OK people, let's be clear on this, when music business types talk about the growth of the 'DIY model' for new bands they're not actually saying to aspiring talent "do it yourself". What they mean is "think about who you really need to get involved in your music career, it might not be a traditional record label and what not". It's just that the 'TAWYRNTGIIYMCIMNBATRLAWN model' doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

This was the conclusion - well sort of - of an interesting session at the New Music Seminar in LA this week, exploring the ways bands can connect with and sell to fans without the need for a traditional record label and/or music publisher relationship.

Such music business events have been talking about bands employing a DIY model for a few years now, but what is increasingly clear - and was obvious from the start really - is that such a model doesn't mean bands working in total isolation, because there are only so many hours in the day, and people who write nice lyrics and deliver a kick ass performance on stage aren't necessarily the best people to be writing fan newsletters and designing logos and managing mailing lists.

But, crucially, what the internet means is that new bands can build fan base and develop revenues without doing the traditional record label deal. Providing they aren't eager for a big upfront cash injection, of course, or that their future pop career is pretty dependent on a Radio 2 b-list placing.

Speaking at NMS this week, Ian Rogers of the increasingly admired (and now entering the European market via an alliance with [PIAS]) TopSpin said, according to Digital Music News: "[For bands it is no longer a case of] 'oh I need a label', [now it's] about, 'oh I need a partner'. The value chain is moving from what used to be artist-label-distributor-retailer-fan to artist-marketing partner-technology-fan. There are a lot of people who are going to be in that technology box, and there are a lot of people who are going to be in that marketing box".

Or, as ReverbNation's Michale Doernberg puts it: "I'm tired of hearing about 'DIY, I don't need a label' crap. Tired of it. Because the truth is that everybody needs advisors. The question isn't 'do you need help?' - the question is, 'who?'"

So, all you new bands out there, before you hand over your destiny (and copyrights) to a record company, don't forget to give the TAWYRNTGIIYMCIMNBATRLAWN model some consideration.