This article doesn't say that artists should depend on meeting a special person in a Starbucks or elevator, it reports the fact that this is a mindset that still exists and remains prevalent. I think that makes for an interesting story. We — readers of this blog — live in a world where the DIY approach is widely accepted and readily adopted. I think many people — especially those at the ASCAP Expo — believe handing someone influential their demo could lead to their next big break. Although they may grow out of this view, it's still well-represented among a large set. It's possible the thesis could be more clearly stated and readily argued but this is an objective piece that tries to capture that perspective. For aspiring artists, who want to become popular music stars, the music industry seems to look like a place where giving that special person your demo is going to break you. This means that there is a huge education opportunity when it comes to people with this mindset. As much as we try to educate the masses on the realities of the music business and the opportunities that technology welds, myths and dogma trump do it yourself and direct to fan.

I think you bring up a good point. A lot of innovation does come from breaking the rules or challenging a established status quo. New entrants, though, do not have institution or history to guide them. Thus, they may try things that are hard and break through over break down. I have always believed that our experience informs our decisions, but it also prevents us from trying foolish things that could actually work out. Put simply, once you build a box it's hard to think outside of it. When you have nothing at all, anything is possible. — Sent from Mailbox for iPhone