This kind of thing has been done for decades but not over the web. Really, do people not know this or are you all too young? Consider Ani Difranco and go read

This kind of thing has been done for decades but not over the web. Really, do people not know this or are you all too young? Consider Ani Difranco and go read the article about her from The Economist from 1998 : http://www.economist.com/node/174267 http://www.economist.com/node/174267 Small 'indie' labels did something similar starting in the 1970s at least and probably earlier. Louis CK doing it is interesting, but people have been able to build up their own distribution before the net existed. It's easier now but piracy is also much easier too. Loads of people do it on the net now, one of my current fave bands Amiina which is the string section from Sigur Ros, has their music available for a few bucks out there direct too sans DRM.