Pundits and prognosticators often surmise that today's musicians and composers are living in an era of unparalleled opportunity. While it's safe to say that musicians' access to the marketplace has greatly improved, thanks to digital sales, social media, YouTube and the like, how have these changes impacted musicians' ability to generate revenue based on their creative work? Almost all analyses of the effects of these changes rest purely on assumptions that they have improved musicians' bottom lines.

We hear often from record labels, music services, publishers, and entrepreneurs about the state of the music industry. Now it's time to hear how musicians and composers themselves are navigating these enormous changes.

Join us for four focused conversations where we will hear directly from artists and managers from different corners of the music field. We'll learn about evolving artist-fan relationships (vimeo.com/futureofmusic/fmc11fanrelationships), the business of behind-the-scenes working musicians such as songwriters (vimeo.com/futureofmusic/fmc11songwriters) and session musicians (vimeo.com/futureofmusic/fmc11sessionmusicians), and how business models work in niche genres such as jazz (vimeo.com/futureofmusic/fmc11jazz).

Jean Cook, Director of Programs, Future of Music Coalition
Kristin Thomson, Co-director of Artist Revenue Streams Project and Consultant, Future of Music Coalition

This video was recorded on October 3, 2011 in Washington, DC at Georgetown University during Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit 2011.

Event website: futureofmusic.org/events/future-music-policy-summit-2011

For more on FMC's Artist Revenue Project, please visit futureofmusic.org/article/research/artist-revenue-streams

Every contribution, no matter how big or small, brings us closer to a future when musicians will be fairly compensated for their work, and fans will have access to the music they love. We need your help. Giving online is easy. Please donate today: futureofmusic.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1