What can we learn from pirates?

Here's a thought.

Artists who are well known enough to get pirated are well known enough to get paid to promote their art.

Artists who aren't well known don't get pirated, so you have to pay for their art.

This means that artists who are really good gain access to piracy. Artists who aren't, don't.

So in effect piracy is a measure of success; dictated by the fans instead of the executives.

Power has switched hands. Now anyone can make their art available to everyone, so anyone can become famous for their art.

And their art doesn't have to be pictures.