Last week I was able to catch a couple shows even though I should have been working on other things. Saw the Kina Grannis show at Jammin Java. She’s a very talented singer and is one of those independent artists who are successfully using the Internet as the main tool to market themselves.

That particular show was streamed online and can been seen here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7688072

The other show I went to was a free ninja gig Amanda Palmer set up in Bethesda the night before her concert at the 9:30 club. It was free form jam session that she hoped would help spike ticket sales. She also is an artist that heavily uses the Internet to promote her work.

With the music industry in dire straits and the means of distribution changing,  many artists are  forgoing the music labels and doing everything themselves to earn a living. By using social networks, they are engaging directly with fans and cultivating a larger fan base. They do covers that are requested by fans, they answer question posed to them on Twitter, and they hold contests for tickets and merchandise. The music industry isn’t fighting for most artists these days so those artists are taking matters in their own hands. It’s a tough road but those with talent and perserverance seem to be able to thrive.

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