In the 1990s, bands were given ludicrous advances to record albums, with bands like Oasis pocketing million dollar advances that were non-recoupable. These days, even if you can convince a label to sign your band, the chances they will even give you a recoupable advance is pretty slim – unless you’re an insanely poppy act who’re willing to sign away your souls in a 360 deal with a major label. While bands and musical artists have had a tough time raising the money to tour, promote their music and give themselves some respite from the necessary and often grueling day job in recent years, the paradigm is finally shifting towards a model that rewards pro-active grass roots individuals and spurns the old model of leaving it up to the big wigs at the label. [Read more…] about The New Music Paradigm: Grass Roots & Elbow Grease