I was fortunate to see Kristin Hersh perform last night at The Palais in Daylesford last night.
Beyond her songwriting and wonderful performance ability, Kristin Hersh is experimenting with a new model for sharing her music with the world.
Gone is the big record company, middlemen and fees for music. She has handed her future to the people by establishing the Coalition of Artists & Stake Holders, or the “CASH Music Project”.
As her website declares:
We’re committed to not holding music hostage, the music will be free. We’ll be asking for donations and offer you the opportunity to subscribe to Kristin’s career – past, present and future.
It struck me on the drive home from Daylesford last night that the challenge faced by Hirsch and the entire music industry is not dissimilar to one of the challenges faced by newsagents. The traditional model has become so disrupted so as to compromise its viability in its current form. Rather than react, Hirsch and her team are evolving a new model – in consultation with old and new fans.
Newsagents need to act as boldly if they (we) are to enjoy a bright future. This means breaking with tradition and listening to ourselves and our customers more than our suppliers. If we do not do this, our future will be dictated by others whose long-term needs most likely do not match our own. Our channel is riddled with middlemen and processes which make money for others and not for us. While they cut costs our of their supply chain, we are burdened with more costs. As Kristin Hirsch has done with her music, we need to seize control, for ourselves.
If you get a chance to see Kristin Hersh on her remaining Australian tour dates, it’s well worth it.