Could #occupy Revolutionize the Music Industry?

For independent artists, getting your name out there is a huge challenge. Social media and viral sharing have helped independent put themselves on the digital map. Yet capitalizing on #occupy may prove to be a profitable, though controversial, may be a major opportunity for movement building.

The Occupy Movement (#occupy), occupytogether.org, has created a brand-identified notion of the voices of #the99percent. For artists who share the same intentions and impetus as the #occupy movement, creating for the movement (and also for themselves) economically may conjure up images of a hybrid economy. Artists who use the #occupy brand name to make money are increasing their revenue. That means that the message of #occupy is fueling an economy of independent musicians

However, it's also being co-opted. Music and the #occupy movement are being used by the rich and famous artists, like Russel Simmons, to increase their celebrity or profitability. The recent criticism of JZ's clothing line was that he co-opted the #occupy message to make a profit. The problem is that JZ was not willing to share any of his profits with the #occupy movement. Further, #occupy doesn't want to be "spoken for" (or associated with) an international rock star. As a rap legend, JZ has made tons of money with his blend of hip hop. It's natural that he would want to help the community that brought him to prominence, but he should thank the occupiers and #the99percent financially rather than just pay lipservice to the idea.

If artists' can benefit the #occupy movement, the #occupy movement can benefit artists. How do you find socially conscious artists whose music you love? 1) Go to the Occupy Music facebook page 2) listen to music 3) download it and support the artists 4) artist supports the community. (You don't need a facebook account to visit the page.)

The #occupy movement should be an opportunity for artists to create and have their work recognized and celebrated. Getting bogged down in intellectual culture isn't going to help anyone. A grassroots media approach to documenting and supplementing the #occupy movement is essential to creating the kind of free culture the #occupy movement aims to create in physical space.

Here are some examples: