People for the Ethical Treatment of Musicians (PETm) emerged from Projekt Records founder Sam Rosenthal's frustration with the music industry's unfair compensation practices. The concept draws parallels between ethical treatment of workers globally and fair compensation for musicians.

The initiative highlights several key points:

• Musicians, like all creative artists, deserve fair compensation for their work
• Most musicians belong to the "99 percent" economic bracket
• The common belief that bands make their money from touring is largely false

Regarding touring economics:

• Average shows bring in $0-500 per night
• Most bands sell only about 5 CDs per show
• Touring expenses (van rental, gas, food, hotels) often exceed earnings
• Many musicians break even or lose money on tours

The campaign gained significant traction on social media, with the PETm graphic receiving over 500 shares in just two days, demonstrating widespread resonance with the message about fair compensation in the music industry.

Rosenthal emphasizes that while major artists like U2 or Lady Gaga can profit from touring, roughly 99% of musicians struggle to break even on the road. This reality challenges the common justification for not paying for music - that artists make their money through live performances and merchandise sales.

This grassroots movement aims to raise awareness about the economic challenges facing musicians and promote fair compensation practices in the music industry. The initiative continues to gain momentum as more people recognize the importance of supporting artists financially for their creative work.

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