Reply #39: How many non-copyable works can a band sell to make money?

[mainer]

The vast majority of consumers aren't going to buy the 8-track version. They'll download the pirated free version. Which leaves the band selling, what? About 100 copies of the 8-track version to true collectors. That will net them about, oh, $10,000 to split among themselves.

My question still stands. How, exactly, does a band make money if they don't get paid for their recordings? Even if they bypass the bad old studios and sell their recordings directly online, those recordings are going to get pirated.

Not every band can fill a performance venue, so touring is out of the question for all but the biggest name performers.

Which means that up and coming musicians, no matter how talented, are going to be starving. And when you're forced to have a day job, it's pretty hard to go on the road to tour.

End result: the only bands who'll make a living are those with corporations behind them who'll foot the bill for lavishly produced stage productions.