PAZ decided to bypass traditional digital music retailers like Apple’s iTunes or Amazon in favor of a distribution platform that allowed him to put his music in the hands of the maximum amount of people possible.
The much maligned BitTorrent protocol has suffered from plenty of bad press over the years as a means for file-sharers to distribute copyrighted material quickly and effortlessly. However, what often doesn’t get publicized is the growing number of artists who have chosen to use BitTorrent as a tool to put their work in the hands of a global audience of music fans.
“For a lot of musicians the dream is to get a deal with a big record label; make an album; and then make lots of money,” notes BitTorrent Inc.’s VP of Product Management, Simon Morris. “The reality is that most musicians will never get that big record deal. Even if they do, most traditional models follow the sort of ‘hit maker’ model that removes the artist from the process and doesn’t allow them to connect with their audiences – much less to reap many of the rewards.”
Precisley. As much as musicians lament the changed music landscape that in many ways has made it harder for them to make a living, the age of digital distribution has made it easier than ever for them to be true artists and put their work in the hands of music fans where it belongs.
“With the shift from physical to digital media a new breed on artist has emerged in the music scene,” adds Morris. “This new wave of creators are looking for alternative distribution methods to reach consumers and grow their fan bases organically. They are artists like PAZ.”
PAZ decided to bypass traditional digital music retailers like Apple’s iTunes or Amazon in favor of a distribution platform that allowed him to put his music in the hands of the maximum amount of people possible.
The effort is in keeping with what many see as the future of the music industry, a future where the number of CDs sold isn’t as important as it once was, where the whole purpose is to engage music fans and convince them to attend one of your shows or purchase some of your merchandise.
Digital distribution has empowered artists like never before, allowing them to retain full creative and economic control of their content! As much as some artists hate P2P they at least have to admit that this aspect of it is a good thing.
Stay tuned.
I think the guy is great and doing the right thing. Maybe people will download without donating but at the same time a fan base may well develop and any concerts could be filled with those that wish to support.
In many respects what artists as this are doing scare the crap out of the copyright holders as in this way artists have some control and the labels have none.
If I might make an example…..the internet in a sense has brought back the wandering minstrels.
In our past songs were often sung and plays acted out by traveling artists who would sing or act out plays from other people. Most were paid by donation, people who had a couple of coppers to spare would drop them in a hat past around. If the artist did not sing or perform well then the hat may remain empty.
The internet and the P2P communities in many respects reflect this past before it all became subject to control and ownership.
PAZ if you read this then may I wish you success and thank you for trusting the people and not the industries.
You forgot to mention donations.