The singer/songwriter Serena Matthews on the personal economics of the music business:

If I made enough money from CD sales I could just be a stay at home mom and maybe focus a little bit more on music as well, but I don’t see that happening. My voice is peculiar.. my guitar skills are mediocre, at best. And my songs are too consistently sad for the radio. This leaves me saying “Hmmmm..”

…

If you want to buy my CD’s, I’ll sign them for you and I’ll make a wish for your happiness. I wouldn’t even ask if I didn’t really need the money right now. Honestly, I do need the money.

You can listen to and download all of Matthews’ tracks online. But if you buy her CD she’ll handwrite the track names on it for you.