The Local Music Project

What a cool idea! I'm all about supporting local talent. Thanks for sharing :)

great project! thanks!

Great idea!

I am really glad we have libraries. I think this is great. For 2 reasons, One of them is, it allows us to collect and record everything. Which is going to be great, because one day, (if global warming doesn't kill us all first) archaeologists will likely be digging up our cities. And they will find who we are in our libraries. Carefully collected, loved and care for. The other reason is, I love seeing society, enrich itself. Here, it is done through government sponsored programs. Lots of free opera in the park and such, here in Europe. I am glad, they are enacting at the small and local level similar enrichment for people, especially at a time when education and enrichment seems to cost more and more. This is a wonderful story.

What a fantastic idea!

As a musician my husband and I have discovered so much incredible music at our local library and have donated copies of our own CDs for the library to carry. While on the one hand it feels good to know that we may be making new fans from people who otherwise might be hesitant to purchase our music, it's somewhat disheartening to hear library patrons tell us they love our music which they found in the library and now they listen to us all the time. Certainly it was not the library's intention for people to burn copies of our albums, but we would have been naive to think it wouldn't happen. I fear that free downloads of songs and free album rentals are helping to contribute to the mindset that a song doesn't have a monetary value...for if it did, wouldn't it cost something? Being a musician is only sustainable if musicians can afford to keep producing music. I applaud libraries for piquing interest in otherwise unknown musicians, but hope that the patrons who receive this "free" music appreciate the gift and support their local musicians in turn.

Great idea! I didn't know they had music in Iowa.

We love our local library and always ordering books and DVDs online. This sounds great for one of our local musician treasures in Fresno, California. Gene Delpit has music on his website to download. We saw him and his band on Friday at a local winery and we're going to Art Hop this evening and will be at his studio, he's an artist also!

(Hiett says) “They often have second jobs . . ." Hmmmmmmm . . . could it be because people download and share their music for free? Not sure how I feel about this. Will be checking back to hear from more musicians. Will be interesting to read different views.

The internet has made the world so much smaller, but we are still so far away from our communities. I love that this library offers the chance to experience solid talent from your own backyard. I'm sure the musicians greatly appreciate the chance to perform. Great program, Great article. Thank you so much for sharing!

What a great way to support local musicians! I also like the idea of borrowing framed original artwork - got me thinking that maybe I could hire out my jewellery for weddings etc. Hmmmm!!!!!

Like Parachute 425, I'm also on the fence about this...especially with all the harsh, "rights" laws in the system. It would be much better if the artists donated a sample of their work, rather than an entire CD, to attract interest and then profit from their efforts from people willing to buy their music.

inspiring!

Interesting concept! How wonderful to see Grandpa Elliott in New Orleans on the featured photo! Love Playing For Change - Connecting the World Through Music - street musicians from around the globe all performing individually and the tracks mixed together for fabulous end results. Grandpa is one of the original street musicians participating in Playing For Change - www.playingforchange.com

LOVE!!

Very interesting!! Thanks for sharing!!

That is a cool idea.

This is a Great article I love the library I'll have to check out their music selection.

Parachute425 and Jenny: It is a musician's choice to participate in the Local Music Project and certainly some have chosen not to. The project's goal is to support musicians and provide them with additional exposure, as well as making music—including out-of-print CDs and live performances—available to library patrons. It is a sad truth that people download music without paying for it. The hope is that when patrons get a taste of an artist's talents through the Local Music Project they'll be more likely to seek out and attend musicians' live performances and buy the artists' newer CDs.

Good idea!

I think music should be shared. I support this project, really cool.

We have a truly wonderful library here in San Marcos. Not only can we check out cd's from an amazing variety of styles, the library hosts a live concert on Wednesday evenings from the vast pool of local talent we have here.

Awesome way to support local talent! Much continued success!

Brilliant project. Long may local libraries live (they have closed down so many local community libraries here in the UK).

This is absolutely great.

Nice great idea, I think it gives local artists a real boost when too often they're lost amongst the more well know radio played musicians.

So many amazing T shirt, music is my life and you are a great creater, I love all of your creats.

What a marvolous thing to do. I love local library and this is a great way to extend them. Thank you for sharing.

Awesome idea! Support your local talent

I love this idea of local talent and being able to listen free, wonderful ! Thanks for sharing!

Read just because I saw Grandpa Elliot (and... smokey something was it?) pop up on the main page ( : Now I need to go to NOLA.

Very interesting concept for the musicians, and I also love the idea of a library loaning out original artwork for people to display temporarily in their homes. With so much great art out there, who could keep the same painting up forever? My walls, shelves and end tables are a constantly rotating mini-gallery.

The State of Iowa constantly, and delightfully, surprises me.

Love Love Love!

Cool!

I clicked on this because I saw Grandpa Elliot's picture on the link. Grandpa Elliot is a street musician from New Orleans who is amazing!

as Tony responded I am in shock that a single mom able to make $9894 in 4 weeks on the computer. have you seen this website ===>> h*t*tp*:/*/LazyC*ash38*.c*o*m ( copy the link into browser and remove all * )

As a retired musician who entertained, wrote and recorded for more than 30 years, I can tell you definitively: no matter how things change, the more they stay the same. Musicians have ALWAYS had to give their music away for exposure. Think about it. For every song you hear played on the radio or you download off the internet, that song has been played hundreds, possibly thousands of times before. Trust me: Bands who play the circuit in clubs don't get paid squat. They are there to promote their CDs and their names. If you are a published songwriter and you think people aren't stealing from you, then you are naive. Fortunately for all, there is a certain percentage of people who won't steal, no matter what. They pay. It's those patrons you pray for and hopefully get. I bet they enjoy the music more, too.

Glad for libraries and all they offer people who can't otherwise afford books and music.

If you've never been to Iowa City, IA, go there! It's a great town with a great university and great people. There is ALWAYS something amazing happening downtown. Go Hawkeyes and libraries!

The men in the photo above look like Grandpa Elliot and Stony B from New Orleans.

What a great post! Thanks!!

What a great idea!

Great article, I just wish it had more to do with Grandpa Elliot and Playing for Change!

Cool!

Funny you mention this idea! I read a book not too long ago about the paintings of D.H.Lawrence. It was written Keith Sagar, mostly it was about Lawrence's paintings,like I said, however towards the end of the book Sagar discusses the same exact idea about a lending library for art. It is neat to hear someone talking about the same exact idea!

My library lends out art. Manchester NH

In The Netherlands this exits for many years. I'm making à living of people lending my art here!

Really Cool!