[linux-audio-user] Linux-Music and making a living...

[tim hall]

On Thursday 08 September 2005 23:54, Russell Hanaghan wrote:
> My statement "muddying the waters" was
> actually more a chilidish jab at Tim for the same statement he made
> toward me for some twisted diatribe I used in a previous thread

Heh :)

I'm going to attempt to get back on-topic for a moment.

The issues with making music for a living are not specific to Linux. Only a 
very small percentage of performers and writers become rich through their 
music. It's possible to have a number one hit and still be living on the 
equivalent of welfare. Many people who get signed to major record labels 
discover that all their money has been spent and mysteriously ended up in the 
hands of some lawyers. For many musicians 'success' lasts a couple of years 
and then they go back to the day job, being nobody special.

There are other ways to make money from music, you can slog your way around 
the pubs and clubs playing covers. You will notice that the engineers always 
get paid. You could run a studio, write film music, teach guitar, lead stress 
management workshops for corporate businesses. Linux doesn't really change 
any of this.

What we do have is a potential solution. It is possible, using Open Source 
software to record an album for minimal outlay. A couple of hundred quid on 
hardware. Using Creative Commons we also have a potential free distribution 
network. So you can easily give your music away.

How does this help us earn a living? I'm not talking about being a breadhead 
here, I'm talking food, rent and bills. This must be the quandary faced by 
most free software writers too. The software is free, music is free, what's 
the problem? The problem I'm most acutely aware of is that in order to get 
_good_ at anything you have to make certain life choices, you have to do that 
thing every day, often to the exclusion of other activities that could be 
making you stinking rich, well, maybe.

Singles, remember them? Who ever made any money releasing singles? We have the 
ability to release singles for free now, so release 2 or 3 singles on CC 
licenses and if they want more they can buy the album. You can dramatically 
save on the cost of producing demos this way too. We still charge for live 
performances, although it has to be said, I still do a lot of that for free - 
running a local folk club, benefit gigs, etc. And not forgetting, we can 
charge people for setting up and providing support for their computer music 
systems.

At the end of the day, I write music and I want that music to be heard by 
anyone who wants to hear it. I would dearly love not to have to do all the 
other boring stuff that I have to do to survive and be able to concentrate 
one-pointedly on my creativity. Wouldn't we all?

The reality starts right here, right now. :)
-- 
cheers,

tim hall
http://glastonburymusic.org.uk/tim