(Report comment)

(Report comment)

I post all of mine on the net so people can hear what I do without having to pay initially. If they like what they hear and want to purchase a copy, fine. If they prefer to download, that is fine, too.

Every time someone downloads your music, they will most likely be sharing it with their friends too. This means more exposure, more fans and more money from the ones who do eventually buy the CD and the merch and the tickets to the shows.

If by recording at a large studio means I'm not going to make any money anyway, I'd much rather give it away on MY terms.

(Report comment)

(Report comment)

(Report comment)

(Report comment)

In any case, arguing that you don't have enough money to buy something, does not somehow give you the right to take it. That's like me saying I can't afford a certain house but I'll move into it anyway.

If you think that internet levy or that cd levy is going to find its way to the hands of the small artist, better follow the trail and you will see where it goes.

Re the education comments, I've been to University and my sister is there now. Look at it as just another business model. If the cost of the education is worth it to you based on the career you may get, then go for it. If you feel it's a waste of money, then it may well be. With programs like OSAP here, no one can cry that they cannot afford the education. Try some of the US schools and see how much cheaper it is in Canada. Besides, people can be successful in business in this country with a grade 3 education and make more than University grads. You don't have to be a waiter just because you flunked out in bio-sci.

My ending may not leave everyone happy … but guess what, that's reality. Not everyone can be happy 24 hours a day. Get over it.

Sadly, you are not alone and many, many people somehow feel that they have the right to free music. Maybe it's just a simple case of too much supply for the demand.

(Report comment)

I know it may sound cruel, but these small-time artists, who get angry because there are people out there downloading music while they're in the poor-house…Wouldn't it be time to get a separate job? Serving tables is nothing to guffaw at–if it makes you more money than selling your music, then it's a good deal for you. The Stones said it best. You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you might find, you get what you need. To the guy that lived in a van to sell his records, that is a testament to how devoted you are to your work, apparently, whether it sold or not.

In the paper the other day, I read that they're lobbying for a $5.00 surcharge onto your internet bill to compensate for music downloads, and you're charged whether you do it or not, kind of like paying for health care. I'd rather do that then pay for something I might not even like.

Stefan, if you keep going on one of your points, you get a nice little ending that leaves no one happy. Don't like the cost of a textbook? Don't buy it. Fail the course, or…Don't like the cost of your heavily subsidized education? Don't buy it. With the world of business coming to a point where you pretty much need college or university, that would leave you with your waitressing job, making very little money, and not having enough money to buy the albums or go and see shows, or line other people's pockets.

Not a thief, just clever and manipulative.

(Report comment)

(Report comment)

1.
Johnny: – Do you know that music industry sales have gone down in the last 6 years from 1.3 billion dollars to about 750 million?

Steph: – Most of this is from compilation albums and soundtracks. For other recordings there is an irrefutable positive correlation between the amount an artist is downloaded and the amount of albums sold.

Stefan: – While music industry sales are down for CDs and the like, they are up for MP3s. Downloads do promote artists. All that said, it's really irrelevant. If a copyright owner doesn't want their work distributed (freely or otherwise)should they not have the right to decide? It is theirs after all, not yours.

2.
Johhny: – That is because of all of you self-righteous type people above, likely earning good livings, ripping off all the artists. All your bs above is trying to justify what is clearly theft.

Steph: – I am a student who is completely broke trying to get an education. Want to talk about theft? Let’s see, new editions to textbooks every few years forcing students to purchase the “latest” editions when all the authors did was change the chapter order. How about new flat charges to anyone who boards a plane? Right, if an institution does this it’s alright, but if I download an album I am clearly a criminal beyond redemption who should be destroyed for the greater good of this country.

Stefan: – Steph made some good points, but everyone has a choice. Don't like the price of an album or song, don't buy it. Don't like the price of a text book? Don't buy it. Don't like the cost of your heavily subsidized education? Don't buy it. Life isn't always fair, but we can all do our own little part to help shift things in the right direction. Don't blame the seller, make a statement.

3.
Johnny: – Do you know have a clue how many jobs have been lost in the music industry because of your theft? Thousands!

Steph: – Source? What about software that cuts out the middle man production team and allows artists to record music right into their home computer? How isn’t this new technology being seen as more detrimental to the music industry than someone downloading the finished product? Would the artist then sell their cds for less than 15$ a pop?

Stefan: – I'm not sure about the correlation of free downloading and job losses in the music business. The new potable devices and software have not done much to change the way Pros record. Good equipment still costs a fortune and you have to know what you're doing to use it. It has however enabled start up groups and the little guy to cut CDs at home that sound darn good at a cheaper price than a studio.
Re CD pricing, it's always bugged me that CDs were priced double that of a casette tape even though they actually cost 'LESS' to manufacture. Supply & Demand I guess. The $15 price of a CD does nothing to help a small artist. They sell so few they usually barely cover their costs to make them. It's the big artists that could lower their prices as they do such large volume. Some have on new releases. But again, supply & demand. If people will pay $20, the price will stay there.

4.
Johnny: – 80% of musicians in Canada earn less than $15,000.

Steph: – 90 % of musicians are never going to “make it big.” The rest of them are weekend warriors who do music for fun and have part time jobs in the real world. Not everyone is going to be a rock star so get over it. BTW, $15 000 is less than a person would make on EI and far less than someone who works minimum wage. See point 7 on what you are not.

