In response to this changing climate, bands are forced to evolve and change. Radiohead sold their latest album for "as much as you want to pay". Nine Inch Nails followed suite. Bands like Paramore have begun to sign 360 contracts, where the label takes fees from not only the record but also from touring and merchandise. Jay-Z and Madonna have signed contracts with ticket companies like LiveNation. 

But these guys all have enormous fan bases and power. So maybe the question is this -how are student musicians adapting to this change in the market?

"In a lot of ways [it] helps the college musician", student-musician Sam Spar says, "It's easier and easier every day to get your music out there and heard." Social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook allow student musicians to accrue a larger fan base than ever before - allowing them to tour from the comfort of their web browser.

Spar thinks that this also makes it easier to 'make it big'. "Considering the number of YouTube celebrities... I'd probably have to say it's easier than ever to become famous." This combined with the new availability of music programs, like Garageband and Audacity, have allowed musicians to record, distribute and market their music like never before. With this step towards vertical integration, the new rise in technology actually helps the student musician.

But this increased availability also makes it harder to stand out."There are a million people out there trying to do the exact same thing you are - everyone wants to be discovered", says Spar. This is only compounded with the fact that student musicians are also facing the same problems as the big guys - it's hard to sell your music. 

Although companies like iTunes and SnoCap exist, where people can sell their music online (the latter is even available to everyone), the fact that most major labels are slowly going into the red and music stores are disappearing can't be too comforting.
But maybe these aren't signs of a declining industry, but rather signs that the music industry is changing. 

Spar seems to sum it up perfectly, "For every musician or artist, there are bound to be a ton of obstacles in the way; a ton of people refusing to help or appreciate what you do. But with the opportunities we're given today, I really am confident that anybody can get their music out there. If they have the talent, and the drive, then now is the time to do everything you can." 

"There's a lot of luck when it comes to making it big, but I think, thanks to the internet, and the changing music industry, a little bit of the luck aspect has been taken out of it."

[Additional Photos: "Jay-Z," nydailynews.com, 2009; "Blue Elephants," www.myspace.com/blueelephantsmusic, 2009]