"The Sky Isn't Falling" Saving the Recording Music Industry | Ian Kagey | TEDxBerkleeValencia 

Patreon and Kickstarter aren't donations; they're for-profit commercial sites. Customers pay for the artist's product.

I appreciate the spirit of this, and I think music and nonprofit are a great match. That said, I’m not sure this specific proposal solves a problem for artists. Studios and their employees become more sparse (unfortunately), but what does the artist really loose? As noted, there is no shortage of skilled engineers or producers; and the technology for excellent recording will only continue to become more readily available. What’s lost for artists from the old model is the overall vision and investment supplied by the label. If nonprofit is going to save anything from the old model for artists, then it should meet these functions in a way that artists cannot easily supplement themselves. A nonprofit that can “stand in” for a label by providing things like career vision and marketing, legal consultation, and investment in recording and touring would be of real value to artists - it’s with them that the value begins - and some engineers and producers would undoubtedly benefit as a result. Perhaps this would even be better than the old model in many ways - since, as noted, turning a profit was always difficult. Still, the new “free for all” model of the industry mirrors what many would consider the eventual inevitability of markets. Many argue it’s here to stay, but I personally believe there will always be a place for benevolent niches in an industry where the human element has always been the first currency.

With all respect to recording engineers, big recording/publishing labels, if anything, are the cancer of music. I'm not saying that we don't need an industry, but the current one doesn't need to be saved, it needs to be erased. Forget saving, let's create a new one.

I think streaming should not be free to anyone ..why is it free...how can we stop it?

YES PLEASE!! ❤️❤️🙏

the future of music is new sounds

so whole entire business model is get donations and philanthropists - rich people - to fund non profit recording studios that mentor artists who also have to pay for this service via a year membership?

I agree that there is a problem but think this proposed solution is ALL WRONG. It would help if someone first understood business before they propose an overhaul of a particular business sector.

Agreed.

Those studios should just relocate to Texas where people still buy country records.

"Boohoo, we lose money so we are going to find another way to make them pay $250 an hour for their song ending up on RU-vid". Stop whining, the market evolves and the Marketing Dynamics are shifting. There is nothing you can do about that. You need to adapt and understand that you will need to inject your tools directly via internet and close the studios.

Sounds like someone who is not needed in the creative process looking for a way to become needed

Well... now we're all dumber. Thanks Ian

It sounds like whining to me...

nonsense. !

You may be teaching more students than ever before, but most will be working at Walmart after graduation. Music education has become a joke. You're selling false hopes at a premium price, which is very dishonest.