We started with a world of record shops and many small websites. If that was adequate to the purpose, the DataFarming platforms would never have taken hold in the first place. It’s now cliché to point out that those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it. But I’ve seen it happen.
All that said, it doesn’t have to be an either/or.
I think you’re right about the first part, because it already exists in the form of FunkWhale and BandWagon. In fact the whole fediverse and AP happened to some degree because Matt and co wanted to federate GNU FM (and Christine and co wanted to federate GNU MediaGoblin). There’s clearly a demand for this, and has been some time.
But I’m open to other suggestions, and I’d love to see other experiments being run in parallel. What could this community add to awareness days like NetLabel day, or events along the lines of the FediVision Song Contest and CC Music Awards? Or Record Store Day, which my random idea about geogating releases could tie in with for example.
These are conversations that probably need their own topic, but they’re definitely worth having.