Music Dilemma in the Age of Streaming

Because of my new passion for songwriting as my creative outlet, I followed this link provided by a writer/artist I follow - Austin Kleon, a New Yorker article on how songwriters are being shafted in the age of streaming. Another example of corporations doing what they can to get "theirs" at the expense of the creators that make it all possible. As I write this, I am enjoying Apple Music, taking advantage of a 4-month free trial. I enjoy it, but not 9.99 a month worth, and not after reading this article.

I have always been protective of artists' rights. I have a knee-jerk reaction against burned cds, which was so popular back in the 90s and 00s. If I want something for my collection, I will buy it. I did appreciate the burned playlists compiled by my daughter as gifts. It showed thoughtfulness and also exposed me to new artists that I wouldn't have come to on my own. Oh, I remember my friends in Pittsburgh who burned a Keb Mo' album for me to listen to on a long cross-country train ride years ago. I ended up a huge fan of his, and buy almost everything he puts out.

The streaming is sort of like those burned playlists that my daughter would make for me. I especially like to listen to compilations. For example, this morning I enjoyed listening to a playlist called Singer/Songwriter Today.  Also, I had heard a blues singer, Susan Tedeschi and have one of her songs on a Putumayo compilation that I have, but I never listened to her at length until today.  I realized that the way to be okay with enjoying the streaming service is to buy the songs that I like. Buying songs and albums pays artists more than streaming their music does, still not enough, but better. Though money is tight, music is important, and it is my small way of supporting the artists who bring it to the world. So I'm giving myself a gift today. 
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