The internet is a worldwide audience for bands. And it seems to me only whiney huge bands like Metallica are the ones upset over file sharing.
EXACTLY.
When a member of some small band on an independent label posts on my blog asking me to take down the music that I've posted a megaupload link to, I'll do it, I respect artists a hell of a lot more than people like Metallica who make out like they are some kind of crusadors, I just hope that any artist with integrity wants their music to be heard more than they want it to be bought. I've nothing against giving money to artists but it shouldn't be their priority, certainly not ones who are already disgustingly rich. I bet I never receive such a message from a small band though. These bands are on a small scale BECAUSE of their commendable attitude to music. Most of them exist because of the internet.
I can only speak for myself in knowing that I would much rather someone stole my music than never got the chance to hear it because they couldn't afford to, or didn't want to buy it for whatever reason. Illegal or not then, my conscience is clear. It's not like I haven't supported bands. I've illegally downloaded an album, loved it, bought it, shared it with friends who have loved it, bought it, we've paid money to go and see them live, supported them through word of mouth etc. This is the oft-forgotten benefit of the internet and filesharing.
"I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
Not really sure this is the right place for this, and its probably been discussed before, but I had a bit of a dilemma recently (in my search for ancient soundgarden bootlegs), where i had part with my moral code for a while in order to get hold of them.
Basically, I'm pretty much totally against (in the majority of cases) acquiring music without paying for it. I had a pretty massive argument with a friend of mine about this. She nonchalantly said that music is overpriced and I completely lost it and started ranting on about how people like her have no concept of the time and effort song-writing takes and cannot truly judge its worth.
I also accused her (and people like her) of causing major damage to the music industry, as I'm sure you know, the prevalence of illegal music downloads means labels (major and minor) make less money and are subsequently becoming less and less willing to back new acts.
Personally I feel this to be the cause of the desolate, stagnant and unimaginative music that dominates the majority of today's markets.
So thats basically how I feel on the matter (and I'm feeling a little bit of self-loathing for indulging my SG addiction in this way), what do you guys think about this?
Edd
P.S. On the upside, if you take a look back in the history books, we're about due another future shaping musical revolution. (50' rock and roll, 70's punk, 90's grunge, 2010's who knows?) (I know there are others, but those illustrate the point best and are the most important to me...)
August 6, 2008
Peter Rodman, a foreign policy expert who served every
Republican president from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush, including as an
assistant secretary of defense for nearly six years in the current
administration, died Saturday in Baltimore. He was 64.
The cause was complications of leukemia, said Danielle Pletka,
vice president of foreign and defense policy studies at the American
Enterprise Institute.
Rodman was lured into government by his senior thesis adviser at
Harvard, Henry Kissinger, then the national security adviser, and he became
Kissinger's aide in negotiations that included opening ties to China, peace
talks on Vietnam and the Arab-Israeli conflict.
MORE >>>
LETTER FROM YORBA LINDA #66 | July 10, 2008 Touring with
the White House
By Tom Borcher
Tom has been a member of the Nixon Library Docent Guild
since 2002 and is a practicing attorney in
Los Angeles with Jacobs, Jacobs & Eisfelder.
White House history being a "hobby" of mine, one of
the biggest thrills in my five years as a docent at the Richard Nixon
Library & Birthplace was when John Zweifel's Miniature White House went on
display in 2004. ("Miniature" in this case being a model 70 feet by 30
feet.) I developed a forty-five minute "tour" of the model including the
history of both the model and the "real" White House." I enjoyed giving the
presentation to our guests on weekends and holidays. The day came, however,
when John rolled it into his distinctive semi-truck for other destinations.
When I learned that the model was to be displayed
at the George H. W. Bush Library in College Station, Texas, I asked them if
I could give my presentation there. Based largely on some kind words by
folks here at the Nixon Library, I was invited to Texas over the Memorial
Day Weekend in 2007.
Continue Reading this Letter >>
News, Reviews & Commentary
Peter Rodman, foreign policy expert, dies at 64
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
More>>
Nixon Center, Harvard's Belfer Center announce bi-partisan
commission on U.S. policy toward Russia
Friday, August 1, 2008
Sen. Gary Hart and Sen. Chuck Hagel August 1, 2008 The Belfer
Center at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and The Nixon
Center are pleased to announce a new Commission on United States Policy
toward Russia. The commission will be co-chaired by former Senator Gary Hart
More>>
Anne Walker Recovering From Heart Surgery
Friday, July 11, 2008
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Comments
When a member of some small band on an independent label posts on my blog asking me to take down the music that I've posted a megaupload link to, I'll do it, I respect artists a hell of a lot more than people like Metallica who make out like they are some kind of crusadors, I just hope that any artist with integrity wants their music to be heard more than they want it to be bought. I've nothing against giving money to artists but it shouldn't be their priority, certainly not ones who are already disgustingly rich. I bet I never receive such a message from a small band though. These bands are on a small scale BECAUSE of their commendable attitude to music. Most of them exist because of the internet.
I can only speak for myself in knowing that I would much rather someone stole my music than never got the chance to hear it because they couldn't afford to, or didn't want to buy it for whatever reason. Illegal or not then, my conscience is clear. It's not like I haven't supported bands. I've illegally downloaded an album, loved it, bought it, shared it with friends who have loved it, bought it, we've paid money to go and see them live, supported them through word of mouth etc. This is the oft-forgotten benefit of the internet and filesharing.
Peter Rodman, a foreign policy expert who served every
Republican president from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush, including as an
assistant secretary of defense for nearly six years in the current
administration, died Saturday in Baltimore. He was 64.
The cause was complications of leukemia, said Danielle Pletka,
vice president of foreign and defense policy studies at the American
Enterprise Institute.
Rodman was lured into government by his senior thesis adviser at
Harvard, Henry Kissinger, then the national security adviser, and he became
Kissinger's aide in negotiations that included opening ties to China, peace
talks on Vietnam and the Arab-Israeli conflict.
MORE >>>
LETTER FROM YORBA LINDA #66 | July 10, 2008 Touring with
the White House
By Tom Borcher
Tom has been a member of the Nixon Library Docent Guild
since 2002 and is a practicing attorney in
Los Angeles with Jacobs, Jacobs & Eisfelder.
White House history being a "hobby" of mine, one of
the biggest thrills in my five years as a docent at the Richard Nixon
Library & Birthplace was when John Zweifel's Miniature White House went on
display in 2004. ("Miniature" in this case being a model 70 feet by 30
feet.) I developed a forty-five minute "tour" of the model including the
history of both the model and the "real" White House." I enjoyed giving the
presentation to our guests on weekends and holidays. The day came, however,
when John rolled it into his distinctive semi-truck for other destinations.
When I learned that the model was to be displayed
at the George H. W. Bush Library in College Station, Texas, I asked them if
I could give my presentation there. Based largely on some kind words by
folks here at the Nixon Library, I was invited to Texas over the Memorial
Day Weekend in 2007.
Continue Reading this Letter >>
News, Reviews & Commentary
Peter Rodman, foreign policy expert, dies at 64
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
More>>
Nixon Center, Harvard's Belfer Center announce bi-partisan
commission on U.S. policy toward Russia
Friday, August 1, 2008
Sen. Gary Hart and Sen. Chuck Hagel August 1, 2008 The Belfer
Center at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and The Nixon
Center are pleased to announce a new Commission on United States Policy
toward Russia. The commission will be co-chaired by former Senator Gary Hart
More>>
Anne Walker Recovering From Heart Surgery
Friday, July 11, 2008
More>>