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There's a fairly diverse crowd of musicians and web developers. The two sets of people aren't entirely separate.

I probably go to 5 or so gigs per month. I can't tell you how many new albums I listen to per month. It varies considerably.

Usually, bands practice in any space they have available. A few have dedicated practice space; most practice in a garage of one of the members. Most booking is done by knowing someone who knows someone. A lot of shows are set up by some random band, and they find a few other bands that want to play. Very, very few bands actually get paid here to play shows. There are a handful of promoters. My organization (http://elpasoera.com) happens to be one of them. We've also helped organize a few tours. I can think of two recording studios I have connections at off the top of my head, Sonic Ranch being one of them. The other is the recording studio Jim Ward (of Sleepercar and Sparta) recently opened up.

We do all the web work for a somewhat successful musician. I'd imagine he, along with his band, makes well over $1000/month. Some people are making a fair bit of money. Most aren't. I find it's rude to ask.

I actually repair tube amps from time to time. I also know a guy that's been repairing them for 20+ years. I know people who do live sound professionally. I know drummers, but I'll admit, it is hard to find a decent drummer in this town.

So, no, not everyone here is commenting on things they know very little about. Some of us are actually deeply connected to the music industry and web development/entrepreneurial topics.

Um, I'm a musician and web developer, I do both professionally.

The web is a massive avenue for selling music, and is what most independent musicians use most frequently to promote themselves.

I couldn't agree less with what you're saying here. It's absolutely ESSENTIAL that web developers take an interest in the Music Industry, especially since so much of it has moved to the web.

too bad they're down-voting him. The polar difference between his question and your answer seems to make it clear he asked a legit question.

His Question:

'Why is there so much interest among web developers and entrepreneurs with the business of music?'/'Why are you so compelled to enter in to the conversation at all?'

My answer I think addressed that question.

You assume entirely too much. At the web development company I work with, at least 3/4 of our company are or were gigging musicians at some point, and go to shows, and could all likely rattle off answers to your questions. Our main product is an eCommerce system, so it's not like I'm working at CDbaby or something.

Programmers and musicians both do a lot of pattern recognition, and I've found a lot of crossover between the two.

The same type of people that destroyed this industry with p2p and bit torrent technology is trying to figure out how the creators can piece it together. I guess it's out of pity, schadenfreude, whatever, but don't pretend to be some oracle of the industry without acknowledging that hackers took that golden goose and strangled the hell out of it just because they could. That reality cruise sailed long ways back.

So the industry is essentially neutered and we're doing an autopsy. What's so upsetting?

Lets take a hypothetical musician who wants to sell/move online.

Who does he turn to for help?

Why does he think that "Real World" mechanisms will survive online?

And so on.

Of course we are interested in the music/media business; we consume it and, for us, consumption of this stuff is not quite a solved problem.