But what am I supposed to do?

Damon Krukowski (of Galaxie 500^*) wrote a very interesting and quite depressing article on Pitchfork, about how sites like Pandora and Spotify remunerate artists. But what can I, as a fan, music lover, listener, do about it - here are some thoughts - they are mine and mine alone, they are off the top of my head and a little muddled.

• I hate CDs, I always hated them, they are ghastly little bits of landfill - environmental timebombs. I have vowed to never buy another CD. I still buy records occasionally, for bands I love or for exceptionally beautiful artifacts.
  
• I adore a world where the MUSIC is more important than the ARTIFACT
• I adore ARTIFACTS
• I want to give money to artists I love
• I want a "radio" where I control what I listen to - that is music that I want to listen to but have no desire to own. I want the makers of this music to get some benefit of my listening... but this isn't the same as the point above.
  
• I love that Spotify allows me to shoot off in bizarre directions, try stuff out, find the obscure and odd.
• I believe there is a difference between buying a track and listening to a track on Spotify
• I like to buy things - even things that don't have a physical manifestation.
• I love what Kristin Hersh has done using her "Strange Angels" - a bunch of fans who pay a regular amount to her purely to enable her to make music - any perks are a bonus - the main thing is to allow a great artist to make art.
• I know that while I can afford to do that for SOME artists I love I couldn't afford to do it for ALL artists I love.
• I don't want to be a leech.
• I don't believe musicians have a right to fame and fortune and anyone who makes music with that as a goal is probably not someone I'd respect (although I suspect there are many who do).
• Kristin Hersh released her last album as a book with a download - I loved that!
• I love books.
• Kristin Hersh is releasing her next album as a book with a CD - I love that much less.
• I love that this new age is encouraging artists to get innovative with how they get music to us.
• I love Bandcamp.
• I love the idea of a world built on trust and honesty - even if there are people who are neither trustworthy or honest.
• I know that people steal music, but I also know they always did.
• I don't go to many gigs these days.
• I still buy and wear band T-shirts.
• I want to help.

* - Put there on the off-chance someone doesn't know me arrives here!