Shit, you wonder why Lizzie couldn't talk about this in the thread where it began. But anyhow, I think that it's true that folk music will never again be a good way to make money. It had a flash in the pan in the 1950's and 1960's, and then lost its ability to make money. And I am very glad that happened, since real folk music, is music that people make themselves and share with other members of their community. If they can get a gig or sell recordings, that's nice - but they'd better find another way to support their families.

Abdul, you are a musician. If you sing and play two instruments and are learning a third, you are a Musician. You're hooked. A musician is not somebody who makes money - a musician is a person who makes music. And if you make music while sitting in a circle with a dozen other musicians and they enjoy it, then you're a good musician.

So, Lizzie, if the only way to look at music is on your commercial model, then folk music is indeed killing itself. As for me, I'd like to see the commercial model die a horrible, painful death.


-Joe-