What's really telling about the whole piracy thing

[Dragonbreathp9d]

Those bands/ artists that are stuggling, that could really use the money- are HAPPY that people download their music. Or offer it themselves for free or at whatever price you choose. They are just happy people are listening at all. Example: www.dnumbers.com
Even some major mainstream bands (Radiohead) have done such. It's only money grubbing assholes like Metallica and Coldplay that whine about only getting 30 million as apposed to 35 million. Seriously though- when I dl a band I really like, I often buy the cd later so I have a hard copy- something tangible. And artists I might not know very well that are coming to town to play a concert I will dl to see if I like them- if I do I buy a ticket to see their show (MPAA contests that downloading decreases ticket sales- bullshit, live is different than recorded)

[Dawson Leery]

1. Do Coldplay and Metallica have anything worth stealing?

[Dragonbreathp9d]

2. Bwahahaha!

[randome]

3. Do you really 'often buy the CD later'? Or is that rationalization?

I think most people DON'T buy stuff if they don't have to. It's easy and anonymous to download what you want.

Most people have a variable set of ethics when it comes to downloading. I know I do.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

4. I truly do

Especially with Enigma- often difficult to find so I dl first and buy later

[Nye Bevan]

5. My understanding is that the bands and artists make relatively little money from CD sales.

The vast majority of their income comes from touring. Most of the CD revenue goes to the big record labels.

[pokerfan]

6. Did you see what Louis CK did a couple months ago?

Cut out the middleman and sold his latest album (no DRM) directly to his fans for $5 over the internet. No copy protection and yes, it was on all the peer-to-peer sites almost overnight. But here's the thing: He still made $1M in ten days.

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlla/louis-c-k-cuts-on-middle-man-sells-new-comedy-special-directly-to-fans_b48068

Cutting out the middleman. That's what the labels (and studios) are really afraid of.

[Nye Bevan]

7. Genius.

When people know the money is going to the artist (as opposed to a huge corporation, with maybe a few crumbs left over for the artist) they are much more likely to pay up.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

8. +1

[joshcryer]

10. Exactly. Media is evolving. Sorry folks, but Hollywood and mainstream music are dying.

They're going to die. Nothing can stop it. Wait until computers can make fully realistic "Machinima." Even actors will be out of a job. It sucks, yes, but it sucked when cars took over horse and buggies. It sucked when planes took over ships. It sucked when internet news took over newspapers.

People are going to hurt.

The best thing to do is start adapting now and stop fighting it.

[An_Opened_Hand]

9. I make it a point to buy the CD or download if available.

There's a streaming site with a 50/50 split that I pay for that has a lot of artist that I'd never here from a big label. Ambient, Electronica, World. And I always put cash in the tip jar at the local coffee shop when they have live music. Even if I just walk in for a quick cup and can't stay long. I know too many Musician friends that have gotten screwed over by the large record labels, so I take the attitude if I can get my money directly into the artist hands I have no problem paying. Maybe it's just me, but I think people really do want to pay for their entertainment, as long as it goes to the people that create it, not the ones that have wrestled ownership from the artist.