ScribbleLive

Photo of the panelists in the "Where's the business in show business?" panel

David Usher: Moist sold 1 million copies of its debut album, but Moist members didn't get ANY of that money. Wow.

Talking about levies to support music business models.

LOVE the energy of panel moderator David Gratton

This discussion feels very much like the same discussion that's been going on in the music biz for years... labels/old business models/levies/free music models. I wonder when there will be solutions to some of these challenges?

David Gratton: how do we make money right now? How do new artists start now

David Usher: new artists have to engage with their audience. It will be difficult for artists who don't want to engage. "creativity is much more of an open book. creativity changed for me now that i've opened myself up on the web. the more you create, the more it leads to creation"

David Usher: you monotize everything that circles around it. shows, shirts, etc. "build a community and play great shows"

David Usher: suggesting that new artists get themselves out there online as much as possible so that if people want to find you, they can.

Graham Henderson: says that online engagement is very artist specific and if an artist doesn't want to do that, there has to be something else for them. Where labels may maintain relevance "is there a role for somebody to direct it, to help it, whether it's marketing or promotion? i think there is. we need to prove we can help to create a bigger audience so people will come to us (labels) at some point in their career"

Graham "what's changed is how you create that community. it used to be much more analog" talking about how Cowboy Junkies did a grassroots cross-America tour early in their career.

Graham "we have to get away from polarizing words" (talking about insinuating downloaders are criminals)

moderator: the part of the music industry that is licensing is growing. "the only part of it that is shrinking is selling cds"

Stuart from Mesh, "I don't personally believe that free is assumed" question: about industry challenge of selling a $15 cd vs $2 for 2 tracks. David Usher, "can't drop the price to nothing and still have a viable industry"

question from audience "are you making enough money to survive as an artist?" david usher: "yes, but i come from a traditional model where there was lots of money for marketing. but you have to build a community, no matter where you're at"

Graham "musicians are not making as much money as they used to. increasing number of musicians are reporting it as a part time occupation. average in canada is under 20k"