Why is this news? (Score 1)

In any popular area, at least in the states, you can find hundreds of bands that allow and encourage taping/distributing their live shows. Boston, New York, San Francisco, LA, Denver, New Orleans, etc... Many of these bands are large enough to tour the country, many are not. I've personally taped well over 50 different local bands in the New England area and I am constantly finding more. These bands tend to play because they enjoy music, not because they are looking to go tripple platinum. People rarely try to find these bands because they don't have their own musical tastes. People want to listen to music that everyone else has heard of and can relate to. Bands that are on national labels rarely make it their due to their own talents, people buy what advertising and radio tells them to buy.

Personally, I rarely buy CDs unless a bandmember is selling it to me. I do buy the CDs though, as I feel it is important to keep these types of bands around.