Artist 2.0, meet Introvert Beta .08
If you’ll allow it, I’d like to indulge in a little crossing of the streams.
First, the New York Times magazine article on “Artist 2.0.” - the web-enabled revolution of musicians like Jonathan Coulton or The Hold Steady. It’s a really intriguing article, which spends a lot of time concentrating on Coulton’s internet success. His situation is one I aspire to - to have thousands of people enjoy your art so much they’re happy to help you make a living doing what you love. I know it can’t happen to everyone (and probably won’t happen to me), but nevertheless, it’s good to know it can happen. Hell, a lot of the people whose music I enjoy - Glen Phillips, BNL, Andrew Osenga, Shaun Groves - are riding on a crest of the “Artist 2.0″ wave.
Second, singer-songwriter Lynn Harrison posted some thoughts on being an introverted songwriter.
Indie musicians are supposed to love MySpace. I don’t. And I feel pretty uncomfortable on most discussion forums.
I agree with her here. I have a barebones MySpace page, and I do very little to promote it. In Artist 2.0 terms, I’m a ghost town. Although, most of my issues with MySpace itself have more to do with the site’s usability and less with the social aspect. And it would likely be less of a ghost town if I’d actually get in gear and write/record something new (but that’s a rant for another time).
It does pose an interesting question. How can the shy, introverted artist survive in the world of Artist 2.0?
Thoughts? Anyone? Bueller?
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