Keep music alive. Buy recorded music.

The New Yorker recently published a “cultural comment” by Nathan Taylor Pemberton. “A Moment to Rethink How We Support Music” sets forth the challenging scenario facing musicians and music professionals in the absence of touring revenue. He writes:

“The volume of fund-raisers, and the daily calls for financial support for musicians, can be stitched together to reveal a silent plea, one that suggests we should look at the current crisis as a mandate to move away from a broken economic model that condemns those who pursue a creative life to poverty. As musicians and artists rally, offering us bedroom performances and curated playlists, we have a chance to rethink our relationship with them. Or, at the very least, consider the status quo that awaits them once this crisis subsides.”

Absolutely correct. And the solution is simple. Music fans must buy the recorded music of their most favored artists, bands, groups, ensembles, etc. This is a generational issue. As a boomer, I’ve spent my entire life buying records, cassettes, CDs and now digital downloads. That’s in addition to buying concert tickets, T-shirts, posters, etc. That’s what it means to be a fan and part of a music community and movement.

We can debate who’s to blame for killing music fandom - Generations X, Y and/or Z. Everyone who used Napster to rip off artists set the stage for this moment. I’m sorry young folk, spending $9.99 a month for a streaming service does not make you part of a music movement nor make you a music person. That’s the value of 2 cups of fancy coffee to be divided among every artist you listen to per month. Ridiculous.

If we want music to be a career path that doesn’t potentially require sacrifice of everything else, music fans need to step up and buy recorded music. Have your curation channels you listen to and support including streaming platform playlists, internet, terrestrial and satellite radio, LosAngelesMusicFestival.org, etc. And buy your most favored recorded music on the platform of the artists’ choice. Not because you have to, but because you can.

Voluntary purchases by fans may not be the ultimate business model we need. But it’s a start and could not be more simple nor direct. #buyrecordedmusic

Live365 is for listeners in the US, UK and Canada. Everyone else click here.