[jwallaceparker]

>> On the otherhand, there are now a million indie labels, and lots of success stories from people using the internet.

Exactly. As long as there is free competition among labels (i.e. music producers) there will be continually lower prices (i.e. better contracts) for musicians.

And the "million indie labels" have brought much more competition.

I would say overall it is a great time to be a recording artist.

[ethank]

I would like to see the quantified evidence of an Internet band making it through full ascension without ever touching one of the big 4/3. It is REALLY hard to find.

It's a great time to be a recording artist and be self sufficient. If you want to be the next U2 (or if you are U2) it's rather difficult and will remain so.

People speak about disruption. This industry is ripe for it, but it won't happen until a lot of the past is weeded out through attrition and better players take hold. It'll take an inversion in corporate structures.

Right now its too easy to never sign a band and just mine catalog for a long, long time. Hence the value in publishing assets, and the value in mechanical for catalog.

[billpatrianakos]

As you can see by my previous reply, I'm kind of cynical on this. I agree with what you just said, jwallaceparker, but I'm looking at the other side of the same coin.