File Sharing Revisited

[Paleo Pete]

Well, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to open this can of worms again, but I recently stumble across a very interesting article that points out a few things from the other side of the fence, while so far we've only heard the RIAA's and Metallica's side of the story. After reading this I have to wonder how much the record companies paid Metallica to start whining about Napster...

The article is written by Janis Ian, singer, songwriter and recording artist for 30 years or so. I was listening to her "Aftertones" album before some of you were born...good stuff..very mellow and laid back, great while having coffee just after daylight if played quiet enough to be background filler...

Ms Ian composed a very interesting and informative article concerning the music downloading issue, from the point of view of a recording artist who's been there for many years. The record companies have been squeezing every last ounce out of musicians for decades, as an example the Beatles, when they disbanded in 1970 or so, found that after a number of top 10 hits and very successful tours, they were almost totally broke...literally...

Which is why Paul McCartney learned from Linda Eastman's father (no relation to the scum at Eastman Kodak) how to manage the business end of his career and became one of the most astute businessmen in the recording industry.

The musicians make very little if anything on their recordings, their primary income is from live performances. (Ms Ian's article also makes an interesting note about record sales at live performances...no money there either). The record companies make the money, not the musicians.

Ms Ian also decided to put her money where her mouth is, so to speak, and posted some of her songs on her website for free download. Sales immediately jumped by a large margin.

So, I'll go ahead and get off my soapbox and let you read it for yourselves, and post her Article on Music Downloading (http://www.janisian.com/article-internet_debacle.html) along with a link back to the Janis Ian (http://www.janisian.com/) homepage, as she has requested when copying or linking to the article.

NOTE I DO NOT want this to turn into an argument! As most of you are aware I always welcome a good debate, but keep it friendly...

[Gallaeglagh]

Let's take the worst case scenario for the RIAA, music sales drop into a free fall, downloads pickup at a frenzied pace, consumers start being introduced to new bands via the net instead of radio.

Waht would this scenario mean to the Association, consumers and the musicians? The RIAA companies might have to reduce their prices on cds, give musicians productive contracts to keep them in the fold or a more likely scenario would push for ever tighter controls, media formats, hardware changes and questionable legislation. Maybe a few of them would give up the recording industry or be consolidated.

The musicians would be just fine whatever happens. Young people will always pickup a guitar, drumsticks or piano lessons. People don't get into music for the money, it's for the making of music [or getting women]. The net has exposed so much music in different genres to so many people it can only be a good thing. Maybe if consumers get more music for free they'll have more disposable income for concerts. BTW plenty of disposable income is necessary for concerts judging by what I recently paid for some Tom Petty tickets at Red Rocks.

Consumers are getting plenty of music - nuff said. If cd prices drop then again consumers benefit. On the other hand if the RIAA succeds in squashing p2p, forces legislation through, changes recording media and hardware players maybe consumers will wind up paying through the nose. But the 'net is still so wide open and changing. P2P is here to stay and just like Napster was forced down and the 10 more P2P networks appeared which don't rely on central databases the same thing will happen again if Kazaa goes away. Besides P2P the net is full of trade sites, ftp exchanges, IRC, Direct Connect hubs etc. There's no shortage of files available!

What if the record companies all went belly up? Would people stop making and listening to music?

[John0904]

Would people stop making and listening to music?
I hope that is a rhetorical question. ;)

[jabarnutcase]

Well put Gallaeglagh- People were making and listening to music centuries before the ability to record it was available, and will continue to do so until the end of time one way or another.
The fat cats at the record companies will have to,(hopefully) come to grips with "the times they are a changin" and realize the net is here to stay. My hat goes off to Janis Ian and other musicians that are making a stand. By the way Pete, I remember her "records" from the 60's..HeHe...does everyone here know we used to listen to music by scratching a piece of plastic with a diamond? Talk about Hi-Tech! I remember my first "Reel-to- Reel" recorder, and thinking how cool it was. Of course, I bought hundreds of records after that. And hundreds more CD's since.(Most of them to replace my "records") :)
Anyway, an excellent article. She makes many good points including this (part) of a quote: ..... let me remind you of something: the music industry had exactly the same response to the advent of reel-to-reel home tape recorders, cassettes, DATs, minidiscs, VHS, BETA, music videos ("Why buy the record when you can tape it?")....
Some good reading. Anyone interested in the music business should check it out!
I must admit, I didn't even know she was still around!...Glad she is!

