I’ve been looking through sites like the Live Music Archive lately. That site in particular uses the noncommercial performances of a band to distribute music for free, and the best part is that they make sure it’s OK with the artist first. I started downloading some SHNs of the no-longer-existant Rustic Overtones (whom I first found on eMusic). In fact, one of their offspring bands, Paranoid Social Club, will be at Bumstock this year (even though they can’t spell “Maine” right on their site). My friends all know how anti-piracy I am, so I think this is an excellent alternative. I love that there can be free distribution of information and content on the Web.
Another good site: Legal MP3 Downloads, done by the people at David Lawrence’s Online Tonight radio show. Free and cheap downloads of well-known people. Can’t get any better than that… or maybe you can: there’s an RSS feed there.
Wouldn’t it be great if the new model of music distribution would be the same as the Overtones’? Their response to the LMA when contacted was
as long as no one it turning a profit on it, I have no problem with trading shows … Thanks for asking, good luck with all.