I've had several e-mails today from older performers desperate to break through.

I tried for ages to get the brilliant SUSAN BLACK signed up by a major but they only wanted blondes in their teens with large breasts.

Susan is in her 40's - I don't know about her breasts.

But my argument is; if you're putting a girl band or boy band together, of course looks and age matter.
But if you're selling good music and stars (as Susan is), surely there must be ways to market and promote them?

I think that's one of the great things about the new technology and the collapse of the majors.

There is JK and that is the benefit of the digital era, and the threat to the Majors if they refuse, as some majors are, to embrace the digital change with open arms and open wallets. There is more variety, and good songs will always triumph over big boobs eventually.

In this instance it is all about who you are marketing the act to. If its a boy/girl band you are going for kids, who are not so fussed with good tunes, but whether they can put the bands poster on their wall, hence them having to look good.

However, in Susuan's instance, there is an older more intelligent market. They can be marketed through the correct radio stations, magazines, tvshows (which are still hugely relevant), but ultimately its whether the label think they can market it well to these markets. Again, its down to the quality of the songs...hence why Rod Stewart is still selling a ferry full of albums a year..

The internet certainly helps - it gives someone a place to go if they've seen a band they like.

The cost of knocking out a track for download is incedibley cheap. One comment I heard is that bands don't do demos anymore they do finished tracks.

The ideas given here recently have cheered me up (Thank you kind people). I feel re-inspired to keep making music for pleasure and profit

Technology keeps costs down so break-even point is low and profit attainable. The Internet gathers diverse things together. Perhaps a musician can also offer artwork for low cost (The purchaser pays printing costs). One can lead to the other, current example is JK's video which I mention elsewhere.

What would help is a way to take small donations online online - 10p - that could help keep some things going.

Oooohhhh! Thank you lovely people I was all gloomy and feeling aged today and now I'm not. Cheers