I have a favor to ask

[Mike C]

I am involved in a project that will be centered around people within the music industry. To clarify, that's not just recording and mixing engineers - we're hoping to have services that would cater to musicians, producers, label owners, and beginners to the music world.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could take this survey. Answer as many or as few questions as you like, but please be as honest and realistic as possible.
____________

To further discussion (as well as give me more food for thought), I would like to know your opinion on the music industry.

Specifically, put yourself in two different viewpoints:
What would you want changed as an artist?
As a consumer, what do you want changed?
As artist and/or consumer, is there something you really like about things as they stand?
If, as an artist, there were more ways to make money off of your songs, would you participate in such services?

[bakin]

Is number one just about purchasing music, or purchasing vs downloading? Cuz I don't buy a whole ton of music anymore, but I don't really download either. Just wanna know where you're coming from.

[Mike C]

Just purchasing, we're more looking at how many people are still buying a lot of music in these times.

Thanks for bringing that up. I'll have my friend add more specific questions for a later survey.

[graham]

What would you want changed as an artist?
I would hope that if enough people are going to take the time to listen to my music, I would be able to make a living off of that. It is a shame that people who are providing a service to parts of the public can't keep job. Not that anyone is entitled to "live off their art" but a mid level band shouldn't be broke.

As a consumer, what do you want changed?
I don't think that any single CD should cost me more than 15 dollars, so that I can afford to support bands/artists.

As artist and/or consumer, is there something you really like about things as they stand?
I like that the internet has opened up new avenues of discovering bands, which has allowed me exposure to a bunch of things I may not have heard otherwise, and really enjoy.

If, as an artist, there were more ways to make money off of your songs, would you participate in such services?
Maybe. I'd like to say I'd never compromising my writing for money, but we can't all be Fugazi. I think that bands need to do what they need to do to get buy, but that doesn't mean I'm going to be onboard if you change your sound, or if you're a politcal band who sang about Anarchy and how all they were ever in it for was the chance to play.

[Mike C]

Hey, bringing this up from the dead. If you have a spare minute, please help me out. I really need to get a solid stand (100+ responses) on most of these questions before I try to bring numbers together in a business plan.

I will write you a personal thank you note if you would like. I could even hand write it and mail it, but who honestly uses USPS anymore? And I have terrible handwriting.

[newcomer]

As a consumer I want the music industry to be run by Touch and Go and No Idea records. $10 records are hella cool.

[Matt W]

Done Mike.

[xJASONx]

And doneee.