Latest Changes in the Music Industry

A year and a half ago here on Sound of Blackbirds, we passed along the news that Richard Shindell was soliciting fan donations in order to record his latest CD. The effort led -- quite quickly, in fact -- to Not Far Now

My old friend from the Postcrypt days Erik Balkey has been writing custom songs for people for several years now as a way of supporting his own albums and touring.

The New York Times today turns its spotlight to fan-financing web sites where bands can put up appeals for money to finance particular projects.

The article concludes that these websites are probably best suited for small projects. For example:

One success story is that of Sgt Dunbar & the Hobo Banned, an eight-member group based in Albany. The group sought to raise $3,000 to help repair its eight-year-old van and to cover travel expenses to Austin, Tex., for the SXSW festival last month. It raised $3,782, including $100 each from 11 backers who got various goodies, like their name on the van as a tour sponsor.

I like it. I would have considered chipping in some cash to get my name on the side of the van.

But wait! There's more!

The Times also informs us today how symphony orchestras are turning to online distribution of their music.

The New York Philharmonic, for instance, a giant of the recording industry in the Leonard Bernstein years, has not had a long-term contract with a commercial label for a decade.

Daniel Wakin reviews the different things that orchestras are doing -- podcasting, streaming, selling CDs, etc.