The record execs do the math and tell us that music will die.

They try to make you read that way, but all they actually say (and what numbers back up) is that the “traditional record label business” will die. Music in hugely growing in every aspect: number of people listening, average number of songs people listen to, number of bands, number of releases, number of concerts,… , and – surprisingly for many – revenue made from music.

But how about that example of a new artist doing fine, producing high quality music, feeding his family. By providing music to the people for free?

You have tons of examples of “new artists doing fine, producing high quality music and providing it for free”. About “feeding his family”, you are using the wrong assumption that most bands (whatever their model) earn enough money to “feed their family”. Almost every music band/project don’t earn enough money from their music to consider it a “part-time job”, and you’re talking about “feeding the family”? This is hard – whatever the distribution model (and price) you choose.

If your last book, ¿The Long Tail¿ was free. Would you have increased your speaking gigs to a level that could pay for the potential income the direct sales of the book gave you?

Cory Doctorow’s books are free (in digital format), and he still lives from being a writer. The model works — read some of his great (and many) texts and essays about “why”.