"Every time we give a musician the advice to give away the music and sell the T-shirt, we're saying, 'Don't make your living in this more elevated way. Instead, reverse this social progress, and choose a more physical way to make a living.' We're sending them to peasanthood, very much like the Maoists have"
- Jaron Lanier
About this Quote
This quote by Jaron Lanier is a criticism of the guidance given to musicians to distribute their music for free and rather generate income by offering product such as t-shirts. Lanier argues that this guidance is essentially sending out musicians back to a more primitive method of earning a living, similar to the Maoists who sent out individuals back to the countryside to work as peasants. He believes that this advice is an action in reverse in regards to social progress, as it is not enabling musicians to earn a living in a more raised method. He is recommending that artists need to have the ability to make a living through their music, instead of needing to turn to offering merchandise. This quote highlights the value of allowing musicians to earn a living through their art, and not having to depend on other means.
This quote is written / told by Jaron Lanier somewhere between May 3, 1960 and today. He was a famous Artist from USA.
The author also have 14 other quotes.
"In my case Pilgrim's Progress consisted in my having to climb down a thousand ladders until I could reach out my hand to the little clod of earth that I am"
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away"
"We worked very hard to make the lyrics suit the music. I can't, like Elton John, for example, compose by lyrics. Elton has a great talent for that. Whatever you give him, including your questions, he composes in half an hour and makes a great song out of it"
