3Johns...You hit the nail on the head. I recently read that Faith Hill's income from record royalties only amount to about 10% of her gross earnings.

Most artists now look upon records as promotion for their tour dates and merchandise.

In a way...from the ARTISTS'S point of view...what difference does it make where the money comes from as long as it comes.

But from the songwriter's and publisher's point of view it makes a TON of difference since they don't get squat from tours and merch.

Not too long ago...in the country market which is my publishing company's market...if you didn't sell DOUBLE Platinum, you weren't really "hot."

Now...Tim McGraw's current album sold only Gold and he is not alone. And that level of sales generates a little over $11,000.00 (each) for the 2 publishers and 2 writers assuming the song was co-written...which most are.

THAT is why some of us are fairly sensitive about everyone complying with the law in terms of licensing. It's just a real STRUGGLE folks...for everyone except an elite FEW.

Not whining....just trying to paint an accurate picture and encourage people to "do the right thing" and pay for the music they love to hear!

And at the risk of droning on...get this. A friend of my is a successful surgeon who proudly showed off his new state of the art entertainment system which he paid AT LEAST $10k for. And he bragged that he had over 3000 MP3 songs that can be searched for many different ways.

I asked him how much he paid for his music library and he looked at me like I was from Mars and said..."Nothing of course."

I'm just sayin'.

But I got my revenge. I explained how DUMBED DOWN MP3 files are and that it was like putting kerosene in his Mercedes! THEN I asked him what causes people to BLUSH RED!!!!!
(-:

Regards,
Jim