On the Radar, Off the Grid

        In reading a lot of music predictions for 2010 and in years to come, I found myself pondering that myself. While I have listed a "wish list" for 2010, I am beginning to seperate more and more on my thoughts for the future of music. There was a time in history where music was a service. It was not until Thomas Edison's invention of the phonograph that music began to transition to more of a product, than service; a transition that has continued for over a century now. It is this reason that my opinions of changed slowly over time. The future of music is not ad dollars, track sales, or iphone apps. The future is not licensing as more people believe daily and the lawsuits that follow. The future of music, like most things, is found immersed in its distant past. It's going to be a long road, but I think Jonathan, our developer from Threadsafe Labs, said it best, "be on the radar, but off the grid".

        While everyone else immerses themselves in expensive promotion which at its best is selling the product of music and at its worst interruptive marketing for corporate ads, I'm putting my energy elsewhere. I'm banking on a handful of people like you passionate about seeing what artists can really create, not so much the product they can produce. The future I, and Branch Records, are working toward exists to provide a service that inspires and entertains. Keep in mind, Mozart never had CD's, T-shirts, or buttons to sell. He was probably too busy writing and performing to care and the people were too hungry to listen to notice what it cost or didn't cost. I'd like to take modern music back to that place.

         There are many challenges that await us over the next year and we are exactly where I want us to be. We are not in a dyer financial need, our accounts are quite healthy. We are making some very spectacular investments, but they are things we have planned for. With that said, I've decided to do something completely different. Although we are not a non-profit organization, I took about 5 minutes to open a paypal for gifts. I would call them more investment gifts than donantions and anything you invest will go to increase the health of our organization. Seem odd? Perhaps, but I've always thought you invest in things you want to see grow and have a pretty good chance of success, not things in danger of dying. Sorry I don't have a sad story for you, just a vision and a little button that gives you a chance to be a part. Happy New Year!!!