As you may have read in this space before, I am most concerned about artists and bands that want to push their project further and make a living from it. These advice articles are not for the brooding musicians who just want to create art in the basement. So, with that caveat, I am going to give you DIY warriors some insight into where the industry is going and why the independent artist may suddenly have an advantage over major label acts.

I consult record companies, publishing houses and bands about their business models and efforts. Over the last year, I have been screaming that the CD, as we know it, is dead. At first, I got a lot of resistance, but many of the companies and managers that I worked with will implement this strategy next year and Universal and some independent affiliate labels are coming around to my opinion too. Here's why:

We know that CD sales are down. The industry will tell you it's because of piracy. Countless studies (not sponsored by major labels) show that yes, piracy is a factor, but it may only account for an 8 to 12 percent decline overall. It will surely grow, but you need to get this propaganda out of your head. When have you ever registered your release with the RIAA? These numbers do not reflect the independent community. The minute a fan could go down to Best Buy and purchase a spindle of CDs, CD jackets, a disc stomper and make your same CD for less than $1, the game was over. The 10+ song CD model is broken. The distribution and marketing ?of CDs is broken.

Ask yourself why you put 10 songs on an album. Do you even know? When was the last time that you, or anyone you know, fell in love with more than five songs on a CD? It is rare at best and the number is closer to three. Ask yourself why you spend thousands on artwork and packaging that, according to recent data, over 70 percent of CD buyers will toss or throw in a junk closet? Why do you spend so much money to go on tour by taking time off work, fixing up the van, buying gas and food, per diems, etc.? All of these costs, just to get sell 20 to 40 of your overpriced CDs while giving away 100? Independents are mimicking the majors as if that is our game to play, as if we could ever win. The system is not set up for us, it is set up for $200k radio single promotion budgets, $10,000 distributor promotional items and countless sums on physical CDs - which if not sold can be written off in corporations, but in our world mostly end up in the drummer's closet.

Whether you know it or not, when you sell something you are in business. As such, you need to be innovative, forward looking and customer friendly. We bitch and moan about the industry and then walk up to our fans and say: "Here, buy this $15 CD of songs you have never heard, many of which you will probably not like and just know that we most likely did not have the money to record and master them properly." Then we gripe over beers on the road about why our CDs aren't selling. So, our awesome readers, you get a sneak peak at the New Music Business Model 2.0 before my book comes out this year. Below, I will list the top 10 simply and then, next month, come on back for a little deeper look.

-Never record an album of 10 songs again.

-Release at least one new song at minimum every three months - ?or more frequently.

-Never tour unless you have at least 30 people who will come to every show in every town.

-Never put out a song without a video.

-You should have more videos than songs.

-You must have at least four fans that will e-mail their friends in more than three countries.

-Never put out one version of any song. Always have instrumentals, a capella tracks, remix versions, an acoustic version and possibly an international (Spanish) version of EVERY SONG.

-If you suck at constantly updating your website or running social media, hire or bribe someone.

-You should have a web store full of products that are not music based (The KISS Rule).

-Ask people to buy something, support your cause or subscribe to what you are doing.

-Extra credit: get your publishing and business in order now.

Michael St. James is a songwriter, performer, producer, music publisher and music industry speaker and consultant. He's the author of the forthcoming "The New Music Business Model 2.0" and creative director ?of Stjamesmedia, LLC.