The Debate Over Technology and the Arts: Can the Artist Survive This Increase in Accessibility?

I largely disagree with the following article. Yes, I believe in the proliferation of the arts. The arts should be easily accessible to the public, but this is putting an overly optimistic spin on the accessibility of video, music, and photos in an attempt to posit that the state of the arts is better than ever even though attendance of performances have declined 15% between 2002 and 2008.

How New Technologies Secure a Place for the Arts

What strikes me as strange is they never ask the question of how artists are to make a living in this new technological age. This is especially important as methods of compensation for the arts are still within the mindset of the gallery and the performing arts center. If attendance to these places is down, what is the artist to due?

Music and photos and so forth are now more accessible (and often free, regardless of legality) and there is now the potential for a larger audience, but is that really enough for those making the work? And does this new accessibility encourage or discourage the attendance of live performances? I would guess the latter.