Music industry question:Is the jonathan coultons business model a good business model

[Pat8u]

This post is in response to a planet money podcast about the internet's effect on the music industry and business models like paul and storm and jonathan coulton. the podcast focus's mainly to jonathan coulton's life. the podcast can be heard here [link]http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/05/20/136496085/the-friday-podcast-is-this-man-a-snuggie[/link] and jonathan's response to it can be found here [link]http://www.jonathancoulton.com/2011/05/23/on-snuggies-and-business-models[/link]
the music guests say jonathan coulton was a fluke and that the internet is bad for the music industry because of piracy. if you want to know more information on what they talked about, listen to the podcast
Now my question is do you think that the internet business model is a reliable one and whats was your reaction to the podcast
Well I think that the internet has actually made the music industry better and has helped alot of indie musicians get their music out there also I think the woman guest was poorly educated on the matter that more people buy songs on itunes then pirate them

Offt:Wow that was a long post

 

[BonsaiK]

Before anybody else points it out to me, yes, I have noticed this thread. Response on the way.

EDIT: Okay, I don't have time to listen to those really long podcasts, okay? I'm sorry, but I'm too busy having to actually make my own music industry money. I can give you my opinion though, with no idea of how it matches the opinions of the podcasters, of Jonathan's opinion.

Jonathan was (partially) a fluke, yes. However, what music career isn't? He's doing something a little differently, and people through a stroke of good fortune found it, and they like it, and tapping into the Internet is the obvious way to reach the sort of audience that would like his songs.

There's thousands upon thousands of people trying to do the same thing though, with no real success whatsoever (because, of course, they're largely not doing it as well). Certainly not any more of a viable way to achieve music success than any other. So I don't think this is going to be a model for everyone, at least, not yet. The majority of groups who have more traditional types of audiences will still have to do the dance with the devil and deal with record labels - at least for now. The reason why is because while everyone can put a product out these days, not everybody can effectively promote a product. That's where most musicians aren't as savvy/lucky as Jonathan and need a little help. If change does happen towards this model as the norm, I think it will be gradual.

 

[Meanmoose]

I listened to the podcast... I feel like their not giving Jonathan coulton enough credit. He wasen't successfull because he was lucky, he's successfull because he's brilliant!

 

[Trolldor]

I don't see why Music can't operate the same way Journalism does - through traditional and new channels.