well then, offer free library resources to all community artisans, hobby groups, businesses, religious and politcal groups.
That's what libraries do. There are laws that constrain what libraries can and can't do with their resources and each library's policy is going to be different to match their community, but in general libraries try to offer as many free resources as they can to as many people as they can.
How about free kiosks in the library for local businesses to sell their goods all year?
The purpose of the library is not to offer commercial real estate, but many libraries actually do make space available at different times of year to businesses to sell their wares, particularly in the holiday season. While my local library has a policy against selling merchandise in our building, they have an exception for authors selling books at a reading or local musicians selling CDs at a performance. These kinds of reciprocal relationships between libraries and local artists reflect the library's mission to be a cultural cornerstone of the community. They are a natural part of the library's purpose.
Point is that public libraries have very limited resources and a very specific reason for existing at all.
You should read the mission statement of a public library some time, because they spell out the "specific reason" for the library's existence. Let's use the Madison Public Library as an example since they were featured in the story:
Madison Public Library provides free and equitable access to cultural and educational experiences. We celebrate ideas, promote creativity, connect people, and enrich lives.
That's perfectly in keeping with providing patrons access to a music streaming service, and it makes sense given that mission that they would want to prioritize a service that supports local artists.
Supporting local culture, whether from authors, artists, or musicians, is a regularly included facet of the public library's mission and a feature of many public library's visions for themselves as institution. Libraries are meant to give their patrons access to information and entertainment of all stripes. It makes perfect sense for public libraries to support a music streaming platform that prioritizes local and regional musicians.
One thing that's worth pointing out is that the libraries aren't paying the musicians but rather paying the MUSICat platform for streaming services for the patrons. The fact that MUSICat has a service model that focuses on regional artists and pays a meaningful honorarium gives the platform a comparative advantage. If a library is choosing to phase out its CD collection but still wants to offer music to their patrons, this sounds like a great way to provide those materials and support local culture.
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Re: The purpose of taxpayer funded libraries
Supporting local culture, whether from authors, artists, or musicians, is a regularly included facet of the public library's mission and a feature of many public library's visions for themselves as institution. Libraries are meant to give their patrons access to information and entertainment of all stripes. It makes perfect sense for public libraries to support a music streaming platform that prioritizes local and regional musicians. One thing that's worth pointing out is that the libraries aren't paying the musicians but rather paying the MUSICat platform for streaming services for the patrons. The fact that MUSICat has a service model that focuses on regional artists and pays a meaningful honorarium gives the platform a comparative advantage. If a library is choosing to phase out its CD collection but still wants to offer music to their patrons, this sounds like a great way to provide those materials and support local culture.