CM guitar player stepped down in front of me and started shaking his head like Gene Simmons of KISS, honestly he should be glad I even wanted to record, it wasn't that good!(sorry I love CM but this attitude spoiled my enthusiasm)
Last Edited by on May 17, 2009 6:19 AM
O.T. Hey BlackNote. Visited your myspace site and thought your music was really sublime. Nice slow understated harmonica work which was just right. Black Echo and Lion were superb. Anymore? ----------
The stuff about royalties is interesting. I don't know how it works out for upcoming artists, but I know the BIG names make more money from live performance and merchandise than they do from record sales. This is why artists like Prince are 'giving away' their music - to encourage attendance at live shows.
I have a question...
I want to buy Jason's new album. I'll have to wait a while in the UK to get a physical copy, but I can get a download from iTunes now. I was wondering which way gave the band a bigger cut? I know it's probably a miniscule difference - just curious really. Anyone know the %s?
A great interview indeed, shows what a cool guy Jason really is.
It's sad, that the big money with music is not made by the artists themselves but by the big music industry in the background. That's why the industry is fighting so hard with all sorts of copy protection mechanisms be it on CD or in digital downloads. Maybe the free sharing of music really is the way to go: cut out the middleman.
The same problem also applies to other industries like the videogame industry for instance. The publishers are the big money makers there and not the developers who actually created the game.
I hope that more and more money flows into the right pockets in the near future. It would be a shame if we only had to cope with highly merchandised mainstream products. That would be the death of creativity and real genius in the long-run.
