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| Fleet Foxes |
In a new interview with UK newspaper The Sunday Times, front man Robin Pecknold spoke candidly about his adamant support for online file sharing, saying: “That was how I discovered almost everything when I was a teenager – my dad brought home a modem.” The Seattle musician cites his band’s own success as an example of how the internet can help smaller, independent artists find their audience.
The folks at Sub Pop might not be happy to hear one of their artists speak so flippantly about this issue, but Pecknold doesn’t seem to care too much. “How much money does one person need before it’s just a number and I can buy whatever I want – and just be like a big baby?” he ponders.
Now, I love filling my shelves with CDs and records as much as the next music snob, but honestly, when people get more of their new music from YouTube than Best Buy or Amazon… buying music does begin to feel like a bit of a novelty. Even the artists themselves are beginning to turn around in attitude, either outright supporting file sharing (like Pecknold) or embracing more reasonable or pay-what-you-like ways of selling their music. With the ubiquity of social media, it’s possible in ways never before imaginable for bands and artists to connect with listeners, build up a fanbase, and promote and sell their music without the help of record labels, indie or otherwise.
Does Robin Pecknold have the right idea about “stealing music”, or are our artists struggling like never before to make a living? Hit up our comments section below with all your thoughts.
