Mindy Smith -- it's too early in your career for a holiday album. I have no idea what your management was thinking.

Who's gonna buy me the Vassar album for Christmas?

Looks like I got drinking money this week.

Did I ever tell about the time I saw Mindy Smith perform at the Newport Folk Festival, and from the main stage she very sincerely, very mournfully related that she wore hand-me-down clothes growing up, and that this had made her feel insecure?

I don't think I would have liked her music anyway, but I guess we'll never know.

Mindy Smith was one of the few times I felt mislead by a No Depression article/review.

Say what you will, her "Come To Jesus" song is still one of my all-time favorites. (However, it stands alove in her catalog.)

Yay- a new Deadstring Bros. Yay -- eMusic has it already. Downloading as I type ...

a bit off topic - but I've noticed a number of emusic users on site ...I have been as well, but getting very bad feedback from bands on negotiated deals -- they might get some exposure but basically zilch for $$ ... just wanted to toss a plug for buying directly from the artist whenever possible...usually the label is raping them already (and as an off-off topic, boy do I hate the RIAA...)----anyone have any other input from artists on emusic (maybe the folks I've been talking to have just made poor decisions or have extra crappy lables)??

off-topic, but is that a new release from Ryan Adams i hear? ...

It's well known that eMusic pays a alot less per song than, say, iTunes. Around 15-35 USD cents, and then there is whatever cut the distributors etc are taking. OTOH, eMusic users buy a great deal more than iTunes users, and vastly more likely to take a chance on someone they haven't heard before. This blog post has more detail: http://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/2007/05/does_emusics_ma.html

I do try to buy from artists and support them through going to live shows, merch etc which is where the money is anyway but its not always possible and most bands don't make it easy, especially if you don't live in the US. I recently downloaded Nils Lofgren's latest album from eMusic ("Sacred Weapon", its excellent by the way, including a duet with Willie), went to his website and bought a couple of singles (bundled with multimedia content) for USD5 each -- through PayPal and available as a digital download. He made it easy, so I did it. The Deadstring Brothers website, OTOH, isn't even updated with news that a new album exists. You have to meet the market where it is -- I still buy real CDs for retail cost, I don't download illegally but alot of the stuff I have discovered on eMusic I simply would not have at even iTunes prices.

If they feel eMusic isn't working for them, I don't have any problem with them leaving. They have a business to run too. I understand the bigger indie labels feeling this way. However alot of my purchases are not of these bands but are country, folk, jazz, blues, "world" etc stuff which if it was not on emusic would just be languishing around in back catalogue/out of print hell. eMusic gets marketed as "indie" (as in contempoarary rock/pop on non-major labels) but for me that's about 5% of the attraction.

So yeah they don't shower the labels with money but of course its not compulsory to be with them. Of course pre-emusic it wasn't like artists were treated like royalty by managers, labels and distributers. How many 60s, 70s, 80s acts, even big ones, saw 100% of the royalties they were owed? In world of villains in the music industry, emusic has got to be about #1846585669 on the list.

An example.

Pre-emusic: I would have read this article. Thought "That sounds interesting ... pity I'll never hear it."
http://music.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2186749,00.html

Peri-emusic: I read the article, thought "That sounds interesting." Searched for chaabi and Maurice el Médioni etc on eMusic, previewed some different collections and bookmarked for buying when I get home.

Even if I wanted to download it illegally, do you think any 14 year olds in Toledo or Moscow are going to be seeding traditional Algerian berber music? How many record shops in Australia are going to carry any of it for less than sixty bucks s disc on import? My expectation is that this label would be in a better position with eMusic than without it. So yeah I'm sorry Arcade Fire or whomever doesn't feel they're getting paid enough but they the music world is bigger than whatever's in Pitchfork today.

Amanda -- thanks for the input and additional info ... agreed, the exposure is certainly a benefit and emusic caters to a slightly more select crowd (interesting stat on the number of downloads - i would assume based upon the business model, paying upfront you want to get 'your money's worth'...

I'm still on the fence as far as my subscription but it definitely helps to have a better overall picture and understanding...

THANKS!

Sorry for the rant quality to my replies. Got a bit carried away. ;-)

What are your friends bands on eMu? I'll check them out.

Here's a link for 100 free downloads when you try emusic.

http://www.emusic.com/ge/

Merry Christmas!

Amanda -- not at all, i was glad to get (and looking for) more perspective...the folks I had talked to were in Southern Bitch (for those hickory winders who like more rock than twang in your country rock) and I think (hmmm too many rum and cokes post show??) i had discussed with Last Train Home (for anyone who is reading a post on HickoryWind!!- they've got a few live Gram covers that simply make me weep...and over all have an excellent smooth americana vibe, not to mention being all-around great folks)...and for a nice happy medium Lou Ford has one of thier releases listed on emusic...

have a great day...

Hey Alex, Lou Ford has a new disc out. I don't have it yet but it is on my "to buy list".

Hal - bump it up on the list, you won't be dissapointed ... not only do they make excellent music, but they are swell guys and it is great to see them jumping back into the swing of things!!