(no subject)

[arethinn]

How Much Do Music Artists Earn Online?

(brief answer: the word "pittance" comes to mind.)

I really like the blog that post comes from, too, by the way: http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/

Comments

[enotsola]

http://paulandstorm.bandcamp.com/ & http://amandapalmer.bandcamp.com/ are both artists I've seen using bandcamp, which seems to be a pretty decent way strategy. I've seen it described as basically just having the open guitar case in front of you and letting people throw in whatever they feel is appropriate. I'm not sure what kind of income they see from something like this though.

http://dl.nin.com/theslip/signup is the same kind of thing, although http://ghosts.nin.com/main/order_options took it further, offering the crazy special edition that I'm sure would have been awesome if you were wanting to make professional level remixes and stuff. I seem to recall hearing the limited to 2500 $3000 edition sold out rapidly, but Nine Inch Nails is already pretty well established. I don't think RandomInternetMusician™ is likely to see that kind of income online.

I think all of these use Creative Commons, which certainly helps. Means people are free to make use of these songs in podcasts and the like. And while I'm sure that Radio Free Burrito using Mr Fancy Pants didn't really expose a lot of new people to Jonathan Coulton, but maybe a few? Bad example, as I think their audiences probably already overlap a great deal.

[arethinn]

I'm not sure NIN is the greatest example, because while I'm sure Trent Reznor is worth his hire, I doubt if he's in danger of not making his rent at any given point.

And while I'm sure that Radio Free Burrito using Mr Fancy Pants didn't really expose a lot of new people to Jonathan Coulton, but maybe a few?

Me, for one, since I don't follow Jonathan Coulton in any separate way.

edit: Actually I don't listen to Radio Free Burrito really either, but still I wouldn't be surprised if through Wil was where I heard that.

[enotsola]

I believe so, as I think I was playing.. some final fantasy or other while you were on them there internets on the laptop. I seem to recall you listening to RFB once we ran out of Memories of the Futurecast!

But yeah, I don't think Trent Reznor is a great example either. What with the solid gold tour bus, painted black.