P2P networking, how well can it work for an up and coming artist?

P2P networking, how well can it work for an up and coming artist?

Research shows that napster and MP3 are among the first generation of peer-to-peer (P2P) networking services that allow for the illicit swapping of music files on line. What once threatened the record company executives is now the center of hope for digital entrepreneurs.  Des Freeman offers keen insight on the threats and advantages of this increasing popular culture in his journal, Managing Pirate Culture: Corporate Responses to Peer-to-Peer Networking. Freedman, Des. "Managing Pirate Culture: Corporate Responses To Peer-To-Peer Networking." JMM: The International Journal On Media Management 5.3 (2003): 173-179. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 14 Nov. 2012.

Many can remember the famous lawsuit, Recording - Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) against P2P network Napster in June 2000. Those attacks accused such networking of imposing widespread and damaging copyright infringements. Just as the evolution of most new cultures is presented with resistance, the digital networking culture has undergone its share of attacks, as well. Some of the arguments made are worthy of consideration for the future of entertainment industry at large. The drop of sales in CD’s begin its decline as early as 2003, according to the International Federation of Phonogram and Video gram Producers (IFPI). Freeman argues that blaming one sole issue, like Internet downloading, is not likely to be the cause. He says, “ throughout its history the music industry has been subject to cycles of boom and slump, none which have been caused by a single identifiable factor such as piracy).” 

This journal associates today’s controversy of P2P networking with that of previous generations, citing the fall in sales that occurred when the radio of 1920's and  home taping and audiocassette recorders on 1970's  was first introduced. Just as we witnessed a return in upward sales in the past, it is hopeful that the music industry will rebound as the changes invite the willingness of the industry as a whole to embrace this trend.

The Internet provides a rich highway of social media opportunities. Despite the antagonistic debates, a birth of the second -generation services emerged, including success stories like morpheusmedia  and gnutellaforums .

 Today an artist has a wide array of choices, many leading to effective face to face (F2F) venues for chances of continued sales. Among the growing trends are reverbnation, which offers such promotional tools as Artists Labels, Managers, Fan Management, and nationwide venues. The use of widgets and banners available to their customers empowers artist to expand their music sharing and marketing exponentially. Some sites are designed to enhance the opportunity for an artist to be featured as a leader amongst their peers like musicclout. Their current solicitation for artist is promoted on twitter and invites participation to F2F markets for a celebration and artist performances. Still others like torrentbar aka KaZoa also markets games and a chance for an artist to share music through rhapsody. Another P2P, waneenterprises.com offers an artist a venue to market their videos.