Um. There's nothing ethical about Communism. It's the fraternal twin of fascism, people disappearing in the night, with their wedding bands sent back to their wives weeks later, people being put in pyschiatric care for expressing the wrong view, living in fear. Impoverished health care systems, people stealing wood in winter for fires to keep warm, limited diets, neighbours policing each other. At schools getting essay topics on communism where you'd get A as long as you blabbed on how wonderful life under Marxism was, etc etc. Not being allowed to openly celebrate Christmas. You should talk to my dad. That's probably not the analogy you want! ;) Seriously if that freedom for the consumer is at the cost of musicians making a living then there is a problem. There has to be a balance.
> 1. Whether freedom is desirable, is not my point. But I'd argue very > strongly that file sharing has tremendously increased my freedom as a > consumer. I now have a choice. One could say, in fact, that I > participate in a kind of musical communism, as I support record labels > as an ethical decision, even though I can already get the product for > free. I take what I wish, and pay as I am able. I also give back > musically in the form of the many free or very low-paying shows I have > done throughout my life. From some ethical perspectives this is wrong, > but to me this is a step in the direction of what would actually be a > more humane and ethical society. This behavior doesn't make sense from > an ideological economic perspective. But economic models should not be > mistaken for reality. > > 2. You seem to have a very pro-capitalist view of art, that "the > incentive and the ability to create" only come from a profit motive. I > know many talented musicians, composers, and artists, who make very > little at their art, and often do more commercial work to subsidize the > art they really care about. I don't think the economic incentive > argument applies very well to artistic human behavior. I wear a tie to > work every day, in part, so that I no longer have financial pressure > when I work on music. Now I get to work on the music I really care > about for its own sake. I don't get to do it full time, but that is the > nature of the society we live in, and these issues have been a problem > for talented artists long before mp3s ever came around. > > 3. I fear the end of the "golden age" of free music, will only increase > the power of corporate entities. My belief is that the real fear the > big labels have about file sharing is that it will weaken the channels > of corporate distribution. All the power the record labels have centers > on distribution and the kind of mass marketing an economy of scale on > that level makes possible. If consumers started getting their music > from anywhere and everywhere, they might be less interested in buying > the HIT-OF-THE-WEEK just because a huge label pumped a bunch of money in > to it to make it the next big thing. > > 4. I think the new paradigm for music is simple. Information truly IS > free, because it is costly to contain, and it tends to spread as if of > its own accord. There are plenty of capitalistic ways to turn > file-sharing into a strength, rather than a weakness. Instead of > selling the information, you sell packaging, you sell shows, you sell > services. You sell products that are "special" that amount to more than > the musical data stored inside. There are many possibilities out there > for creative and motivated people! > > -David > > -----Original Message----- > From: Rc [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 6:40 AM > To: David Powers; '313 Detroit'; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: (313) Au Revoir Groovetech > > i'm not sure if "freedom" should allow for the unregulated trade in the > intellectual property of others without their permission. This > influences > the incentive and the ability to create. > > i think that at this time, if composers and labels wanted you to have > their > music for free, they would offer it.... and many do from their websites. > > the web is the most efficient music distribution model ever, and the > vast > majority of music consumers are prepared to have their entire > collections in > a digital format. > > i think we're kinda living in a golden age of free music, but things > will > slowly change and hopefully there will be shift in power away from the > major > labels that dictate how music is to be consumed. > > > > > on 23/9/03 9:34 AM, David Powers at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >> Well, maybe, but once again, I might point out I bought four records >> this weekend. 3 of the records, I have MP3s of the albums I bought, > and >> have been searching for the record. The fourth is an artist I >> discovered in part by checking out his MP3s. >> >> I also discovered "The Sea & Cake" through mp3s this weekend, because > I >> saw a poster for an upcoming show of theirs here in Chicago. Now, >> because I liked the music I heard, I intend to go see their show. I >> will probably buy an album of theirs on vinyl also, if I see it > around. >> >> I think that many others would have the same outlook as my own. Of >> course, it's always scary to put ethical choices in the hands of >> consumers. But then, isn't that what "freedom" (if that word means >> anything at all anymore) is all about? >> >> -David >> >> PS. I never did try out Groovetech. I prefer shopping in stores but > I >> do use planetxusa.com sometimes. >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Cyclone Wehner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2003 1:35 PM >> To: 313 Detroit >> Subject: Re: (313) Au Revoir Groovetech >> >> Now maybe the impact of rampant file sharing and burning stuff becomes >> clear... Think about it... >> >> ---------- >>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> To: "Phonopsia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> Subject: Re: (313) Au Revoir Groovetech >>> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 12:49 AM >>> >> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Well, it was a good run. And they will go down in history as one of >> the >>> best shops to never have a shop. >>> Hmmm, wonder what will happen to the archived music sets? >>> >>> MEK >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> "Phonopsia" >>> >>> <[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: >>> <[email protected]> >>> sia.co.uk> cc: >>> >>> Subject: (313) Au >> Revoir >>> Groovetech >>> 09/20/03 12:46 AM >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,9-2003431875,,00.html >>> >>> Tristan >>> ======= >>> http://www.phonopsia.co.uk >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> >>> >>> >>> >> > >
