Dave - I think you’re right. We do have to think differently to make up for the immensely changing times. That is one dense post.

I think the silence since you originally wrote it only underscores the difficulty people have in finding solutions…everyone I know is trying to figure out how to make it all work.

Yesterday, XM and Sirius announced a merger. Two billion dollar companies are having difficulties making it work on their own, and so it’s not that surprising that small indie labels find it tough as well.

The model of merging indie labels and creating a label services central hub makes a lot of sense to me. Most labels can’t afford to finance full production, royalties, accounting, merchandising, synch licensing and related services so amertizing the risk with many labels creating a hub makes the most sense.

I like the idea of becoming more involved in the artists’ career.
So do booking agents.
So do publishers.
So do the lawyers.
So do the accountants.
No one wants to give it up, but everyone wants to earn enough to keep motivated. It’s an interesting challenge. I’m not sure we’re all going to be sitting in the same room further down the road. I imagine a lot more will fall by the wayside and those with flexibility and drive will survive…if only because they are “idiots” - foolish for valuing their passions above their wallets, but satisfied to be working in a world they honor. Last night a dj saved my life was not just a good song lyric. It was a creedo for many.

Most of the indie labels we look at closely have a few known artists to keep up the volume of trading. Thank God. I wouldn’t want to be an indie starting out with a brand new roster right now. Unless you had famous friends, it would be tough.

So if joining forces is the best way to manage change, shouldn’t the indies created joint resources for production, health services, royalties, and basics to help everyone spend more time working with bands and less time behind a computer managing numbers?

At the end of the day, only a few artists rise above the masses, and those artists have one thing in common. Great records. (There are lots of great records that don’t get noticed, but not a lot of mediocre records that do).

Get rid of the admin that keeps us focused on the pennies and turn attention to brilliant music that blows you away. It’s the best medicine for the problem.

And isn’t that why we all got involved in the first place?