This was a good read. Billy Jam has always been the man. Great journalist. I was one to always say that you can still make a living from selling physical cds. I believed that if you went out there and stayed in the streets 8-10 hours a day, just like you would at a full time job then you could make more then a decent living.
With me taking over Ownership of Street Masters Magazine WESTCOAST I was NOT able to focus on being in the Streets everyday and staying in peoples faces and I saw my worst year ever in music sales. I still believe that if I was out there working hard I would of brought in at least $35,000-$50,000 off of Cd sales and Merchandise sales this year but I see clearly that you can not and will not survive anymore doing it part time, or half way.
If artists get their digital downloads set up correctly (people get your music to Verizon Wireless, TRUST ME!), promote their digitals online, in Magazines, on their flyers, shout it out at their performances plus stay in the streets as much as you can. I am not talking about an hour a day and then giving up, I am talking about a Minimum of 4-5 solid hours a day, even if you have to do it after your real job shift, you will make it. You will move your music.
I will never step away from the Street part of Selling my music ever again, no matter what my schedule is like. And my Merchandising designs on my T-shirts, Sweat shirts, Coffee mugs, iPod Covers, Joggin Suits will all be stepped up. Merchandising is a big part of music money.