Airborne

[Le Berger]

An upcoming platform trying to make CC music sustainable through followers subscribing to an artist for a minimal monthly fee, social network like structure.

http://airbornemusic.com/

Revolutionary or gimmicky? what do you guys think?

[Charlie Grant]

Hi Sam,

It's a depressing state of affairs that so many talented artists make so little for their efforts. But at the same time, I can't really see this catching on. There are too many possible complexities involved. I'd rather just do things the old fashioned way - by purchasing the music when it comes out. CC music is obviously a bit different but even so, people usually have the option to give money via paypal, etc. A monthly subscription (no matter how minimal it may be) seems like an obligation. Like paying the gas bill. That probably sounds terribly pessimistic.

[haesslich]

i don't get what benefit this concept should have for the customer.
did i get this right? if i like 10 artists, i potentially have to pay 10$ a month?

i've the choice: either get it cheap, then i'll go with grooveshark or simfy or whatever 10$ per month cloudy-thingy-service.
or, if i really want to support the artist, i get the music as close to the source as possible. either the artist or the label.

and by the way, lets don't forget the record stores! i found a record store that's a valuable source of recommendations. i go there regularly, am welcomed friendly and there's always time for a chat about the latest release of xyz. that's basically another discussion, BUT: switching totally to pure online and cloud services will in the end kill record stores too.

[mdoudin]

Hey Sam
I don't like this idea. That's excatly what Charlie said, it's like paying the gas bill. In my opinion, those who really appreciate what we do will buy our music (except if we give it for free anyway), and those who simply consume it will download it illegally. I don't think this obligation of a monthly bill will be appreciated by either the artist or the costumer. It makes music a bit too much like "serious capitalist business" (sorry for that expression) and I don't like that. Keep it honest, pay what you wanna hear and that's easy in the conservative way.
Me, as both listener and artist, don't feel like paying anyone 2 dollars a month for his art. And as an artist, it feels like beggin for your monthly salary.

[Orphax]

don't like the idea.
It gives pressure to create more music and share it with people, which leads to less quality, which leads to a shit load of music I wouldn't want people to hear from me (or music I wouldn't like to hear from musicians I now enjoy).

[mdoudin]

Exactly, although that might work for pop artists which are under pressure to publish anyway. For "us" it's a rather useless instrument.