And according to Page, the advent of song-swapping services is a mixed blessing. What bugs me is the feeling of relief. But Page doesn't think Napster is all bad. Another challenge, and opportunity, for artists is breaking a song in an environment that's not as friendly as it used to be. The climate for music isn't as good now.
Music is ghettoized.
With radio station playlists becoming increasingly homogenous, it's becoming hard for artists to build an audience. Page and BNL worked through this with relentless touring throughout the States, a necessity that's sometimes lost on other bands. But you have to build an audience. Word of mouth was huge for us. The second time you come through a town, your audience is twice as big.