Re:Why would I want to give away my product when.. (Score 1)

Y'know though, the labels and record companies are really just middlemen and the artists make their money from concert tours

This is an absolute myth, a tour is the biggest expense an artist can have. It is a major marketing expense underwritten by the record company. For gigs of between around 300 (playing in a local pub) and 3000 (playing a major venue) fans, the label does not make a profit. Yes, it is true that live music is more popular than ever and some venues and concert promoters are making money but the bands you see playing anything bigger than a couple of hundred people are supported by a label. For unsigned bands to get noticed, at We7 we run a tastemakers challenge where bands can compete to make money from downloads and streams on our site. Take a look: www.we7.com

Steve Purdham
CEO - We7
www.we7.com