This LA Times article is all over the place, but I gotta put it up as well.

Behold, the death of the record industry, right before your very eyes.

At some point, and probably soon, recording artists are going to have to realize that their bread and butter is no longer actual recorded music for which people pay them money. Your worth as an artist will be measured on how many people you put in seats for your live shows - and then how many beers, t-shirts, packs of smokes, posters, and other swag they buy.

Whether or not that particular transformation proves to be to the benefit or detriment of the recording industry remains to be seen, but it’s not something anyone can stop. But for all those indie junkies out there who think this will be the end of pop starlets, you’re wrong. And to all the industry types who think this is the end of the world, you’re also wrong. Look at people like Steve Jobs, Jay-Z, Radiohead and Madonna. All of those names have shown themselves to be adaptable chameleons within the marketplace, and all of them are just fine and dandy with the Digital Music Age.

The music industry’s biggest mistake was their reluctance to change and adapt with the times. Now they’re stuck playing catch-up and they’re hemorrhaging money. It didn’t have to be like this, but it’s going to be interesting to watch it all play out.