Over ten years now I have been a member of music groups. The music itself is geared more toward the underground therefore I have never once thought: “wow, my music is something that I can use to make a living”. The get rich quick philosophyis exactly what destroys the art. Art is created to receive a response. The response and the appreciation from the public is the reward. I have played a lot of live shows over the years. I have only gotten paid maybe a couple times. Playing live, seeing the reactions from the crowd, having the opportunity to bestow something beautiful on willing listeners’ ears – is all I need as a musician. So when it comes right down to it, I share my own music willingly on Peer to peer programs and I want people to “steal” it. And also hope they like it.
Music is a huge part of my life. If I wasn’t in a band I don’t know what I would do. However, I will never quit my day job to try to squeeze money from something as pure as artistic expression.
