The ‘Great Wall of Silence’
p2pnet view Music | P2P:- “Not satisfied with the timetable for internet disconnection now that England’s Digital Economy has passed, the BPI has decided to once again start a lawsuit campaign against individual file sharers”, says Monkeyhouse, quoting a recent missive from the Vivendi Universal, EMI, Warner Music and Sony Music ‘trade’ outfit, cited by Billboard.
In it, BPI general factotum Geoffrey Taylor (right) revealed “exclusively” to Billboard that the BPI will “reluctantly return to suing individual file-sharers again in the period before technical measures potentially kick in around late 2011 or early 2012″. Taylor says “potentially” because instant technical disconnect measures were abandoned by the government.
But “I doubt this will be anymore effective then the RIAA’s lawsuit campaign was in the U.S. During the RIAA lawsuit campaign the blame got laid at the RIAA’s feet” says Monkeyhouse, going on >>>
Musicians got a pass, as they were perceived as having no control over what the RIAA did. Since that time period, some things have changed.
The FAC has changed it’s position twice, first it opposed a three strikes no more internet law for people accused of file sharing, then it supported it, then it dropped its support for that in favor of a net tax.
The Musicians Union has also come out in favor of three strikes, by way of throwing in its support for the odious Digital Economy Bill.
It seems to me the time has come not just to blame rightsholder groups, but to start taking a hard look at the artists themselves. While some musicians have come out against MAFIAA bullying of file sharers, there has been a great wall of silence from most of them.
It has been suggested that some are afraid of their labels retaliating against them if they say they oppose punitive measures against file sharers. While I may have accepted that excuse, now that the Digital Economy Bill has been passed and big music is trying to ramrod ACTA through, it’s time for those musicians to make a stand. Because if they won’t come out and openly support fans, they don’t deserve to be supported by fans. It’s time for fans to ask their favorite artist the question “do you support punitive measures such as lawsuits and three strikes no internet provisions against file sharers?”. If there is no answer, then that’s an answer too.
It’s time to not only boycott buying RIAA CD’s, but boycott artists who support lawsuits and three strikes against fans, and also boycott musicians who won’t give an answer when asked where they stand on this matter. So no more $200+ dollar concert tickets, no more chachka(tee shirts and other merchandise), no more $70+ a year fanclub membership fees, from now on give these guys nada, nothing! The reverse is of course true for artists that support fans and have CONSISTENTLY opposed punitive measures against fans. I say consistently because personally I would not give any support to some artist who took the FAC route, supported three strikes, but then changed their mind in favor of a net tax. A net tax is also hostile to fans, as it props up the same rightsholder organizations that have been hounding them for years.
“The MAFIAA groups and many artists have been treating the fans like a cash cow”, says the post, adding:
“Well now is the time for the teat to dry up.”
..… and identi.ca
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Monkeyhouse – BPI lawsuits, Digital Economy Bill, ACTA, April 18, 2010
Billboard – Digital Economy Act Q&A: BPI’s Geoff Taylor, April 16, 2010
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BPI general factotum Geoffrey Taylor (right) revealed “exclusively” to Billboard that the BPI will “reluctantly return to suing individual file-sharers again in the period before technical measures potentially kick in around late 2011 or early 2012″. Taylor says “potentially” because instant technical disconnect measures were abandoned by the government.
