Re: [microsound] mp3 redux

[Renick Bell <the3rd2nd@xxxxxxxxx>]

There's a moral point that continually comes up regarding downloading ? support
the indie labels if you download. This indie boosterism doesn't do it for me.
As much as I'd like to lend a hand to other artists, this capitalist world
forces me to be more practical. There is an idea that artists should be able to
earn enough money from their creative endeavors to support themselves and their
families. I would love to be a part of that (sometimes questionably) enviable
group; however, I doubt many people aside from the superstars and other
major-label-supported performers are doing so. To those list members with CDs
out, remind us if the income from sales of your CDs is your only or major
source of income. If it is, would you be kind enough to tell us not your
income, but a self-assessment of your standard of living (lower-class by
American standards and proud of it, comfortably middle-class, rich-as-hell and
not done yet)? 

The continuing death of labels (such as Strictly Rhythm
http://www.discjockey101.com/oct2002.html) means that labels aren't keeping up
with the times. They are offering an obsolete product. Some people continue to
promote packaging (case, liner notes, hand-drawn/printed art) as a
justification for the production of CDs. However, it's arguable that these are
contributors to environmental problems. The mining of the aluminum at the core
of the CD destroys wildlife habitats, the solvents used in sputtering the
aluminum disc with plastic are toxic, the use of the plastic in the cases
supports Bush's oil empire, the cardboard in the sleeves brings down more
trees, the manufacturing process uses too much electricity which wastes
resources, the selling of the CD in stores through distributors promotes an
inefficient delivery system, and so on. Why buy such a product when it is
available, minus all drawbacks, for free on the web? There is the moral
argument that I should buy it because not to is stealing. However, if buying it
means supporting and affirming all of the aforementioned ills, wouldn't
downloading be at least in morally neutral territory?

The only arguments I hear on various lists are moral ones. Why do all writers
ignore the economic side of this, imho, primarily economic issue? What is the
product that an artist can provide that is compelling enough to buy? I have a
well for my water; why would I pay the city for their water system? Live
performing is one aspect. Jello Biafra moans about the
artists-as-traveling-minstrel, and given the poor environmental conditions of
most venues (cigarette smoke, drunken spectators, competition with the
meat-market background), I can see his point. Those of you who are selling CDs
and performing live, what is the breakdown, percentage-wise, in the income?
Steve Albini writes (http://www.negativland.com/albini.html) that for most
major label bands, the CD is already a vehicle for promoting a tour (the only
real source of income).  Interestingly, farmers have been facing a severe
downturn in the price of their commodity. Without subsidies, farming in America
isn't profitable. The same goes for American manufacturing. In our world,
everything has become too easy to make and so there is too much of it. Core
economic issues are being challenged in ways that haven't been before.
Capitalism relies on scarcity and unlimited resources (sounds absurd from the
start, doesn't it?). We are rapidly facing the end of scarcity (at least for
many information-based products) and the end of unlimited resources (oil, land,
wood, others). 

So the real question is: how can artists make a living at art in this economic
situation? For me, donations aren't a viable answer; I already find the
Salvation Army guy at Christmas to be a nuisance. What is a compelling and
morally-superior product that an artist can produce to make a reasonable
income? While it's clear that the problems with capitalism are long-standing,
it doesn't appear that other viable systems are forthcoming. I realize it's a
little OT, but can anyone recommend recent writing (preferably web-based)
discussing these problems? Anyone know any outstanding articles on gift
economics?

Renick 

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