There is a clear distinction to be made between a recording and a copy of a recording.

The pure recording itself is a work of art embodying a set of creative inputs such as composition, arrangement, performance, production, engineering, programming, editing, and mastering. The copy is a copy of the art. The art is the work itself and the processes involved in creating it.

Historically the record business grew up around selling distinct copies of the art. That way of doing business is no longer viable.

The idea that artists might find ways of funding the work in its purest form and forgetting about the copies is not only a good idea and one worth looking at, it might also be necessary as the new technology continues to diminish the price value of the copy.