Michelle Shocked Letter

I do support Sound Exchange. Sound Exchange does support me.

I am an established indie artist who has fought record execs and won.

However, I paid a high price in the battle. Mind you, I was standing on the shoulders of artists who came before me and paid a high or higher price than I paid, and so I believe artists will be standing on my shoulders to win greater rights and victories than I've won.

In the meantime, I hold a door open in a fairly unique position. Most indie artists own and maintain their master and mechanical rights. Very few have benefited from the investment I've received in promoting and marketing those rights through the major label machinery.

I've deferred both immediate financial gain and immediate promotional opportunities for the sake of my songs, which are like my children to me. In other words, I'm not spending their inheritance while I'm still around but continue to invest in legislation that is in their long term interest, unlike the current Bush administration!