Mark Evans is a blogger and journalist who writes an awful lot on the Web in all its permutations, and his recent post “Nothing else is working! Time for a tax” really hit home for those of us involved with 76fanclubs.

Evans starts off by arguing that the music industry has essentially “blown the last decade by trying to hang on to a business model that is antiquated and ill-equipped for new digital era in which we work, live and play.”

Then he points out that Warner Music’s new hire, Jim Griffin, is proposing a surcharge on internet bills that would provide unlimited access to music. Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, the plan would institute a $5 monthly fee on your Internet service bill. That’s the same amount as the proposal from the Songwriters’ Association of Canada.

Is it time for a tax? My gut tells me no.

I’ve been coming up with this theory for a while now about P2P downloads from the consumer’s point of view — and keep in mind, I don’t do P2P. Every time I’m tempted, I think of the musicians that play at my house concerts and that this would be money out of their pocket, and I can’t.

So here’s my theory: people don’t download music for free out of a desire to stick it to the musicians (although if it’s a super-rich one that might be partially true); they do it because they want music and they don’t give a fig for the “record industry”. If they see anybody as a deserving victim, it’s the “music business”.

In a world where the RIAA sends 5,000 threatening letters a year to music lovers, that shouldn’t be a surprise.

So what’s the solution? A tax! One from the music industry, then another from the songwriters, maybe one for the American Federation of Musicians…

There’s gotta be a better way.