We live in the digital age, which is both a blessing and a
curse for the music industry (and society as a whole). On the one hand, we have
nearly unlimited access to an inordinate amount of music, and independent
artists have a platform to showcase their talent without a record label. But on
the other hand, the sheer volume of music available on streaming services and
the ease with which music can be pirated has seem to have brought an end to the
necessity and joy of buying music. Consumers now have the mindset of “why buy
this when I could just get it for free?”.
Well, I’m here to tell you why: you buy music to support the
artists. They are living, breathing human beings that need to support
themselves (ditto for whoever owns the rights to the music of deceased artists).
Songs aren’t written by machines (but if they were, London would beckon for
them apparently). Though one could argue that the corporate entities that write
a lot of the Top 40 stuff are effectively machines- but that topic is best left
for another day. My point is that for many, being a musician is not just a
hobby. It’s a livelihood. Musicians
deserve a return on the art they work so hard to make. Your duty as a fan is to
support the artists you revere by buying their music and merch, attending their
shows, and spreading the word so that their fanbase can grow. This is
especially important for independent artists who aren’t backed by a label. So,
take an active role as a fan. Introduce your friends to your music. Buy albums,
merch, and concert tickets to give as gifts. Actively promote your favorite
artists on social media- especially if they are not well-known yet. Show them
your support and gratitude for all that they do, because they work incredibly
hard for their art.
Yes, we’re all guilty of listening to music for free on the
internet. It’s a great resource. Most of us have probably even pirated music at
some point in our lives (some bands even encourage it!). While it’s true that
some artists don’t make much money from selling albums due to their recording
contracts, many artists you will come across on the web are independent artists
who are not part of a record label (or if they are, it’s a small label). These
are the artists that are doing it all themselves: recording, promotion, booking
gigs, etc. They put everything they have into what they do. And for what? To ripped
off by “fans”? Perhaps people think that because music itself is intangible, it
does not deserve to be bought. This could not be further from the truth. Tangibility
and worth are two separate things; quality is quality, whether you can hold it
in your hand or not. And isn’t that what CDs and vinyls are for anyway?
Oh, and for the love of God, please don’t use Spotify and
crap like that- artists only make about $.006 cents per play. Or if you absolutely must pay for a
streaming service, at the very least don’t treat it as a substitute for
actually buying music and supporting
your favorite artists. And, if money is tight and you only have a limited
amount of money to spend on music (don’t we all?), try to use that designated
money to specifically support independent artists who are not part of a major
label. They need every sale they can get, and as an active fan you can directly
contribute to their success and help them gain recognition.
So, if you love the music you’re listening to, please buy it
and support the artists so that they can continue to make more great music
(and, you know, feed themselves). And, of course, go to their concerts, rock
their merch, and be a proud fan.
Speaking of supporting independent artists, please take the
time to check out Get Off My Lawn Records, a co-op of artists pooling their
resources to make cool stuff! Get 10% anything in their catalog by using the
code ninja1.
What’s your opinion on buying music? Comment below!
