I somewhat agree, and somewhat disagree with this. I think what's killing the creative content in the world is trying to adapt old models into new surroundings; as opposed to developing a new model for current mediums.

IE: Why do we still have record labels?

I'm probably in a vast minority, but I'm of the opinion that listening to music should be free. As a guy that (used to be a) musician, I don't want to take anyone's money if they want to appreciate my work. Let's be honest; I'm writing and creating because I pretty much feel compelled to do so. It's just been something that I do. If someone wants to appreciate it, even better!

For the most part, we don't pay visual artists to look at their work. I find it strange that it's considered a social norm that we expect to pay musicians (at least) something to listen to their work, but we don't pay a sculptor, or a painter to view their piece. When someone buys an album, they're not actually buying the music, they're buying the right to listen to the music. Quite frankly, it's pretty easy to steal it anyway these days... why make criminals out of people?

On the other hand... if someone wants to take my otherwise FREE work, and use it within some creative piece of their own to generate profit, I should absolutely get financially remunerated. So... if someone is writing a movie, and wants to take my song, and put it in their movie... well... pay me.

Open source music for the regular listeners; and there's a charge to people that want to re-use my music for their own works. In my experience, people typically listen to music that's new to them because someone recommended it. Word of mouth. If my song becomes popular due to word of mouth - other content creators are going to want to use it.

As a musician, I can make money in other ways than album sales... merchandising is a huge way, licensing for television is another, selling sheet music and (verifiably correct) TAB is one, putting on an AMAZING live show is another. I'm not at all a fan of their music, but KISS is a great example. There are plenty of people that love KISS, and will buy anything KISS related. No one can go on a torrent site and steal the experience of going to a live show; nor can they torrent a physical product (yet). The music itself, being open sourced... well... I think that just seems right and fair. It's just a model that isn't for everyone.

I'm not going to get in to too much more detail on the matter, but it's something I've been thinking about for a while now. Musicians all know that the record labels aren't appropriately reimbursing them anyway. Let's just kill off the needless middleman by making their commodity non-existent. What is it that they do these days anyway? Get you exposure? How? What's a record store? Radio station? I can't recall the last time I listened to radio in my car that wasn't talk radio. Marketing and promotion? I can do this on my own for a while, then if it becomes too much to handle, hire a web marketing person, maybe more... I can get my own attorney too when I get large enough to necessitate. It is my product afterall... so essentially, it's my business to manage. Can someone remind me what it is that the RIAA did prior to going after people for downloading? How about ASCAP, BMI? They only exist to sustain themselves; they don't actually create anything.