THE FINGERTIPS Q&A Local Natives July 2009

Every month, the Fingertips Q&A sends five questions about the state of music in the digital age to one actual, working musician. I've gotten to where I'd much rather find out what someone who's out there trying to earn a living wage in the music industry thinks about all this stuff than read the bloviations of one more blogger or technology expert. This month we're actually getting two for the price of one--the L.A.-based band Local Natives stepped up to the plate, and Ryan Hahn and Taylor Rice--both guitarists and vocalists--took turns answering questions. A tip of the hat as well to lead singer Kelcey Ayer for getting this all to come together. And if you haven't heard it yet, don't miss the band's song "Airplanes," which was featured on "This Week's Finds" in March, and has also spent some time on the Fingertips Top 10. Q: After all is said and done, what's your favorite thing (if any) about digital downloads? What's your least favorite thing? A: I'd have to say the accessibility slash portability. That's my favorite thing. Sometimes I feel like an old fogey marveling at all this new fangled technology, but I just get so stoked on this concept of people carrying around these massive libraries of music at all times of the day on their iPhones and whatnot. You can just surround yourself in music and at any point, from anywhere, find new artists and download new music. Least favorite, again like a crotchety old man, is that digital downloads might add to this trend of disposability in music. It's like music as vehicle for new ringtones or advertising spots. It's like ADD music consumption. I'm still one of those people who prefers sitting down at a record player and listening to an album in its entirety. (RH) Q: There's an idea floating around that says that music should ideally be treated like a utility, like water and electricity--that it'll be "on tap," everyone pays a little each month and gets unlimited access. No more paying by the song or album, in other words. What do you think about this concept? A: Theoretically this could work; some digital music outlets are already using this strategy. Artists get paid the same ratio of the entire pie that their music is played/downloaded relative to the whole library. It could be done the same way ASCAP or BMI pay out performance royalties. As an artist who is still following the album format, I am not bothered by it at all. Album culture is still strong and will be for a while longer, but I'd applaud the responsibility of someone who acknowledges they download all their music for free online and instead opts to pay $20 a month to subscribe to unlimited downloads. (TR) Q How has your life as a musician been affected--or not--by the existence of music blogs? A: I think to our surprise it's been incredibly beneficial. We've found that behind most of these blogs is a person who really loves music, enough so that they've spent considerable time creating a forum in service to new music and artists like ourselves. We're really indebted to some of these bloggers who wrote posts about us while we were on tour and helped get a few more kids in the door and sell a few more CDs at our merch table. A few have even given us places to crash for the night. I really believe that by creating this growing community, blogs, more than magazines and TV, have become the new music media. (RH) Q: What are your thoughts about the album as a musical entity-- is it dying? Or are reports of its death greatly exaggerated, as the old phrase goes? A: I'm gonna turn a blind eye to anyone who offers me quantitative evidence of the album's death. Put your charts away. All I know is that there will always be artists, in every genre, making great statements in the form of albums, not simply singles. For me, the quality of the album as a cohesive whole is every bit as important as the hit songs. I think the album might even make a comeback in the sense that vinyl is making a comeback. I'm talking about the "sit down with the physical album and look at the artwork" experience. At least I hope that's what happens. (RH) Q: A lot has been made of the assertion that in the future, people won't buy music, and artists will make a living only via performance. What are your feelings about that idea? A: I believe freer access to music via the internet has made it more difficult for record labels to make money, not artists. Album sales may continue to drop, but artists who make good music will always be supported financially. That said, I'd still be okay with it since we're a band that plans on touring constantly. We love playing live, so I still think that scenario would work for us. (TR) Previous Fingertips Q&A interviews: Haley Bonar (June 2009) Jill Sobule (May 2009) David Harrell (the Layaways) (April 2009) Joey Barro (The Traditionist) (March 2009) Dave Derby (Gramercy Arms) (February 2009) Shane Nelken (The Awkward Stage) (January 2009) Mark Northfield (December 2008) Mike Reisenauer (Pale Young Gentlemen) (November 2008) Brad Armstrong (13ghosts) (October 2008) Dirk Darmstaedter (September 2008) Jonatha Brooke (August 2008) © copyright 2009 Fingertip Productions