Hello : As most of you know for the last few years there have been some major changes in the music business. Espically in the recording industry. Music stores close left and right every day and Virgin records has just decided to sell or close all their stores. Last year it was Tower Records. Bands are starting to give their music away for free in hopes that more people will come to their shows or buy their merchandise such as T-Shirts,Cap's etc....

 Large high dollar recording contracts are almost a thing of the past except for well established already famous musicians.

 To the avrage musician trying to break into the music business what this does is take all the money out of the sale of music itself and force the recording artist to do more shows just to live. In larger cities like here in Chicago just to git a gig to play has become a nightmare. With more and more bands and musicians looking for shows for revenue the wages have gone down and the lines of bands and musicians wanting to play is getting very long.

 A few months ago Starbucks Coffee decided to go into the music business with their own label. Wal-Mart has their own label now to. Mabey Toys R Us is next?  Or 7-11??? Buy a slurpee and git a CD?

 Here again we see lot's of clubs asking musicians and bands to play for free and letting them sell their CD's and merchandise to make a few bucks???? One friend of mine does 5 shows a week for free and has been doing that for almost 4 years. Wanting the exposure and trying to create a fan base is the reason for that in hopes of a recording contract one day? Or the sale of a few T-Shirts or mabey a few CD's???

 The cost of producing a good quality CD ready for market is still high. To the independant musician such as myself that cost is yours to eat. In hopes that you might be able to sell a few CD's??? I guess you could work at Burger King during the day and live in a homeless shelter and do free shows at night??? To me this is as close to insane as it git's. It makes the saying "Starving Musician" take on a very real meaning. Mabey one day soon you will be able to find your favorite musician/band on the street with a can for donations doing live free shows? Or mabey they could trade music for food and shelter?

 here is an article you may want to read about the broad spectrum of it all:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article2602597.ece

Peace
Leo