DRM--Artists must be diligent

So, I'm listening to NPR's News and Notes this evening and they're talking about Digital Rights Management (DRM).

Poor Apple has so many issues after selling its 100 Millioneth iPod. It has to worry about paying residuals to the artists for each song downloaded, or if the label was on its toes, a flat fee.

So, artists are forfeiting dollars for distribution. Okay, I get that on some level, but what do I care if 100 million people are listening to my music if I still make my music in the basement of my dad's house?

Intellectual Property rights are what make the artist money. It's what guarantees our sustainability. It's short-sighted to sell out on that. There's a great story in the Bible about Esau, who sells his birthright to his brother, Jacob, for bean stew. The point is: Jacob got him while he was hungry.

Don't let them do that to you.

To eliminate the myth of the starving artist...

...That is the role I've taken on in the world.

So, I'm creating the new archetype in a variety of ways.

First, I am on the journey to wealth. Well, really, you can't lead where you don't go, and you can't teach what you don't know. I'm an actress, and also:

• I'm studying business, finance, investing, debt management, etc. I've created a business. Like every majorly wealthy person owns his/her own business. The only wealthy employees I ever hear about got wealthy through stock options. (That should tell you something.)
• I'm creating multiple streams of income with my art and with art-related ventures. There's a trick to it, and most artists don't know that they're uniquely talented to be successful in that arena.
• I don't care if my work is considered low-brow. What does that mean? We're a little too sensitive in the art world (performance and visual). Our elitism is really a cover-up for insecurity. We call it "being cultured". GET OVER YOURSELF. We've got to connect with people if we want them to invest in our work.

Second, I'm dedicated to finding the rest of you closet "wealthy-artists" and bringing us together.

I know I'm not the only one who thinks it's totally retarded that art schools have never taught business skills. Like, just recently an arts conservatory made headlines because its professors were sneaking in business training.

"Sneaking in"???? What the f*** is that? And get this logic: the reason they didn't want to teach it outright was that they wanted to maintain the integrity of the art.

Okay, conservatory admins: if the artists die of starving, or lose their supplies due to eviction, that doesn't maintain the integrity of the art either.

So, holla back. If you want, you can check out my website: www.artistswhowork.com. I'd really love to hear from other artists or social entrepreneurs who are letting a grander vision guide them, while making money.

N