Maybe it goes without saying, but one thing you’re leaving out here is artist collaboration. My band Manbourine (shameless plug: http://manbourine.bandcamp.com) recently recorded a professional-sounding album for a fairly manageable price because we worked with friends who were starting up a recording studio business. They got the experience of working with a band to record a full LP for the first time, and enough money to make some serious improvements to their own set up. My band got to record an album with friends in a comfortable, open environment for as cheap a price as we’d be able to find.

Some friends of mine in another band are poised to blow up in a big way, because they’re part of a community of talented, aspiring filmmakers, photographers, promoters, painters, graphic designers, musicians, etc… artist friends of theirs believe in their music, and collaborate for free or cheap, and now they have the “look” of a successful band down – from their website, to their merch, to their music videos, to their social media presence, etc. Musicians aren’t the only struggling artists trying to find a way to achieve relevance and financial success in the 21st century. We need to be propping each other up. You sort of hint at this in your article, but the future model of indie success is going to rely on multimedia, which (usually) necessitates collaboration. This has always been an available avenue for getting noticed, but I’d say these days it’s mandatory.

I’m sorry but “Hate It Here” may very well be the worst song Jeff Tweedy has ever written. It is absolutely terrible. And I love Wilco with my whole heart.

Busta Rhymes – Rhymes Galore