I think the Internet might not be good for the hit, top of the long tail artists.  The artists at the top of the long tail, who are signed to record deals, need large record sales to see a return on their work.  However, their are many more artists throughout the long tail who would have never had the opportunity to b heard, and now can make money, although not as much as the hit artists, can now possibly make a career out of being a musician.

Jonathan Coulton is a great example of an artist who 20 years ago would have been buried in the long tail and never could have made a career out of being a musician.  I don’t believe he is just a Snuggie.  There are many artists who have turned themselves into profitable businesses through music with the help of the internet and not a record company.