Sometimes, there’s moment to move. To change or to try to change what’s going wrong. You’r right to think that you can change the way to drive your own artistic choice,about money or everything else…
But, it is utopic to think that we can take absolute control of it. And it’s not about talent or the capacity to start your Ning…it’s about what art became…a consumer’s products. And specially songs industry, and where is big racket,I think the artist keeps creativity but loose control on the result of his inspiration.
Ceci étant dit, only time will tell…guess time will tell!!!
Lalou.

As a fan I’d like to see artists take more control and get more of the finanacial benefit from their work. I’ve read countless articles about record companies taking the lions share of the profits and leaving the artist to make his/her living from live concerts and merchandise, which I don’t think is fair. There are too many middle men to feed in that system.

It’s the art that makes the money. The artists deserve to make a decent living from their work. If there is a way for artists to band together and find a better way to make a living I’m all for it. Production, distribution and advertising are so much easier with the social networking today. The fan base spends a lot more time on the web than in the record store, so, go for it, David. I’m sure there are ways to market music that are fair to the artists and the fans. It’s a new world, but that can be a good thing, right?

i think that artists are not that ndvdualistic. yes, various artists have their own respective preferences but i do believe that artists can work together especially if what they are working on are for the improvement of their art, profession, and ultimately themselves.

and yeah david, i have a question, what is a “Ning”?

I think the idea sounds great but, with the stronghold that the social networking sites have now (from the vastness of their reach), i think artists will need to develop that exclusive content to draw people in! With “MyFace” becoming increasingly more music friendly, what more can be offered to create the impetus for the audience to make the change? Live streaming concerts? A chance to contribute to the finished product? I’m not sure what it would look like but I think it is the key to making your dream a reality!

Could you not think for about a minute? I guess not! Well we all love you as the artist that you are and no one stays in this field as long as you’ve been standing your ground without a strong head, therefore I have no opinion this time.

Dream big, think big, do big! I agree that metrics shouldn’t have to be cut in stone. Artists can certainly bond together to form a coalition to reroute money back to where it belongs (in the hands of the artist). Also, we know that by bonding together arists can do big things. Look what they do for non-profit charities like Live aid, Farmaid, American Idol Gives Back etc.) Although some may do it strictly for promotion, we know the artist has power to generate “big bucks.” I think a mix of the two (profit and non-profit) would be a good start.

@Shannon: Live streaming concerts would be an awesome idea and charities could benefit greatly from this as well.

The Japanese have been doing live streaming concerts for a while now. They have a site you can go to and pay with your credit card to get the stream on the date of the event. They also make downloads of live concerts available for a fee. Both of those ideas seem to work for them. They also tend to be a lot more creative with their marketing. A lot of first press cd’s come with autographs, small gifts like keychains, calendars,a dvd with music videos or concert footage on it etc., which makes them more attractive to collectors.

I like the way you say things Yvette, “reroute money back to where it belongs (in the hands of the artist)” sounds right but it might not be that simple though.

I certainly think it’s true that artists, especially musicians, really attract traffic in the cyberspace and should deserve a piece of the pie as an appreciation for them. I don’t doubt that artists could organize. I think throughout recent history, artists have played important roles in being active in the community. It’s actually an amazing power of influence that artists have. Maybe because there is something spiritual or transcendental about music (and art). I know, at least for me, that whenever I listen to music, it has this effect on me.

I’m also thinking, the commercial versus intrinsic value of art (and artist). I think many artists get into their art for the love of it and some may find it hard to put a price to their work, or even to commercialize, because than, it’s putting dollar value on it rather than human value. Perhaps, with this notion or belief, that it’s hard to find true value for art, especially since it’s so subjective, even in music. I believe these are not mutually exclusive of each other though, and that just because an art and its artist can gain commercial value does not reduce its intrinsic artistic, cultural and human value. Though, I guess that’s also the question you posed before about art and ads and media and commercials.

i am not really positive as to the subject here, is this a matter of brainstorming to make artists more money the term metric and equity assuming the artist is already established and if they made more could make room for non-profit? i agree money has moved around but for the better because there is a larger amount of people needing paycheques behind such large terms as isp’s, mobile and social network who get up in the morning because they have to just like there are many that don’t. i think artists become artists because they want to live outside the lines. they make a lot compared to the average person and reality speaking is work no matter the profession..yeah if we dreamed someone who has a lot of talent deserves millions but it is not always that practical and sometimes should be questioned as to where this talent is directed. i think musicians make enough money as it is and if technology has caused the business to worry it isn’t that much money in the grand scheme of things and most industries are going through the same thing.

I just want to congratulate you and your family for the little astronaut arrival. Océane…hopin’she will be calm and peacefull as a blue sky and sea in a windless and sunny day.
Bravo!
Lalou.

Let me know how Ning goes… i’m helping Natasha with some web stuff and we’re curious about taking that route and getting an NLX NING page up.

Found this one when a freind’s band posted. Maybe not exactly the ning imagined, but an interesting platform for artisits none the less.

http://www.fuzz.com/corp/about?tab=Company