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Digital Audio Insider is David Harrell's blog about the economics of music and other digital content. I write from the perspective of a musican who has self-released four albums with the indie rock band the Layaways.

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November 28, 2011

For Love or Money: Minimum Wage Musicians
by David Harrell

Digital Music News put a more negative spin on the TuneCore blog post I wrote about last week. Jeff Price of TuneCore responded over at Hypebot.

Instead of writing something new, I'm going to be lazy and quote myself, from an interview I gave to the excellent Fingertips music site two years ago:

"...other than government-funded stipends for every musician, I don't think there's a way to guarantee that all musicians will earn a living. I'm not arguing that musicians don't deserve a living wage, but it's a simple fact that -- and this is the case with any creative field -- you have more talented people than the market for their collective talent can reasonably support. And you've got more of them every day, as it's easy for anyone to release music today..."

The vast majority of TuneCore-distributed artists aren't earning the equivalent of minimum wage from their music sales, but that shouldn't be seen as a slam on TuneCore. That's the situation for almost all musicians -- and that includes most well-known professionals. From this blog's 2010 interview with Jonathan Segel of Camper Van Beethoven, someone who has had more "success" than most musicians, yet has rarely supported himself on his music income alone:

"The financial breakdown of time, equipment, musicians, travel, merchandise manufacturing, etc. means that almost all 'professional' musicians you see, have seen or will see are basically hobbyists; their time and materials are almost never paid for by listeners. like 98% of them."

Labels: Jonathan Segel, minimum wage, TuneCore

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THE LAYAWAYS

Out Now -- "Maybe Next Year" -- The New Holiday Album:

"This is a sweet treat, deliciously musical without being overbaked for mass media consumption." -- Hyperbolium

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O Christmas Tree - free mp3 lyrics and song details
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"...about as melodic and hooky as indie pop can get." -- Absolute Powerpop

"Their laid-back, '60s era sounds are absolutely delightening." -- 3hive

"...melodic, garage-influenced shoegaze." -- RCRD LBL

Where The Conversation Ends - free mp3
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"The Layaways make fine indie pop. Hushed vocals interweave with understated buzzing guitars. The whole LP is a revelation from the start." -- Lost Music

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