Melissa Etheridge has released a new album titled This is M.E.

And she did it on her own.

As an independent artist, this news thrilled me! As a fan, I ran out and bought a copy! (By which I mean I went to iTunes and got a copy. YAY!!! An album I KNOW I will love!)

But all fangirling aside, I’m so happy to see artists taking their brands into their own hands. Melissa can absolutely reach her fans on her own, without a record label calling the shots. It’s going to be exciting to see how she does with this.

I’m going to point something else out that’s an important parallel for authors. Melissa Etheridge has released a record independently, but she didn’t do it alone. She’s a huge star with big name friends, which comes with its advantages. At this stage of her career, she has more of these connections than any record label. So, it appears she’s being a brilliant business woman. She started an independent label, ME Records, and partnered with a TON of big names to make an album. On her website she says simply, “I’ve made an album I love.” And that’s another lesson. This is what we get to do as independent artists. Leave the market out of the art, create from the heart, and count on it finding its audience, or not.

Now for the music. 🙂

Here’s more on this new album. You can find links to buy it (like I just did!) on Melissa Etheridge’s website.

Give this sampler a listen to get a taste for the new stuff.

She’ll also be doing a tour. No Oregon dates…but if she comes to your area, go for me and tell me all about it. 🙂