We’re in the midst of a revolution. One that has serious impacts on artists and fans alike. Thanks to technology, art (a word I’m using to describe written, music, audio…anything that someone creates, no matter the form) is easily accessible, and because of the internet, artists can get their art into fan’s hands very easily. Some artists take advantage of the internet’s ease, and use a business model where they distribute their art themselves.

This idea really isn’t new, musicians and authors have self-published and sold out of the trunks of their cars for decades, but now anyone with a computer and an internet connection can live their dream. While this is awesome for both artists and fans, an element is introduced which wasn’t as transparent before. The artists directly asking for people to either buy their products, or donate money to them.

The former is easy to do. I’ve bought books from Henry Rollins, Cory Doctorow, Wil Wheaton, J.C. Hutchins, Scott Sigler, and Mur Lafferty. I’ve also purchased music after sampling it for free from artists such as MC Frontalot and Jonathan Coulton. It makes me feel good to support artists who make their fans feel like they are a part of their art also, and that they get more money than they would from a major label. I especially try to support the artists who provide both free and paid art so they are able to continue to produce it. Just because they provide it for free doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be paid.

Which leads into the latter option. It isn’t talked about openly very much; it usually comes in the form of a donate button on a website. However the topic exploded on Amanda Palmer’s blog recently after she posted “Why I am not afraid to take your money“.

listen.

artists need to make money to eat and to continue to make art.

artists used to rely on middlemen to collect their money on their behalf, thereby rendering themselves innocent of cash-handling in the public eye.

artists will now be coming straight to you (yes YOU, you who want their music, their films, their books) for their paychecks.
please welcome them. please help them. please do not make them feel badly about asking you directly for money.
dead serious: this is the way shit is going to work from now on and it will work best if we all embrace it and don’t fight it.

…

it’s also not a matter of whether an artist is starving or cruising on a yacht.
i would hate to see my fans turn on me once i actually have money in the bank with a “well, i would support you if you were starving, but now that you’re eating, no way.”
fuck that.
accept a new system.
feel ok about giving your money directly to paul mccartney. he may be rich, but he still rocks. show you care.
feel ok about giving it to fucking lady gaga if you’ve been guiltily downloading her dance tracks for free.
rejoice in the fact that you are directly responsible for several threads in her new spandex spacesuit.
it shouldn’t matter.
it’s about empowerment and it’s about SIMPLICITY: fan loves art, artist needs money, fan gives artist money, artist says thank you.

Fucking amen, Amanda. The example about Paul McCarney was very apt considering The Beatles are big again. Just because an artist has “made it big” as a millionaire with a mansion and a yacht doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be compensated for their art. Fans enjoy it and they should be compensated for their work.

There’s some great stuff out there. Artists take a risk when they put their art online for all to see, especially if they are doing it all themselves. (Wil recently discovered someone offering his audiobook Just A Geek for free.) Despite the risks, this business model does work (just look at Doctorow or Neil Gaiman), and if fans want to continue seeing great content, we need to support the artists. Even if it means directly giving them money.