What a genius.

No, really. Anyone who hangs out with and composes songs for John Hodgman gets my vote. He’s been a featured interviewer for a popular magazine, he’s a former software developer, and he’s very involved in making sure that he consistently crafts his personal brand.

What Jonathan Coulton has done for online music (a la Radiohead) is about to make him into more than just a cult icon. I believe it’s about to make him a very wealthy, front-running music industry veteran who will be sought out for his strategic services as well as continuing to build his own catalog.

If you haven’t heard of Coulton’s work, check out his site and take a listen. It’s seriously entertaining and sometimes hilarious.