[Gallaeglagh]

A couple other comments I wanted to make -

The major labels have always screwed and continue to do so to almost every group/musician/artist that they can. Take a look at what the black artists went threw from the 1920s - 1960s, I have no sympathy for the labels at all.

If you follow any of the history of virtually any musician you'll see that they've all been squeezed to the max. Watch VH1 and you'll get a glimpse of what these people go through. The contracts all suck! They suck the life out of young inexperienced people so the fat cats can ride in limos. I think there's a Skynyrd song to that effect.

Just my opinion of course.

[Paul Komski]

Just one new double-barrelled name "Enron-minded" from that article really stuck in my head. At the heart of that is greed; corporate greed in particular.

The larger and richer (even if they are actually bankrupt!) these institutions become, then the greedier they all seem to get. Their consumers, suppliers, shareholders and employees all become subsidiary to the power, wealth and corruption of the CEOs, their executives and hangers on.

Competition "of any sort" is just not countenanced, whether or not it is healthy for their industry. They are so insulated and divorced from reality and so pre-possessed with growth at all costs that they can kill whatever goose is laying the golden eggs; and in the process deny so many a better deal and a more enjoyable life.

Yes, they ARE the slave-traders of today and the music industry is not unique. Far too much un-elected power is vested in far too few people. Isn't that dictatorship by any other name? ;)

[hawk7771us]

ALERT: Copyright Holders Want TO HACK YOUR PC
Representative Howard Berman has introduced legislation that would grant copyright holders near-immunity from the law while attacking a citizen's computer. Don't let him get away with it; make your voice heard!
The Berman P2P Bill: Vigilantism Unbound ALERT: Tinsel Town Club –Stop The CBDTPA Senator Ernest Hollings and a powerful group of Hollywood entertainment interests are pushing Congress to pass an anti-consumer bill called the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act (CBDTPA).

Nothing New Here: This has been going on since the beginning recording industries first record. It’s the same with Hollywood. With Almighty Bill, He had them accelerate it. My grandfather recorded a lot of songs from the early twenties to Nineteen forty-one. He wasn’t the best businessman / lawyer. He should have had a lawyer though. He just wanted to play his music and to make people happy, also make some money of course. I believe that Piracy of an artist work should be illegal. From recording to computers, whatever the case may be. Fair use of it is not. It’s the law. I believe that my grandfather is turning over in his grave, in Fox Lake Wisconsin. His trumpet should be heard by P2P. One song might sell an album, if more were sold who knows. Maybe my aunt and my brothers and I might see an increase in the checks BMC sends out. Which isn’t much to begin with.
Nobody should assume from the get go, that we’re criminals, and for the use of technology we shouldn’t do so either. We have the right to use technology to warp speed. Because if you assume, you make an ass out of you and me. We all have Gods given right to be heard, to hear, to learn, to think, to sing, and to watch, or not to. How many coasters do we all have? Just sitting on our coffee tables. Sent those CD’s back to the company that made it. Telling them that it’s defective. The coating should not be able to be scratched. By putting it into a cd rom, that you want a refund. Or windows 3.1, 95, 98,ME, 2000. Send back the ones you are never going to use again. They were all-defective since they never worked right in the first place. We wouldn’t take this, if it were a defective car. What is it going to cost each and every one of us? Time, one dollar or two to mail it back to them. I am not a lawyer and I do not think they will give you a refund. Maybe they will get the message. Maybe not. But they will have to hire more people to answer the mail, and the post office will make a little bit of money. Let your voice be heard, send a letter to your senator, congressman or women. Tell them how you feel about these bills that are being considered. We all have friends and they have friends etc. etc. If everyone did it! Just maybe the Powers That Be, Will Get The Message. Just two cents worth. To be heard or not to be heard, that is the question?

