I definitely should have listened to Jim last week when he told me I should skip the IP conference held at CATO in order to attend the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the PERFORM act.

Patrick and Jim didn't pick up on this in their postings here and here because Todd's views on the issue of compulsory licensing don't quite coincide with supporting the free market. Still, for anyone either interested in the issue or just a fan of 70's rock music, Todd Rundgren's testimony is not to be missed!

Mr. Rundgren touches upon a point that I made in a previous posting:

I have striven to tie together the “replacement parts” an independent musician would need to build enough audience for a sustainable living. Amongst these is, of course, the internet and a raft of contractors who can press and distribute discs for you and, if you can afford it, take on the promotion and marketing normally provided by a label. The only problem is getting heard. Terrestrial radio, especially of the syndicated flavor, is not available to most artists even if they do have a traditional label deal.

So, yes, self-marketing and promotion, when taken on by an individual can be quite expensive. Getting yourself noticed in a vast sea of content also seems to pose a problem, even for famous musicians and producers.

Please do read the rest of his testimony to get a glimpse of an older and angry-sounding Todd Rundgren.

And, I apologize but promised someone I would post this:
TODD IS GOD