This letter from a former customer further illustrates how the music industry is alienating its customers.

While I would like to say I responded with something witty, I must admit to being completely flummoxed. There I sat, a loyal music fan who has shelled out actual money to a business that is supposed to be having financial problems, and the best they can do is tell me to wander the streets of Seattle looking for different internet providers who might allow me to download the music that I have already paid for, music that I have spent the better part of three house trying to listen to, and which is still unusable?”

As I said before, sometimes piracy isn't about getting it for free. Given the choice of paying for crippled digital music in two months or downloading free, unrestricted music today, is it really any surprise that they choose the latter?

You have record companies paying major labels for airtime, but putting arguably their best promotional vehicle out of business by jacking up the Internet radio royalties. (To be fair, the music industry isn't the only one biting the promotional hand that feeds them). Is it really any surprise that, even in the golden age of Indie Rock, music sales are down 20% from 2006?

The only thing I can think of is that the record companies decided they can make more by suing consumers than they can from selling them music.

Is it any surprise that artists are taking control of their own careers? I think there's a big shake-up coming - if you ask me, it's a good time to be independent.