Earshot’s Wil Martin Wants to ‘Create an Alternative in the Music Industry’

In their first 10 years, the Los Angeles-based Earshot sold music the traditional route, serving up 'Letting Go' in 2002 and 'Two' in 2004 via Warner Bros., then 'The Silver Lining' with InDeGroot Recordings in 2008. But now, 11 years into his act's career, lead singer Wil Martin is hoping to create an environment in which fans feel engaged and connected with Earshot by offering free music downloads on their official Web site.

"Having been on two different record labels now with three different records, I just never felt it was done right," Martin told Noisecreep matter of factly. "I think also music should be more ubiquitous, more like water. It should be free flowing and allow people access to it without people being fearful of sharing music."

Martin continued, "It's my way of running a 'business' -- I guess you could call it a business. I think it's the best way to get new music to fans and for them to be able to access it and appreciate it and give it a chance. All the different things that happen that go along with making the music accessible." Martin explained, too, that he has yet to meet a band -- even those that have sold millions of records -- that have made money off of selling albums.

"I'm not losing out, because it's something I've never really had in the first place," Martin said. "That hasn't been an important factor to me. It's never been at the top of my priority list -- to see how much money I can make selling records. I'm in it because I love what I do, and I'm passionate about what it is I do. So long as people keep downloading music and buying older records and coming to the shows, this is what I'll continue to do."

So far, Earshot have released one song on their Web site, 'The Ugly Truth.' Martin said he was happy to give it to fans as soon as Earshot wrapped up production of the song.

"It's sort of instant gratification as an artist," Martin said. "When you write something and you get it the way you want it, that's what you ought to do -- you ought to just put it out there and let people hear it. It doesn't work that way when you're signed to a record company. I'm not saying that I'm doing what I'm doing because I'm trying to bring down or hurt or destroy the music industry. That'll never happen, and not all things about record companies are bad. I merely want to create an alternative in the music industry, rather than doing it one way."