[YODA74]

ALERT: Copyright Holders Want TO HACK YOUR PC Representative Howard Berman has introduced legislation that would grant copyright holders near-immunity from the law while attacking a citizen's computer

This is not an argument just freedom of speach.

Sad sad sad :(
Lettem hack away I'll showem a nice little virus they'll never get over.I would suggest they stay away from my PC, I ain't sckeeeeeerd.
Two can play at the hacking game.


If I can't trade openly I'll trade Privatly
click here

RIAA KILLER (http://www.paradigm.nu/riaakill/)


Nice link Pete have always enjoyed her music

[Paul Komski]

Hillary Rosen, of RIAA, not related to sober gay Jewish male. (http://www.humorcafe.com/da_newz/press1/hillary_rosen.htm)

[Steve]

Hi folks,

I can appreciate all the views expressed. I download mp3's. I think sharing the music that you have paid for is morally right. I know that the record companies screwed alot of musicians. But I also know that many musicians have made many, many, millions of dollars in their contracts with record companies. You can feel bad for the ones that signed their name to bad contracts, but there are many who have made many millions. The guys who signed bad contracts just didn't read the contracts! If they had spent $1000 to have a good lawyer look over the fine print they would have gained much more.

All that said, I'm with YODA. Go ahead. Hack my system. There are plenty of smart folk out there who can undo anything they can do. This is the internet. World wide. It just busts their hind ends that they can't totally control it.

[ranchdog]

Pete....

Interesting read.

Many important factors brought out
concerning a failing industry system.

Very knowledgeable Lady.


RD.

[yawningdog]

The recording industry, consumers included, deserve everything they get. It has nothing to do with music, it has to do with marketing and sales. Ever since the Beatles, musicians have made money from the image they project, rather than their artistic ability. The Beatles, for example, were little more than four good looking guys with cool accents and rebellious haircuts. They did shows where the crowds were so loud, they didn't even bother playing because nobody could hear them anyway.

But at least they were themselves. Nowadays, performers like Britney Spears, Nsync, Usher, and Korn are total fabrications. They play, sing, dance, and perform exactly as the record companies' focus groups dictate. And say what you want about their money situation, I'll swap bank accounts with any one of those clowns.

My music collection? Glad you asked.
Vivaldi-Four Seasons-$3.99
Bach-Brandenburgs-$4.99
Mendelssohn- 3rd & 4th symphonies- $5.99
Beethoven- all 9 symphonies- $29.99
Mozart- ctos 19,20,21,22- $9,99

And lots more, all on CD, all purchased at retail. The $16.00 and up your kids pay for the half-hour flavor-of-the-month is a joke.

A fool and his money...

[hawk7771us]

ALERT: Copyright Holders Want TO HACK YOUR PC
Representative Howard Berman has introduced legislation that would grant copyright holders near-immunity from the law while attacking a citizen's computer. Don't let him get away with it; make your voice heard!
The Berman P2P Bill: Vigilantism Unbound ALERT: Tinsel Town Club –Stop The CBDTPA Senator Ernest Hollings and a powerful group of Hollywood entertainment interests are pushing Congress to pass an anti-consumer bill called the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act (CBDTPA] [http://www.eff.org/]
I would like to apologize to everyone for not including the url for the above before. I did not think it was appropriate, to send people to political site.

[“Nobody should assume from the get go, that we’re criminals, and for the use of technology we shouldn’t do so either. We have the right to use technology to warp speed. Because if you assume, you make an ass out of you and me. We all have Gods given right to be heard, to hear, to learn, to think, to sing, and to watch, or not to” eff] this should have been in quotations. For these sentences are not my own original thoughts. Normally I do put in the quotation marks, even if I change the words around. I just forgot to add the quotation marks in. For this I apologize to everyone, and to eff. There is no excuse for this, and it will not happen again. I should have proof read it before I sent it in. Sometimes I do not think. For my mind races onward at warp speed and my fingers just follow. I believe to give credit where credit is do. Thomas Colburn alas the hawk.