I doubt this will be anymore effective then the RIAA’s lawsuit campaign was in the U.S. During the RIAA lawsuit campaign the blame got laid at the RIAA’s feet. Musicians got a pass, as they were perceived as having no control over what the RIAA did. Since that time period, some things have changed. The FAC has changed it’s position twice, first it opposed a three strikes no more internet law for people accused of file sharing, then it supported it, then it dropped its support for that in favor of a net tax. The Musicians Union has also come out in favor of three strikes, by way of throwing in its support for the odious Digital Economy Bill. It seems to me the time has come not just to blame rightsholder groups, but to start taking a hard look at the artists themselves. While some musicians have come out against MAFIAA bullying of file sharers, there has been a great wall of silence from most of them. It has been suggested that some are afraid of their labels retaliating against them if they say they oppose punitive measures against file sharers. While I may have accepted that excuse, now that the Digital Economy Bill has been passed and big music is trying to ramrod ACTA through, it’s time for those musicians to make a stand. Because if they won’t come out and openly support fans, they don’t deserve to be supported by fans. It’s time for fans to ask their favorite artist the question “do you support punitive measures such as lawsuits and three strikes no internet provisions against file sharers?”. If there is no answer, then that’s an answer too. It’s time to not only boycott buying RIAA CD’s, but boycott artists who support lawsuits and three strikes against fans, and also boycott musicians who won’t give an answer when asked where they stand on this matter. So no more $200+ dollar concert tickets, no more chachka(tee shirts and other merchandise), no more $70+ a year fanclub membership fees, from now on give these guys nada, nothing! The reverse is of course true for artists that support fans and have CONSISTENTLY opposed punitive measures against fans. I say consistently because personally I would not give any support to some artist who took the FAC route, supported three strikes, but then changed their mind in favor of a net tax. A net tax is also hostile to fans, as it props up the same rightsholder organizations that have been hounding them for years.
The MAFIAA groups and many artists have been treating the fans like a cash cow. Well now is the time for the teat to dry up.
April 19th, 2010 at 11:12 am
I can name one country artist that should be tossed off the deep end with a hundred pound weight wrapped around his waste. One Garth Brooks, the cowboy who seems to think he’s the be all and end all of the country music scene. When he recently came out of retirement he was asked about file sharing amongst fans. His response, ” They should be arrested and put in jail because they are stealing our livelihood.” Sound familiar? It’s the same old RIAA/MPAA Kartel crap from a moron who seems to forget that the fans not the record companies pay his salary. According to Brooks, ” If Hollywood and the music industry were to stop making product for 24 hours, the fans would be devastated and would be whining for the product.” Man, has he got rose colored glasses on or what?! The only ones that would suffer if the Kartels were to stop making product even for 24 hours is the Kartels, the fans wouldn’t give a shit.
I’d love to be at a Garth Brooks concert and ask him what he thought of fans downloading his music and watch the reaction when he opens his mouth and says that they should be arrested and put in jail. Can you see the seats empty as the fans either get up and leave or storm the stage to hang him out by his short and curly’s.
April 19th, 2010 at 11:25 am
This is the scoop: Anyone who shows independence of mind finds out that all the opportunity doors are shut.
The field does not matter, whether is music, politics, religion, law, education, etc.
So, to eat you have to shut up and just repeat what the so called “leaders” say and become a follower.
The problem is the now “leaders” are the former followers.
And “equal opportunity” is a myth, in all fields.
If you wonder how to break the vicious circle…. you can’t alone.
You must help create the a non existent group of two or more thinkers.
Millions of these will solve the problem.
April 19th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Can anyone hear a violin playing in the background? That is upcoming death music for the MAFIAA groups. And it isn’t copyrighted music either.
April 19th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
@Logan
When he recently came out of retirement he was asked about file sharing amongst fans. His response, ” They should be arrested and put in jail because they are stealing our livelihood.”
I can’t find that referenced anywhere on the net. Could anyone give me a URL where he is quoted saying that?
April 19th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
@Monkey
Couldn’t find Garth’s quote either, but here’s a classic from another “artist”:
“every freshly-scrubbed little kid’s face should have been sued off the face of the earth. They should have taken their houses and cars”
google it
April 19th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
The media industry death event will be copyrighted and will be live on internet.
Don’t forget to watch!
April 19th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Here’s the story and the link on that insufferable horse’s ass.
http://www.cmt.com/news/nashville-skyline/1624496/nashville-skyline-garth-brooks-goes-back-to-work.jhtml
Logan
April 19th, 2010 at 11:33 pm
@Logan:
I remember reading that somewhere else, and was trying to remember where.
Thanks for digging that up!
He sure has a fine opinion of himself, and obviously rates what he does as far more important than the remedies he seems to be demanding. Insufferable horse’s ass, indeed!
Ya know, come to think of it, I never quite got the “Chris Gaines” thing, anyway.
April 20th, 2010 at 12:16 am
Thanks Logan, I wanted to write a Monkey House article about him when I read your first post, but there was no way I could do it without an article to reference. That was good work digging that up; my google search came up dry.