This was recorded about 6 months before YouTube launched, just FYI. Watching the video first is recommended:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/c...nnovation.html
This fellow touches on some points that I think are significant to the music industry. Music is one example of a field where professionals really have a run for their money as far as making a living versus amateurs (as opposed to, say, lawyers, doctors, car or computer or furniture manufacturers, etc).
There have always been amateur musicians,
loooooong before there were professional musicians, but the difference is the distribution technology, and the low cost and wide availability of recording equipment.
One thing Mr. Leadbeater talks about is high standards among enthusiasts. I see some of the most expensive amps & basses posted here on Talkbass by people who don't play music for a living. I think this is very interesting but it makes perfect sense when you think about it - almost any other job besides a musician affords one more disposable income, and if bass is your hobby, it makes sense that so much money goes there.
Also among amateurs, there's no rush for production. It's not like you need to make a new album every year, or churn out singles while the iron is hot (in the mp3 age, do bands even make albums anymore?). Amateurs can spend as many years as they'd like on an album and often do.
I think the 20th century was a unique era for music. Beginning with the invention of recorded music in the first place, to the proliferation of record labels and record players, recorded music being played in bars and clubs and the rise of the jukebox and DJ, etc...
I really wonder what the future of this industry will be in the next 5, 10, or 20 years. Many major recording studios are going under (or have) because home recording technology has so vastly improved, and gotten so much cheaper, too.
I think this idea about high standards among amateurs was a little off the mark when it comes to music or video, though. I guess it depends on the application. Many people are perfectly content to listen to 128 kbps MP3s and wouldn't know the difference, and certainly aren't willing to pay for it. And look at the quality of video on YouTube - that doesn't seem to be slowing them down any. Even Facebook video has better quality, let alone TV or DVD or hi-def. As long as it's free, you know what I mean? That's not to say people won't pay for quality, but the value comes from not being able to copy something, these days.
What do you think about the rise of the professional amateur?
Please let us know if you play professionally, semi-professionally, work a day job, etc, just so we can understand your reply in context.
