Billy Bragg: Lookin out for #1,0728

Great editorial in the New York Times written by Billy Bragg lookin out for the little guy in the music industry/machinery and now, part of the social networks helping/peddling/exploiting (?) all those bands.

Both bands and social networks benefit from a more enriching experience when members and bands contribute content, but Bragg asks:

The claim that sites such as MySpace and Bebo are doing us a favor by promoting
our work is disingenuous. Radio stations also promote our work, but they pay us
a royalty that recognizes our contribution to their business. Why should that
not apply to the Internet, too?

Other sites and services are already out there to bridge that gap: Panjea, Revver, Ning...