No worries malice, it's just the 'bitter jaded' conversation is below all of us gearslutz.
IMHO the 'music business' is based on exactly the same founding principals as when it started. Talent, money, greed, corruption (in reverse order)
It was built like any business, to make money. We're the guys in the lab coats at ICI. We are a tiny fraction on the company, and totally at odds with how much development budget we're gonna get each year. Sometimes we have a breakthough. Great things are continuously made though, but some don't get to market.
'Normal' people (ie Not gearslutz) change jobs when they don't like it. But when you love something you got to take the sacrifice with the pleasure. I can't do anything else, but the world shouldn't have to bend to that. I am voluntarily crippling myself so I can't expect a handout.
Hey, and like you say, you get by and it makes you happy. Cool. Me too.
But if the guys running the 'biz' knew what we knew and loved, there'd be no one running the biz to moan about, and therefore, no biz. And funnily enough, some of the most juxtaposed people from us (ie Tone deaf and complete a-holes) are some of the most succesful in their field 'cos they have what it takes (ie Tone deaf and complete a-holes) to get things happening, and, strangely enough, make more money for us.
The music biz is based on capitalism. 'Music' isn't. Selling music is. Selling anything which is a creative endevour is. But what's really wierd about all this is the crossover - the fact that music has now become an industry has changed the way people approach, write and listen to music. So now were locked in some strange relationship.
40 years ago none of us would have been able to give up our day job.
I'm not arguing, I just find the whole thing fascinating. And as time rolls on, the more intriguing it gets.
Quick, let's go to the pub, I like this version of the conversation. (yeah yeah 'cos it's mine, but hey, I like arguing too
)