I find it interesting the longer I have been an independent musician, spending more money being a musician than I make, the more comfortable and happy I am spending money on other musician’s art.
10 years ago I was ripping off downloads via Limewire of CD’s from ‘bigger names’ when I wanted a new CD…admittedly, I was a shittier person then. I won’t deny that. Now I am more than happy to spend 10 bucks on a download or 15 on a CD based on a friend’s recommendation. I don’t even really think about the aspect that “this money is going to another artist for their work”, it has just been engrained in my head that it’s the right way to get music these days. As someone who gives 80% of their music away for free download I find that more people are willing to get the music they are asked to pay for than download. I am not sure what the psychology behind that is, but I guess it gives me hope that the life for folks doing this full time has a glimmer of hope that they can live off of being a songwriter, or guitarist, or traveling minstrel. That makes me happy.
I also find that I am more than happy to pay 20-30 bucks to go see a live show that I know is going to be great. It’s the fact that my favorite guitarist is now wearing silver sparkle suits, sunglasses at night and charging 80+ a ticket for nosebleeds that kills my heart a little bit every time he swings through town. But the 5, 10 or 15 bucks for a great local act around town is well worth it in my eyes EVERY TIME. I even deny a guest list spot much of the time because I’d rather the spot go to someone who may not go to the show otherwise and because that money goes right into the musician’s pocket and to keep the venue running (at least at the type of places I prefer to frequent).
What do you all think? Are you happy to chalk up the cash for musician’s albums? Do illegal download programs still even exist?