Audiences want to support artists. Which is pretty much how it's always been except during the last 100 years where it's turned into this really vicious, cutthroat, nasty business with all these blood-thirsty, parasitic middle-men. But historically, artists were relatively poor and supported directly by their audiences. There's a great book called The Gift by Lewis Hyde. You know, art is a gift and it turns out the audience is happy to give back.

"Power to the Pixel 2009: Nina Paley". Retrieved 27 February 2013. - About Sita Sings the Blues

Power to the Pixel 2009: Nina Paley