I have two words for the music industry: creative destruction.
The music industry, due to the power of the internet, is undergoing a radical evolution right now that is killing its old business model. Record sales are down by a third in the past few years precisely because 95% of the population is getting their music for free.
Either the music industry can embrace this change and adapt to it or it can fight it. But “suing fans does not seem like a winning strategy.”
Musician Richard Shindell is one forward-thinking artist embracing the change:
In my view (that of a person trying to make a living creating music intended for other humans to hear), your downloading my song is functionally the same thing as hearing it in a subway tunnel.
Read more of his poignant thoughts here.
LIV