Wired’s editor-in-chief (and author of The Long Tail) Chris Anderson has a new book coming out about “freeconomics.” Surprisingly enough, it’s entitled Free. Anderson also recently gave a keynote Q&A at SXSW Interactive about his theories on the future of business and free stuff.

But it seems that not everyone is a fan. In fact, not only does the Guardian’s Helienne Lindvall have problems with the long tail, but she seems even less keen on Anderson’s freetard leanings.

I still think it’s too early to tell where things are heading, so it’s tough to weigh in definitively on either side. Both Lindvall and Anderson have good points. But when I read this little bit from Lindvall, she instantly lost a little cred in my book:

As I’ve mentioned in an earlier blog, touring is a loss-making venture until you can fill venues that hold a few thousand people or more. Then you can at least break even.

This instantly set off alarms in my head, pointing to the fact that Lindvall is operating from a very old paradigm. Now granted, not every band makes money on tour. In fact, some do lose money. But touring has been seen as the primary way to make money by a lot of bands who will never pack thousands of people into venues.

In fact, if a band is willing to be on the road often and build up an actual fanbase of concert-goers (and not just internet freetards who “love music” but never support bands in lasting and tangible ways; which seems to be the type of “fans” generated by Anderson’s school of thought to an extent), then said band might just be able to make a decent living. Mansions, BMWs, Armani? No. But why does everyone have to be Gene Simmons? It’s all about scale and understanding your limits, both in planning and living the life of a touring musician.

It’s true that some artists and labels still treat touring the same way they did in the 50s: lose money on touring so you can publicize the record and boost sales. However, generally speaking, this hasn’t been the case for some time now. Many bands thrive on the road. And Lindvall’s statements in this regard betray her.

They reveal someone who functions from not only an outdated paradigm, but an outdated paradigm based on a power structure that is crumbling quickly around her.

So who is right? Well, you’re the one who gets to vote or abstain (with your dollars). So get to it.

6 Responses to “The Guardian Thinks Wired Chief’s Ideas About Music are Dumb”

1. On 03/30/09 2:42 PM, jimmy said:

   

   the rock star dream is dead. i really believe that. if you love to make music, i mean really, really, with all your being love it, then you won’t care who is downloading your album, you’ll just be glad somebody’s listening. and you’ll hit the road as hard as you can while still remaining sane, and you’ll work a shitty nine-to-five the second you get home, just to make enough money to hit the road again.

   now, you have to love what you do, and you have to believe in it. i know that sounds ideal, but there are hundreds of musicians out there doing just that. they’ll never be famous, but if they have any sense they’ll know that superstardom has never been good for anyone.

   so, i guess, the only thing i’m saying is, if you want to be a rockstar, this is a piss-poor time of giving it a go. but if you love music, well… that will always be around, and you can, if you’re good enough, and if you’re wise enough and willing to risk never being wealthy, play it for half a living all your life.

2. On 03/30/09 5:29 PM, Jay DiNitto said:

   

   I’ve always thought of touring as an investment. You might lose money or break even, but you get your brand (band name) out there. Hard to measure something like that.

3. On 03/30/09 5:38 PM, Sean Cannon said:

   

   Right. And that’s especially the case when you do your first few tours. Rarely do bands make any money on the road at first.

   And if you keep it up, you can start making money on the road, too. Especially if you have awesome merch.

4. On 03/31/09 11:30 AM, Lucas said:

   

   being in a band is no different than running your own business. no business makes money their first 2 years running. it’s about laying the ground work. theres definetly money to be made on tour. that was my life for years and we rarely would have a thousand kids or more show up(festivals not included). We were all able to make a pretty comfortable living playing for 200-400 kids a night.
   In response to Jimmy- I couldnt disagree more with “so, i guess, the only thing i’m saying is, if you want to be a rockstar, this is a piss-poor time of giving it a go.” I’d say it’s just the opposite. As record labels are becoming more obselete each day, this gives bands time and freedom to go to the good old DIY days, main difference is that its more online as opposed to passing out stuff at every local show. during a downtime(true for any business, not just a band) is when you are able to focus on building your brand and you keep focusing on that and pushing that until a new business model is made for this industry. The music industry is far from dying, we’re just trying to figure out how to walk again without the help of crutches(record labels)

5. On 04/2/09 2:34 PM, jimmy said:

   

   well, in response, what i’m saying is, the old “DIY” approach never made anyone rockstars. ever. it leads to a career in music. but rockstardom is something record labels invented. stadium tours won’t be done DIY, unless, like radiohead, a label laid the foundation already.

   when the label goes, when all that promotion, and the money for crazy music videos, and the free limo rides go, so does the rockstar.

   but touring musicians will always be around. you know, like those guys with lyres back in the day.

6. On 04/2/09 2:37 PM, jimmy said:

   

   also, comparing your band to a business is sound, so long as you realize it’s also art, and no business model ever works for art. plus, the music industry is as random a thing as any. you get big, i mean rockstar big with your face on magazine covers and billboards, mostly because some guy in a suit decided you were marketable. so long as its about music and not about “product”, it will be a failing business.

   which is a great thing. no one should ever get rich playing music.

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