On September 6, Future of Music Coalition launched a Money From Music  — a groundbreaking new survey to determine how US-based musicians and composers are getting by in a changing landscape for music. What does a 21st-century artist revenue stream look like, and how has it changed over time? What are the similarities and differences between jazz artists, classical musicians, singer-songwriters and emcees? We really want to know. And you can help.

Why is this data so important? Because there currently isn’t a lot of reliable information about how changes to the music industry have impacted the creators themselves. If you want to hear some really compelling reasons for taking the survey, check out this short MP3 from the FMC gang.

The information collected in this study is anonymous, and will help us inform those who make big decisions to better understand how those decisions may impact musicians.

Money from Music should bring much-needed focus to conversations about artist compensation. Much of the conventional wisdom about the state of music is based on anecdotal information — there isn’t a lot of hard-and-fast evidence to back up any particular claim. We hope the results of this study will prove useful to everyone involved in music, now and in the future.

We have already had an incredible response, but we want as many artists as possible to complete the survey. If you are a US based musician or composer, make your (anonymous) voice heard by taking part in this crucial research. But make it snappy — the survey closes on Oct. 28, 2011.

And thanks from all of us at FMC!