Each of the two musicians likes the current state of the music business, because they recognize good times for music even as they see bad time for big music business. Here’s Johhny, via Reuters and Reddit:

“An artist like myself, us old dogs who have an audience kinda feel like we’re in the catbird seat because it’s about the music again,” said Hiatt, not exactly old at 55.

That’s because the demise of the major labels allows independent record companies — such as Los Angeles-based New West, Hiatt’s home since 2003 — to fill the breach. These nimble operations sometimes have longer attention spans than their lumbering, larger brethren.

The rather younger Ms Stone goes further. Here’s what she said when asked about piracy.

I think it’s brilliant and I’ll tell you why… Music should be shared… The only part about music that I dislike is the business that is attached to it. Now, if music is free, then there is no business, there is just music. So, I like it, I think that we should share.

It’s ok, if one person buys it, it’s totally cool, burn it up, share it with your friends, I don’t care. I don’t care how you hear it as long as you hear it. As long as you come to my show, and have a great time listening to the live show it’s totally cool. I don’t mind. I’m happy that they hear it.

Both Mashable Stan and TorrentFreak Ernesto emphasize that Joss is not being naive. The latter points out that “several studies have shown that artists actually benefit from filesharing. The more music people share, the more CDs they buy and the more concerts they visit.”