Alison,

Somehow, I don't think that Jon Pareles was referring to the few of us out there that seek out music for it's true beauty and how it speaks to our souls. Unfortunately, we diehard fans don’t pay the electric bill, do we? It's an ageless double-edged sword; the media's changed, but the conflict remains the same, even as technology advances. The decision: To be a TRUE artist and remain unknown and struggling, or to succumb to marketing and reach the masses? Every artist knows that in order to achieve the freedom to develop and express yourself, you need money, but don't want to be waiting tables for a living. Money, that necessary evil, provides the freedom to pursue your craft.

 

I think what I responded to in the article was writing with making money in mind and writing with other intentions. I think every artist wants to reach the widest possible audience, or at least, their audience. And we all want to be able to be able to do what we love full-time. But I think somehow to debut a song from a new album on Guitar Hero for me is saying it's not for serious listening. Would The Clash have done that and if they did, would it have had the same meaning as hearing those songs for the first time in a personal way - where you almost had a relationship with them. I dunno...