Thousands of people have downloaded my music since then -- and they're not trying to steal. They're just looking for music they can no longer find on the tight playlists of their local radio stations.
That's how many artists gain new listeners these days -- through the Internet.
After I first posted downloadable music, my merchandise sales went up 300%. They're still double what they were before the MP3s went online.
I'm not going to make a fortune selling these extra recordings, but it does add up to a few thousand dollars a year. That's a welcome bit of additional income for me and for the vast majority of artists who don't sell as many records as Nelly and Ja Rule.
the supremely principled and delightfully feisty Janis Ian, in the LA Times
