These days it seems like everyone is talking about file sharing or more on how it’s bad and evil and how it should be banned. OiNK was shut down in October; Demonoid had several problems in September and shut down the site in November [although rumours it will be back up are still about]; not to mention all the other sites that are constantly going down, getting sued, etc.
One of the main arguments is that downloading pirated music doesn’t harm the company, but the artists. Does it really?
50 Cent recently gave an interview:
“What is important for the music industry to understand is that this really doesn’t hurt the artists.”
“A young fan may be just as devout and dedicated no matter if he bought it or stole it.”
“The concerts are crowded and the industry must understand that they have to manage all the 360 degrees around an artist. They, (the industry), have to maximize their income from concerts and merchandise. It is the only way they can get their marketing money back.”
“The main problem is that the artists are not getting as much help developing as before file-sharing. They are now learning to peddle ringtones, not records” he said.
Whilst he isn’t anyone I would normally pay any attention to, he does raise an interesting point. Artists could do more concerts or sell other merchandise to make up for the lost money which would be nice for the fans as well. What about artists that don’t tour and only release studio albums though? Or those too unknown to pull a big crowd? Doesn’t it ultimately mean the industry will take even less chances?
Cat
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Are you absolutely sure 50 Cent said all this? As far as I know, he’s got no brains at all and he himself happens to be one of those ringtone people. But yeah, his point is valid.
And then again, your point is also very valid. There are many people out there who don’t do concerts because the kind of music they create is not possible in a live show. What would they do? While this generation (myself included) has it’s hard disks full of music thanks to piracy but the artist does stand to lose a lot. There could be a time when people would buy just one album and then the entire world could download from there. But artists are also looking for new things. Production houses like Universal have signed deals with companies like Nokia to make music available for download at cheap costs. However, why get it for a cheap price when you can get it for free anyway?
What he says is a very valid point. Just because you “steal” the music doesn’t mean you’re not devoted.
Follow the link, apparently he did say it! I’m as surprised as you are!
Unless I’m convinced and specifically want to support someone I don’t buy it. At the same time I don’t buy ringtones [used one of the death Note themes and transferred it to my phone] or don’t go to concerts. That means they’ve completely lost me as a paying customer.
I also still know many people who buy CD’s..
Sha: That’s what I liked most about what he said and he is very right with it.
Well the man who was interviewed by a reporter and showed off his [censored] to her said this, then ahem, I must’ve woken up in the wrong place.
I’m not surprised actually. Ever since Radiohead ditched their labels, artists have been slowly getting vocal about these things – Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, 50 Cent, Gene Simmons of KISS [in a bad way calling all downloaders scrawny, pimple faced teenagers] and some others.
However, why get it for a cheap price when you can get it for free anyway?
People who are devoted to the artist are ready to PAY but they do not want restriction on their music. Bull shit like DRM, 14 steps to just buy a single track from the net etc. has actually led to the growth of P2P. I’m sure you have read the TechCrunch posts on that – the music industry has lost the plot. Rather than embracing, they are trying to pack the people into a box.
And about the smaller bands, most of them actually benefit from P2P as it helps them get noticed. [Well at least their free stuff]. There will be losses on both sides whichever they choose, but banning P2P is never going to be the solution especially because half the Linux distro’s rely on em to offer downloads. :D
I also still know many people who buy CD’s..
Me! :D
Btw, Cat, when you send ish the Avenue Q songs, can you CC them to me also? :D
And which idiot buys ringtones anyway? [If its any of you three, please do NOT tell me. :P] If I want something as a ringtone, I can easily MAKE it on my pc and what does it cost me? Just a bit of time. :P
Oh and here’s a link to an article of a regular column I read – Dan Haggerty’s Mosh Pit. Although its main topic is the Madonna jump, it does point out things the music industry is doing the wrong way.
Another good read would be a recent edition of the Mosh Pit – An Open Letter to Gene Simmons. ;)
If you’d read my comment you’d have seen I don’t ;)
DRm messes things up. I would pay for more music if I could actually use it the way I wanted to. Like listen to it on my MP3 player, burn it to discs, send it to friends, etc. Just like you used to be able to with CD’s.
Banning P2P, well look at France..
I did read your comment, but you never know! :P
Banning P2P, well look at France.
Oh yeah, I saw it quite a while back. Only time will tell if it will hold. Plus theres “poisoning” in the pop torrents [which people bypass anyway]. They’re trying their level best to restrict a platform that they could leverage to make huge profits. “i-concerts” anyone? The internet is a bitch, if you bite it, it will bite back. :P
I concerts?
They’re just fighting the ‘evil’ at the wrong end. A bit like [and this is a quite bad comparison, I know] the middle ages or any point in history where people are forced to steal to have food to live/survive, yet they get punished for doing so. Giving them food, ie changing the system, would reduce crime, yet more efforts were taken on punishment than prevention.
i’m impressed with Fiddy’s comments (and just as surprised as the rest of you).
In these discussions i always feel like the straight-edge: almost all the music on my hard drive was paid for in some manner (ripped from a purchased CD or downloaded from iTunes). I don’t have a problem paying for music.
On the one hand, why do people seem to think everything should be free? Yet on the other, what is wrong with music industry execs that they can’t get with the program here? P2P is here to stay; this should be obvious in the post-Napster era. The record companies need to figure out how to use it, not just sit around railing against it and filing lawsuits.
Whatever; sorry for the pointless ramble :-)
i-concerts… you know, internet streaming concerts for the lazy bums who can’t go there live. Or people who are sick at home… [ME ME!] Ok I was joking. :D
Cat, I’m appointing you my human resources advisor. *nods*
Feel free tostop by and ramble at any time. :)
I do have a couple things downloaded from Itunes which works flawlessly, acceps my debit card and is fast and quick. However the songs are in a format not compatible with either my MP3 player or the Xbox360 through which I stream my music through. Conversion software costs money [if aquired legally] and takes effort. Most other places don’t take my card…
I would stop downloading music illegally if there was a decent site that has music with no DRM. Plus it’s useless, it doesn’t provide a problem to someone dedicated and just burdens the honest customer.
Ashish: I wouldn’t watch/pay an I concert. Part of what makes concerts so great is being there. Take Linkin Park’s Live in Texas. One of there biggest/bestests concerts. I’ve got the video [legally btw!] and even though i like them it’s just not the same thing.
HR advisor?
For once people should listen to him.
Yep. But don’t play his game, kids, it’s bad.
Well I was just joking. Don’t be surprised if they tried that though! If they can sell 30 sec ringtones, they can do anything. :D
I haven’t attended a live concert yet, at first I didn’t care and now there currently aren’t any that I care for. Part of the reason why I’m going to 100% attend the Iron Maiden show if they play in Mumbai next year! :D
HR advisor?
Beacuse you know the f**kers so well! :P —> A bit like [and this is a quite bad comparison, I know] the middle ages or any point in history where people are forced to steal to have food to live/survive, yet they get punished for doing so. Giving them food, ie changing the system, would reduce crime, yet more efforts were taken on punishment than prevention.
But how does that make me an HR advisor? I don’t get it..
Cat: Okay then. If you don’t get it you can choose another post. Vacancies open for Sports minister, Forests and Wildlife Preservation minister and ahem… President of Geek Wrestler Space Agency. [Be the first Cat to go into space! :P ]
I still haven’t got a clue what you’re going on about, but never mind..
Oh yeah, baby. Check this out:
http://remix.nin.com/
That looks like a great site! Cheers, raincoaster.
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