All the musicians I know usually love playing gigs, but not every gig. They often feel they have to take shit gigs to get their name out. Its pretty normal to get paid a couple hundred bucks and a drink voucher for a 4 piece band. After gas and bar tab, most musicians walk out with less in their pockets than they came in with. Some musicians straight up pay to play. And not always because they just love it so much...

It's usually because thats the only way they feel they can continue pushing to get their name out there.

This valueverse, demu, v4v ecosystem - whatever the fuck we're calling it, finally gives artists options. They can keep grinding and add this as additional reach/income. Or they can do this instead of shit gigs so they can focus on whatever else they deem more worthy.

Its powerful because in this ecosystem, the cream rises to the top on merit. Artists aren't hamstrung by a third party telling them what to do or how to do it. Perfecting their craft isn't in lieu of marketing. Sheer strength of talent and proof of work to produce the best music IS the marketing.