I thought this also might be of interest to many out there - stolen from the CBS News website in the USA:
"(CBS) When the band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah packaged and shipped its new CD, called Some Loud Thunder, they released it without a record label. And this was after their first self-financed album had sold more than 200,000 copies, prompting plenty of offers from the big labels, which they turned down.
When asked why, Sean Greenhalgh, the band's drummer, told CBS News correspondent Anthony Mason, "The question that we asked record companies was essentially, 'What can you do for us that we can't do for ourselves?'"
Billboard magazine made the band the poster boys of a "do-it-yourself revolution." Even million-selling artists like Jewel are considering going it alone. Garth Brooks did; so will The Eagles with their next album.
One big reason: The Internet is now doing much of the promotion & distribution work, as fans themselves spread the word and the music. "Now you have blogs, other places where people go

I can`t really comment Cilla, that says all that we have been discussing for about a year.

I would be intigued to see the financial account on this episode.

The DIY revolution is something that should not have happened in the first place. If musicians acted like business people from day one they would never have been screwed over in the first place.

DIY artists are simply artists running a small business just like the owner of a fashion boutique. A lot of the things DIY artists are doing now, they or their management should have organised. Distributors now are in a fantastic position as they are probably still needed. IF the distributors can offer reasonable marketing support and perhaps a&r advice then well we will see how the music industry will look in a couple of years time.

It is truly a great time to be in music.

A project i'm looking into is how to take the DIY route to the next level and that would involve a complete flexible arrangement where you can hire professionals on an hourly basis. There will be an influx of professionals looking for work after getting sacked or made redundant when the Majors eventually have to close or downsize.

I agree KZ, but the creative streak rarely attaches itself to the financial bit of the business.
Does Elton write a song and then do his accounts?

I attempt to do bot and get "Stuck in the Middle with Hugh!"

Great accountant, useless producer!

Mart that's not true though. Many creative people are very good with finance and accounting. Ok they don't have to do the nitty gritty and there is a time where accountants are essential. But we all work and have 'other' jobs while making music. So how do we do it then ? Admin assistant by day, heavy metal rocker by night. I do agree that there is a time where the thought of 'non creative' duties is like a hole in the head but 'creating' can also get tedious and boring until we have an activity that breaks up the monotony.

Yes and no KZ.
I personally do not have a job outside arranging and creating music, I am still debating whether to have one as the board host will confirm.
Keep the business ideas coming on the board, it`s a confusing time for all of us.
I`m glad to say, despite it all, my accountant is happy!
Purely creative, well done to Hugh!

If we met an accountant would we think they ought to be a professional artist too?

Selling and manufacturing are different disciplines, someone good at one isn't always best suited for the other.

Yes bands can and should take on some responsibility but not all, where the line is drawn depends on the person.

I've met some very successful creative people who are almost dysfunctional in social situations and certainly met business types without a creative bone in their body.

Not that these things are mutually exclusive but we all have strengths and weaknesses.

A true very short tale here readers.

My accountant rang me and asked me if I could help out his son get work as a drummer.

I was speechless, draw your own conclusions from that one!!

you're right Zooloo, it's very tough to put it all together. The only way forward is to have an "in house" team and get all the agreements signed and sorted before moving forward with any kind of commercial release.

Nobody will shift me from that which I have thought for years and ranted about on here...DIY is the way forward. Where will it all end up? Who knows, but it is soooooooooo exciting after a rather stoggy couple of years.

Keep it lean and mean guys and be creative about promotion strategies...there's a lot a small operation can't do, but there is a truck load of things they can at a fraction of the budget a major label would need.

Anybody interested in this debate should seek out Macca`s statement as to why he left EMI as well.

I totally agree with you Big End. I think sometimes you have to take the mantle and lead from the front.
Only then when you are not relying on anyone else can you make way.
It has happened with every music movement. It grows independently, primarily by DIY because the 'pros' won't touch it. It then falls over when the majors get their mits on it. At least in the US they have the sense to do JVs with the majors rather than sell or sign their life away.
Good luck with what you are doing and success will come. It will come slowly but surely it will come.

The most inspirational message ever on any messageboard for me came from here.

"If you can't get radio airplay, make your own. If you can't get TV, set up your own TV and if you can't get press, set up your own press"

Im paraphrasing but may the person who uttered these words prosper because it has inspired me heaps.