Freecycle: 54 MP3 CDs

I wouldn't say that's a fair comparison either. When you're selling a painting (generally speaking), the original is what you sell. You don't sell a photograph of it. With music the original masters are not what is being sold, the copies are whats being sold.

Painters make money by selling originals of their work, musicians make money by selling copies of their work. Again, I'm generalising here, but you get the idea. It's not a good comparison at all.

You sell prints though.
And posters
And postcards.

Musicians also make money by playing gigs.
Songwriters also make money by licencing.
Both pay far better than mechanical copyright.