Drewfx1:
Unless the extra content is fairly exclusive somehow and is not already easily available elsewhere, I don't see why anyone would put much value on it. Good point thanks,
I have read elsewhere that it's not just exclusive content being part of the strategy. The other point is, a lot of people expect to get music for free (as Rain highlighted well thanks). A lot of musicians get the art of music down pat ((kudos to that)), but fail terribly in regards to for example, good knowledge of the business side such as, clever concepts, strategies, planning, marketing and PR. Shirley we have heard that ol' cliche;
it takes more than great music. So, unless independent band's adapt (as explained) and do so by providing quality content other than just music AND get up to speed with the business side of the equation, then sadly like most great music will get buried under what is clearly an over-saturated market thanks to the 'oh so easy' convienence of the Internet (I shudder to think how many new music uploads there are per DAY)!!!
For me personally, I have deliberately withheld my music (no new content upload anywhere in quite a while) for several reasons....
1. Need to improve my music content
2. Need to also have high quality and interesting (non-music) content e.g. artwork, photos, graphics, video production and more. (I already have a few plans, but getting all it done takes time and its not easy)!
3. Need to register my own label and assign a good PR manager (already have a person to fill that role). Getting that right has benefits i.e. attaining a bigger slice of the pie (too much to explain here)!
4. Need to get up to speed (learn more) about the music business, it has changed a lot and still evolving, revolving whatever lol. It sure ain't easy. I love making music (enjoy that immensely) but knowledge of the business side of the equation is no easy walk in the park. It's no secret, about 70% of major label budgets are poured into concepts, strategies, planning and marketing. Oh and part of that package involves touring costs.
So, for a lot of independent band's, it is indeed extremely difficult (near impossible) to make a really good sustainable ((liveable) income. Very sad but that's the reality and hits like a ton of bricks. Aww heck, even most actors have taken a pay cut due to losses in DVD (movies) sales i.e. I seen fairly new movies releases sell for less than 5 bucks at {enter big dept store name here), that's hardly enough to pay the light bill. So, musicians are not the only ones that feel the crunch.