I just found indiemonkey.com and read the columns. I can never resist weighing in on such issues, so here goes:
Let's face it folks. At the beginning of the 21st century we are adrift on seas of cheese. Most human beings are inherently lazy and ignorant and they like it that way. It takes effort and thought to appreciate good (or even bad) music.
The vast majority of non-musicians couldn't care less, and do not want to bother trying.
Does it make the person of the opposite sex that you're staring at right now shake their ass in a pleasing way? A steady wiggle at 120 beats per minute?
It DOES?!?! Then it's GREAT!!! For more along these lines I highly recommend reading Frank Zappa's official autobiography. Really.
Having ranted a little, let me add the following: I have been unable to follow Mr. Zappa's advice to aspiring musicians (If you CAN quit, QUIT!).
I have been recording, rehearsing, and performing my own music for about 10 years and the digital revolution HAS helped me considerably, primarily as a promotion tool to other artists. It seems the only people who listen to, search for, and buy good music (or at least something other than what MTV spoon feeds them) are other artists. That's fine with me.
Wasn't it Kurt Cobain who was so upset that all these "idiots" (meaning, you know, NORMAL people) were buying his records and so on? I wouldn't be that conflicted about it, but whatever, nevermind.
So I'm happy that the internet allows me to promote my music and my shows. I'm happy that people are buying significantly more than six of my CDs a year. However, I have formed relationships with those people. "Hi! I'm an artist. Here's my stuff. Have you got any stuff for me?"
That seems to be a winning strategy for me so far. Find other musicians, artists, writers, etc and market to them. And the internet lets me do it MUCH more easily than in the past. Viva la revolution!
Shameless plug:
Hi! I'm an artist. Here's my stuff:
http://www.mp3.com/flood3