The Music Industry Isn’t As Fucked As They Say

“Dear Congress,” begins this open-letter signed by Maroon 5, Elton John, and 180 of music’s best known acts.

“The existing laws threaten the continued viability of songwriters and recording artists to survive from the creation of music. Aspiring creators shouldn’t have to decide between making music and making a living.”

Tech killed the music industry!

That old yarn.

But here’s the thing…

The number of artists making a living from music has skyrocketed. Companies like DistroKid (disclosure: my company) empower any musician to put their music side-by-side next to Maroon 5 on the digital shelves.

That may not be great for Maroon 5. But it’s great for everyone else — artists and listeners.

This month, DistroKid artists have earned about $1 million from their music. Thousands of independent artists & producers you probably haven’t heard of.

Back before the days of streaming & digital sales — when record labels were the only way to get music into stores — most independents couldn’t earn a cent.

Earning a few thousand bucks may not mean much to Maroon 5 or Elton John. But to your average working musician… it does.

I understand why the 180 signatories in that open-letter are bummed. They used to make millions selling CDs… and now they don’t. They’re looking for an answer.

But if we’re really talking about “aspiring creators making a living” — the odds have never been higher.

Ps- If you happen to be in Seattle, WA on August 6, 2016 — I’ll be there & throwing a big musician meetup in Cal Anderson Park. Details & RSVP here.