I can't understand people who throw a fit and become drama queens because fans download music. Welcome to the real world.
Yes,this is the internet era.
Yes,they can download it.
Yes, most people are short of money nowadays. They have no spare funds for CDs, just like they used to, 10 years ago.
Yes, you too have downloaded something at some point if your life (or every day). Adopting double standards just because we're talking about your own music right now, does not sound very honest.
Yes, if they can download it, most probably they will, without regrets either.
I also can't stand delusional people. Unless you're a big budget artist (fully financed and supported by big companies from day 1), you won't suddenly start making a living out of music alone, just because you happened to release a damn album. Or even several of them. Not in 2012. And you definitely won't become richer or more popular, if you start whining about TEH EVOL downloaders omgz ToT
Yes, fans have to know that if their *favourite* artists don't sell enough, chances are they will split up.
Or keep the band, but also have a real job (or a sugar-mama *cough cough*) to support their artistic activities for as long as possible.
Yes, fans have to know that tour organisers and sponsors check a band's reputation and sales before they decide whether they should invite them or not. So, if a band doesn't sell in your country, the chances to see it live are dim. And even if you do, if you don't show up at the concert and buy the merchandise, then you won't see that band ever again for sure.
You know, I won't try to sound pseudo-proper and tell you that if you download something you should burn in hell, while I go cry in a corner. No. If you wanna try before you buy, it's cool. If you don't choose to support us, it's cool too. If you like our music and think we deserve more recognition, thank you very much. I appreciate every penny, every positive vibe and every smile this music puts on your face.
However, we will never know whether you like us or not, if you don't buy our merchandise. It's that simple! Even if a band has 253875239853982 fans on Facebook, if this does not translate into sales, or similar, effective results, it will make the band give up at some point (unless they're conceited blockheads who eat e-fame for breakfast)
Anyway.
What I wanna say is that it's our work as artists to *somehow* make fans support us. It might not be easy, but it's possible.
Support cannot be demanded.
It can only be inspired.