You’re right, I misunderstood you. I was looking at your post from the perspective of a musician, and I thought you meant that what worked MUSICALLY 20 years ago wouldn’t work today. From the business model standpoint, I agree. The way my dumb brain works, the first interpretation it came up with was that you were saying something else.
Now, just because the labels won’t risk it, there’s no reason you can’t DIY with very little financial risk. You’re right.

Old model: a songwriter “collaborates” with a big-name artist who turns it into a hit. The songwriter gets a few pennies again and again through royalties.

New model: the songwriter and performer are a team, publicly working together and sharing the income made through performances and sales of unique items.

You might not want to believe it but if the 20th century models were working, we wouldn’t be having these discussions. Trying to clamp things down so these models can still apply is futile. Instead, you need to think about how the leveled playing field can work for everybody involved.

Dredd, I don’t recall ever saying that people couldn’t do well. In fact, I think it’s easier than ever for talented people to “do well.” What I think is foolish is imagining that old job classifications or payment schemes are going to work in the 21st century. Making things like royalties work requires a lockdown that both of us wouldn’t support, even if it were possible.

It was Frank Zappa who said that “cigar chompin’” executives, “what is it? I don’t know, throw it out there, if it sells, good” versus people now with their “I know what the people want to hear” and no risk.

As one of ‘you p2p people ‘ I find that statement kind of off as well Steel. The reason sharing doesn’t effect sales is that the fans simply want to support, and thus ultimately pay for what they like, whether it came from one artist, a collaborative effort, or a toothless old dude with a rubber band bass. Anything can work, and no one can really predict or quantify it. That’s why so much of the label stuff falls flat. Too much of it seems to be made by formula and focus group methods instead of just plain good writing and good teamwork. I THINK it was Zappa that suggested that they were better off before with the fat guys that didn’t know anything because at least they were willing to throw it out there and see what ’stuck’. With accountants,lawyers, and guys in suits that ‘know what they want to hear’ running things, ironically that doesn’t seem to come up with much anyone really wants to hear. So as one of ‘you people’ I don’t quite go along with that Steel. One of the crucial things I believe to be fact is that as long as the internet isn’t locked down by bad law, ANYONE can do well.

If you made money from it in the 20th century, it’s probably not going to work anymore.

This kind of sweeping statement suggests that some of you p2p people have a blinkered view of the situation.

Where is your evidence, Steely? Has songwriting become obsolete? Do people still want to hear great tunes and cool lyrics? If so, then you’ll probably find that people who have the skill to do that kind of thing will be in an even better position to exploit their talents.

Publishing royalties — whether from advances, album sales or radio plays — are an essential part of Walsh’s income.

Hey, Crosbie, why don’t you call her up and tell her that copyright is an 18th century concept that goes against natural law and shouldn’t be allowed to get in the way of artistic freedom?

yes sync licenses but, songwriters often write for artists who can’t seem to write themselves. so, they’re to go to one off payments?

Honestly, in an age of artist-fan connection there isn’t much room for “ghostwriting.” Yet there is plenty of room for collaboration. Many successful webcomics have been founded based around a model of “one writer, one artist.” Perhaps if somebody can sing but not write songs, the two of them work together – publicly, transparently, and cooperatively.

See how the digital age forces you to rethink everything? If you made money from it in the 20th century, it’s probably not going to work anymore. This causes all kinds of disruption, changes jobs around, and so forth, but there’s no stopping it. Either one adapts, or gets left behind.