This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Brian McTear grew up wanting to be a rock star, but he had one problem: In the late ‘90s, we all just stopped paying for music. How can a hard-working musician or producer make a living now? McTear, with his project Weathervane Music, has stumbled on a way — and it’s both practical and deeply focused on our shared love of music. And yes, his model can work for all kinds of content creators.

Brian McTear is a nationally respected record producer, musician, and owner of one of Philadelphia’s most revered independent recording studios, Miner Street Recordings in Fishtown. He is also the founder of Weathervane Music, a nonprofit arts and culture organization whose mission is to advance independent music and the community that surrounds it. Weathervane is working to develop a program to provide teaching materials for college and university recording programs to change the way future engineers learn to record music. Brian grew up one of seven children in the Chester County suburbs of Philadelphia. Though surprisingly healthy, he and his youngest sister have been treated all their lives for Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the respiratory and digestive systems. In the 18 years since he entered the Philadelphia music community, Brian has worked with countless local artists such as Dr. Dog, Kurt Vile, and The War on Drugs, as well as national artists like Sharon Van Etten and Joan Osborne.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)