Way, way back at the beginning of the world wide web, we produced the first albums that were specifically written and recorded for distribution over the web. At the time, we were hoping that we could level the playing field with the big record labels… by-pass their monopoly on distribution and sell our own tapes and cd’s to the public. As it turned out, we were a major force in leveling the playing field. However, in the process it became nearly impossible for anyone to make money selling recorded music. In fact, most of the major labels have failed to make money since that time.
At one point in time, I would spend eight to ten hours a day chasing down copyright pirates. It got to the point where I said, “What the heck am I doing this for? This isn’t why I’m a musician and songwriter.” Instead, I embraced the FREE FOR ALL concept. The phrase is not as common today as it was at that time. Back then, directory listings and headings at the major search engines had a category called FREE FOR ALL. A website that had articles, songs or other content that was free to download were called FREE FOR ALL websites.
Since the term FREE FOR ALL had a double entendre meaning to me, I really got a kick out of it. You know? The Internet was like the wild, wild west — a free for all. Watching the major labels scramble in the free for all, made giving away music to the masses all the more fun.
So, I looked to the heavens for an answer to the problems with the music industry, and the reply — make it FREE FOR ALL. That’s what we did. Though it’s hard for me to believe, many years have passed and it paid off!
