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RIAA Just Took It Way Too Far

drew0drew0 Posts: 943
edited June 2009 in Other Music
I do think illegal downloading is rather wrong, but this is just absurd. There goes any sympathy and empathy I had for the record industry. That is disgusting.
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Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • musicismylife78musicismylife78 Posts: 6,116
    edited June 2009
    i agree its disgusting. But the bigger story to me, is you suggesting in your post that THIS story is what made you have no more sympathy or empathy for the record industry. Really?

    While, I applaud you for posting the article as its important, this stuff has been happening for years.

    The record industry isnt out to right wrongs, or to be ethical or just, or fair to artists.

    The record industry exists to make money. Pure and simple. They are a bunch of greedy CEO's who got rich off fans who bought Lps, cassettes, 8 tracks and cd's for years. They made billions off it.

    Yet they continue to think these actions will do something, that by fining or jailing people, that somehow, magically, in the morning, no one will download illegally anymore.

    Fact is, most people download. Either you agree ethically that people should download illegally, or you think people should pay for music, the fact is most people download illegally.

    How can you stop something like that? The answer is you can't. Just like people couldnt ban achohol, and the government cant win the war on drugs.

    If you want to make a case for artists, that they deserve to get paid for their art, thats one thing. But its never been about that for the RIAA or anyone in their circle. Its about money plain and simple. They are losing billions of dollars and they are pissed.
    Post edited by musicismylife78 on
  • musicismylife78musicismylife78 Posts: 6,116
    either you adapt, or you get a new career path. Musicians dont make money off cd sales. And record companies dont either. So either, you punish and demonize those who are cutting into your profit as Lars Ulrich and the RIAA has done. Or you adapt, you create new ways to market and advertize and distribute music. NIN did it. Radiohead did it. Raconteurs and Bloc Party as well.

    The record industry is dead. People dont wanna pay 20 bucks for cd's anymore.

    For me, the real story is, why some people STILL have good feelings towards the record industry. Often on this board people will claim that downloading illegally is wrong, and they will back the record industry, and suggest the record industry deserves to make some cash.

    That to me is the real shocker. I mean, basic music history people. The record industry made off with the loot, while alot of artists starved, and never saw the cash. This goes all the way back to the beginning of the modern music scene, back when Blues singers would sign with a label. Who do you think made off with mad bank? Why did so many of those early blues singers languish in obscurity while millions were being made off their music?

    The day EMI, Warner, Sony Music and others like it announce bankruptcy, will be a day I will celebrate. And the sooner it happens, the better.

    They blew it. Its not filesharers faults. Its not some 20 year old college student downloading music for free who is to blame. The record labels had plenty of chances to do something worthwhile, and they blew it.

    I say good riddance to bad rubbish
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    Further discussion of it here, if you're interested:

    viewtopic.php?f=14&t=101525
  • red mosred mos Posts: 4,953
    edited June 2009
    Well I'll throw in my two cents:

    Piracy has been around since the days of the tape cassette recorder. Taping a song off the radio could be considered piracy and technically it is. Yet no lawsuits and whatnot were ever enforced.
    Whomever said the RIAA is greedy is correct. Artists lost the rights to their songs and the profits the minute they signed the deal. The Tom Petty documentary "Running down a dream" goes into grave detail about TP and the Heartbreakers experience with the industry. Long story short he had to file for Chapter 11bankrupcy. Although due to the lawsuit he ended up on the winning end with winning publishing rights and royalties.

    They [the industry] just screwed artists with this whole practice.

    Moving forward: Technology changes and even though peer to peer sites and sharing still exist it really depends on how much you do it. That's what they are after the peer to peer swapping services. I do think that is an outrageous settlement. The RIAA is now on the artists side of the coin. They are losing money just like they screwed the artists out of. Aint Karma a Bitch?
    Digital downloading and the ipod generation is the new in thing and way to get music. I honestly see all labels and and physical cds from retail outlets dissapearing in the near future.
    I think most bands will offer up a free download type thing like Radio head, NIN ect. They will sell a physical cd through their websites for a price of say 10- 15 bucks and that way the money goes directly to the band and the production costs. There is no label or middle men to pay off.
    Fact is Piracy can't be stopped. If a friend buys a cd or rents it from a library, it's ripped to a computer for anyone to have.
    Death to record labels. Sad, but true.
    Post edited by red mos on
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  • whgarrettwhgarrett Posts: 574
    I do not steal music. I am not a thief. I believe that stealing is stealing is stealing is stealing. Whether it is a girlfriend, a car, an identity, or a song. I own sooo many cds that I have bought over the years. I cannot listen to them all..... there isn't time. I cherish the ones I have and invest in the albums I will love. :D
  • dustinparduedustinpardue Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,829
    the music industry is destroying itself through payola and clear channel. every american has the same 10 albums shoved down their throats constantly for a solid year. of course those are the only 10 albums people buy because they have taken away radio, which is where people used to hear new stuff and go out and but it. I don't think the consumer is the issue, it's a combination of the record companies themselves, Clear Channel, and American Idol
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  • Them-BonesThem-Bones Posts: 518
    whgarrett wrote:
    I do not steal music. I am not a thief. I believe that stealing is stealing is stealing is stealing. Whether it is a girlfriend, a car, an identity, or a song. I own sooo many cds that I have bought over the years. I cannot listen to them all..... there isn't time. I cherish the ones I have and invest in the albums I will love. :D

    This statement is wrong, I'm too tired to address how wrong you are though
    "If my thoughts, dreams, could be seen, they'd probably put my head, in a guillotine, but it's alright ma, it's life and life only."
  • helplessdancerhelplessdancer Posts: 5,281
    soulsinging wrote:
    Further discussion of it here, if you're interested:

    viewtopic.php?f=14&t=101525

    it would be nice to have these 2 threads merged

    and i'll post my response here as well...

    ####################################################

    http://www.boycott-riaa.com

    this is real sad...
    "In recent years over 30,000 people have allegedly settled with the RIAA for an average of $3500 dollars. This means that the RIAA have raked in more than 10 million dollars without even having to go to court."
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