I, like most people, rolled out of bed this morning anxious to hear the Black Keys album, El Camino. I popped from my whiskey-induced slumber like a bat out of hell, leaped to my computer, and to my chagrin, El Camino was still not available on Spotify (a guilty pleasure of mine). I have been anxiously awaiting Dec. 13th since rumors of the glorious Bob Odenkirk faux-advertisement, and since all the Black Keys' other works are readily available on Spotify. However, today, in an interview with VH1 (of all places), Carney and Auerbach made it clear that they would not make it available streaming anytime soon. Streaming music apps have started to overtake satellite radio as they allow listeners the accessibility of programs like iTunes, without having to buy the tracks. Programs like Spotify even incorporate one's own personal music library into the mix, allowing tacks from your own library to mixed with streaming ones for seamless playlists, interrupted only by a slow internet connection and commercials that are supposed to earn money for the music rights' holders (unless you purchase the $10 / month upgrade).

 The Keys' protest that this is better for labels, and that the royalties received for streaming apps is far less than record sales. It is understandable that they wouldn't want to make a record and give it away for free (something the likes of Trent Reznor, Radiohead, System of a Down have done; Reznor continues to do it), however, this is the evolving face of music. What they fail to realize is that, odds are, the demographic of people that are using programs like Spotify or MOG are not going to go buy the album instead. Often times people use these programs in lieu of music piracy, and taking the option to stream it in a beneficial way for the artists forces them into downloading torrents, or sitting and watching Youtube playlists. Fact of the matter, the internet is a double edged sword, and, like it or not, the age of digital music has leveled the playing field in a way that was unforeseen by music labels. The recording process, albeit an expensive one, is beginning to be replaced by equally strong alternatives in home recording, and websites like CDBaby, and programs like Spotify, are allowing local musicians to finally get the same exposure as national acts like the Black Keys, and even earn music for digital downloads. Labels are starting to become irrelevant, and musicians are going to have to make their money the old fashioned way, by playing shows. And they will, if the music remains good.

 The Black Keys sell out shows quite frequently (as anyone attempting to get tickets to last summer's Artpark show is well aware), and will make money performing. However, it is no longer lucrative to just be a studio musician. It comes with the territory of being labeled a "professional"; the rock star mythos is crumbling, and like it or not, to earn your money as a musician, bands are going to have to tour in the style of classic rock bands that earned pennies of record sales, like The Grateful Dead and Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band. Now I could post a copy of the video of Pat and Dan explaining their case, but that is available in the VH1 hyperlink above. So, to further my case, I've decided to put a link to track #2 on the El Camino album on Youtube, from which, are available links to videos of the remainder of the album. Enjoy kids.