Stefan: – Johhny's likely right on this one. It's a tough gig. Most make their $$ from live performance anyway, not CD sales.

What bugs me is how much 'FUN' people think musicians are having. Yes, it's FUN to play. It's also FUN to create computer programs, but software guys don't all do it for free. Practising scales and theory for years … not fun. travelling on the road from gig to gig, not fun. Setting up and tearing down, not fun. Never seeing your family, not fun. Trust me, the FUN % is low of the entire job of being a performing artist.

5.
Johnny: – If a song brings joy to your heart, dont you think that's worth giving the songwriter 10 to 25 cents?
Its priceless.

Steph: – So now we are being taxed on emotions? A sunset makes me happy too, so to who should I make this cheque to?

Stefan: – It was simply a question. And your answer is No apparently? Sunsets are free, if you are able to get yourself to a spot to see one from. Difference is, someone wrote and performed the song and asked to be paid (usually). And it's not a tax, it's a request.

6.
Johnny: – And dont you think that record companies, not as it was in the past but just in good business practice have a right to re-coup and profit from their investment just like any other business?

Steph: – So instead of growing at a rate of 10% a year in terms of profits they want to be greedy and earn 15-20%? When the music industry starts going into the red, then this point is valid. Till then, …too bad to those greedy bastards. Life ain’t all about the bottom line. You cannot place art and thought into a spreadsheet way of thinking.

Stefan: – Business is business. Wallmart has 80% markups but people still shop there. Guitar stores mark up their goods 100%, but the guitars still sell. Point is, it's voluntary. Nobody if forcing you to buy their goods. If you feel it is not worth the money, you can walk away. Same applies to music. Saying you don't like how much profit a business makes doesn't give anyone the right to 'steal' their products.

7.
Johhny: – Just cause your smart enough to rip us off on bit torrent or whatever dont pat yourself on the back, you're a thief.

Steph: – No, you are adaptive and clever. Congrats.

Stefan: – I won't touch this one.

8.
Johhny: – I'm a living example of someone with years of education and the perfect candidate to make a living in the industry who has been affected.

Steph: – If you have talent and drive you will make it. If you haven’t, blame yourself. Yes life is tough, but change your locus of control to an internal focus and quit trying to blame others for failing. Also, that line of thinking is extremely individualistic and serves no purpose since I can just refute by being equally individualistic and say "Who are you and why should *I* care about you? Why should *I* pay for health care, I'm a healthy 20 year old who's never been to the hospital." But you know what, I'd never really say that because health care serves the greater good.

Stefan: – Having talent and drive is not enough and certainly no guarantee to make it in the music business (or many others). It's the old supply and demand at work yet again.
I think Johhny was simply trying to give a face to his examples of lost employment. We could move back to a communist state where artists get paid same as doctors and janitors and everyone gets a job based on who they know and everyone goes to university (but can't get an appropriate job) and everyone has health care (but wait times are years). But this is a much bigger topic than whether downloading music is wrong (legal, ethical, etc).

9.
Johnny: – Why dont you get up in the morning and go to work and give away your service for nothing?
-And if you want to go to the live show, there is a huge seperate cost, that's a different service, dont justify it with that, most of you barely get off your ass and go to a show anyway.

Steph: – How will I know about a NEW band unless I hear their stuff first? See point 4 on how many artists fail. I am a broke university student. 15$ for a cd for an UNKNOWN band is a steep investment. If I could listen to the cd first to see if I like it I may decide to invest my money in it. Can the record industry PROMISE me that I will like my investment? Of course they can’t because not all artists are gifted or good. They can't all be the Beatles or Led Zep. If I don’t like my purchase am I allowed to return to the store I bought it from and tell them to give me back my money? Not in Canada. Unlike paintings, statues, and virtually anything related to art, what I see is what I get. Music is not able to claim that. What about books you say? Two words, public library.

Stefan: – Sorry Steph, you can sample CDs online at itunes or in the store at HMV or many other places. And again, that is not a good reason to download someone's work unless they have agreed to let you do it. Again, not sure if you'll like it? Then don't buy it, but don't justify that you just wanted to try the guys car so you 'borrowed' it for a day. Ask permission.

10.
Johnny: – the blank levy only helps major artists who have been established for years. It doesnt trickle down.

Steph: – Awww boohoo, someone is not big enough to suckle on the tit. Poor you! Don't cry like you're a have-not province. You can obviously afford the net and to record your music. So don't talk to me about being broke. I'm with three students who had to pool our resources together just to get the net.

Stefan: – Johnny is right on this one. If anyone here is thinking that levy covers all the artists whose music they are downloading free, think again.
Also, don't assume Johnny has the net, he could be at a library. In any case, it's totally irrelevant even if he owned his own ISP.

11.
Johnny: – some judge was stupid enough to equate making a copy like on a photo copier in a library with sharing it online with millions across the world.

Steph: – Mass produced cds from the record labels? Oh no, it’s totally different than a photo copier.

Stefan: – personally, I think that levy should be removed and people just legally pay for whatever music they want to buy. That's more fair for the artists (and the consumers).

You can't distribute copies of a book without permission either.

12.
Steph: – Check out the net to see your the money REALLY goes in cd sales. That is what's really harming artists.

Stefan: – for the big artists, yes, they actualy get very little from each sale. But again, is this a case to justify theft? no. For the little artists, pretty much 100% of the sale goes back to the artist.

Stefan
http://www.myspace.com/stefanswings

(Report comment)