I agree with yr persuasion, but I have to disagree at the same time. This is what built scenes, and what kept communities into the same music connected. You didn't have as much cross-pollunation going on. That's why DC hardcore sounded different than LA hxc. The thing is, bands did get out. Whether through zines, or word of mouth, or mags, or just touring their asses off. There was a world before the internet, and true you might not have reached the gazillions of kids, but I think now there's a greater chance of being washed away as well by the swells of bands promoting the same avenues/sounds.

Yeah, that's all it was; maybe your lack of comprehension on this subject is that non-mainstream music didn't exist for YOU until the advent of the internet.

you guys are insane.

my argument is that the internet, and all things that go along with it (including file sharing) are universally positive things for the music industry, and that many of the bands that are succeeding today (good or not) wouldnt have had a chance 15 years ago.

im surprised that people are arguing with that.

I think a lot of people would argue with that. Mostly people who owned or worked at record stores that closed in the past year. Also people who worked for certain record labels that have restructured and downsized due to declining sales.

Online/digital music sales weren't performing up to expectations, either, the last I heard.

Of course a lot of this stems from the fact that major labels haven't managed to figure out a way to effectively adapt yet, but I certainly don't think that, at this point, you could say that the internet has been "universally positve" for the industry.

The internet is undoubtedly great for wider exposure and probably for music in general, but the music industry is another story…

Fair enough. I guess industry is the wrong word. How about "music" as a whole, then (as was asserted by Darrin).

Its become cheaper/easier to make and promote music. there are multiple different avenues in which to sell and distribute your music and, while its not always friendly to brick and mortar, the various avenues for creation/manufacturing/distribution and promotion seem like they would benefit the actual musicians.

I guess the only negatives are that its a lot harder to con people for $18.99 per CD.

I'm torn. I guess it's nice that with digital technology, just about anyone can make and release a cd. Problem is, the market these days just seems so flooded. I mean, just because everyone can make a cd doesn't mean everyone should.

And, I have to wonder how many of these people putting out little self-released, self-market music...and giving a good chink of it away, are actually able to make a living in the music bizz or do they all have to work day jobs?

Being into your art and fighting against compromise is nice and all, but this absurd notion that music is this pure thing that can't be used to make a living and is somehow sullied anytime anyone makes a buck off it is just silly.

man i'd love to make a living off of music, but i don't see it happening. i also don't see me stopping anytime soon.

being able to record at home, at what i think is a fairly high quality, has vastly improved my creative life. whether anyone wants to listen... well, i'm not gonna worry about that right now.

There are stores??? I thought it was just kiosks in the coffee shops.

there are entire stores.

and this is the type of artist im willing to actually invest my money in

and they'll always be plenty of them

the industry is obsolete

it's hard to say goodbye to cool little record shops
but the music was there before the record store
and it will continue on
always and forever

ill still download SY
but they can't have my moneys anymore

starbutt coffees lol

I wonder if there was a fight for Teenage Riot!

Personally, and no offense to the Prince at all, I tend to believe that relegating music making to a part-time hobby while the musicians have to struggle with day jobs isn't really a good step to ensuring quality music continues to be mode.

It seems a bit odd that nowadays you need to spend a few hundred on an Ipod and a thousand or more on a computer to get music, but the notion of spending 10-15 bucks on a CD just seems outrageous.

i agree.
and i'm one that is benefitting from the environment that allows my 40% musician 60% job lifestyle.

listen to my shit sometime, it's free.

and as far as i'm concerned, i've got two full time jobs, it's just that one pays much better. But I probably spend equal amounts of time on it.

where is this free shit located?