To get on with it though, I nodded my head in agreement sometimes, but some of the things he said made me wonder if he really knew about the nature of the new record deals that are being made today. Rob said that the future of the music industry would have free music and “musicians make their money from touring and merchandise, and if they need a label, the label takes a percentage of their tour and merch profits.” If anyone has been keeping up with the likes of Madonna, Korn, the Pussycat Dolls, or the superstars of the Asian music scene, they would know that that is already being done. The 360 degree deal is real and has been used. Record labels (or record deals, to be more precise) now cover that as well as distribution of music. It’s only a matter of time when record labels (or promotion companies like AEG and Live Nation) will be able to provide tour support and management to their artists as well.

“Support artists directly” was another thing that I had a little problem with. After he said that the consumer should illegally download all of their music to avoid paying RIAA affiliated record labels, how would this hurt the artist? While it’s nice to think that artists appreciate the support of a fan who makes a website dedicated to them, it’s hard to believe that the artists will be happy with their music being stolen and none of their royalties being paid. Also, going to see your favorite act at a concert only supports another monopoly, ticketing and Ticketmaster. The best way to really support an artist is to buy their merchandise at a free show. My reasoning behind that? Free show means no middleman has to be paid for selling a fan a ticket, and buying the merchandise is just a trade off between a fan and the artist directly.

Also I would suggest the record labels are going to survive but ultimately music will be regulated so recklessly that people will be afraid to buy CD’s or music at all. I already fear it because of the recent Prince lawsuit. He + the record company are suing a mother for posting a video of her child dancing on YouTube, the background music is that of Prince. It’s barely discernable and yet they sue her because they’re bastards, they are the trash of this Earth and I don’t care anymore if they die + another song is made because you need to take out evil sometime and this is the result. They’ll hopefully perish and musicians can make websites instead to sell their own stuff instead of being lazy losers and letting the labels do it all.

I advise you musicians to just get a damn Mac and start mastering your own music, leave the labels in hell where they belong.

True, but they also know how to do quite well many other things. For example, sell records with unlicensed songs, steal royalties from artists and songwriters by not reporting or underreporting sales, claim ownership of public domain works (this is done by the publisher arm of the record companies), make under the table deals with music publishers to steal from the songwriters, write one side contracts that makes slaves out of the artists, promote songs through payola and invade, culturally, small countries thereby killing the local music taste and replacing it with the latest foreign music craze, through the teenage population (that is what payola is for).

Excellent article.

I would also find the string “Courier New,Courier,Monaco” and replace that in the source code – a monospace font is not appropriate here.

“Great story, one minor beef. That light grey font on a white background is REALLY hard to read!! I know browser preferences can be reset, but as a general rule it would be easier if the font was just black.”

I agree, but that’s the way Word Press sets indents up. If anyone knows how to change the colour, please let me know.

Cheers! And thanks …

There are other places on the net I would respond in like fashion but will not give up a nick, name, email, or other identifying info in the process. It is one of the prime reasons I’ve been a long term member here.

With the spy atmosphere lately, I keep these requirements to post in mind and will not respond to those wanting more info than is needed to make a comment.

The original source rant was an excellent one and just drew me in.

It is not possible to have a constructive discussion about autors right in the digital age as long as these copyright extremists are on their feet. You don’t negotiate with terrorists you kill them. What is true for El Kada is true for RIAA, MPAA, Vivendi/universal, Sony/BMG,Time Warner, and EMI. Let’s get ride of them!
Boycott them to death soldier!

Step two: Now we can talk and find solutions.

THAT pretty much says it all………