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Why buy no CDs at all, instead of buying from independent labels like these that don't sue people for downloading their music? And if none of those record labels have music that suits your tastes (I'll admit I lean towards hipster garbage in music taste), check RIAA Radar before you buy.

Because a non-essential, impulse purchase is stifled by a "mother may I?" check?

For most people on slashdot, the RIAA is just a justification to make themselves feel better about downloading instead of buying.

No, the reason we don't buy CDs is because of network effects. Once we stopped buying and looking at the big label CDs we had much incentive to go to a music store to look at the other 1% or whatever (by volume).

For example, since CompUSA and Circuit City both went down the drain, I go to BestBuy and GameStop LESS often to look at stuff. Taking a trip for just one store isn't worth it to browse. This is why malls and shopping centers are good for business.

Personally, I think I've bought 5 CDs since Napster was shut down - 2 of those for the DVD with the videos, 2 japanese sountracks and a musical for my gf. I don't illegally download it, or buy it online now, I just don't bother with music. If I listened to music even a tenth as much as I used to, I would buy a Zune and a Zune pass and get it there.

Why buy no CDs at all, instead of buying from independent labels like these that don't sue people for downloading their music? And if none of those record labels have music that suits your tastes (I'll admit I lean towards hipster garbage in music taste), check RIAA Radar before you buy.

For most people on slashdot, the RIAA is just a justification to make themselves feel better about downloading instead of buying.

Not purchasing any CDs is stupid if you also avoid buying them from non-RIAA labels. That said, there are a number of labels I like that provide non-RIAA music.

Also: I'll probably be modded down now for suggesting that you should buy music instead of pirate it.

Yeah, it's starting to be common. Personal favorite Deerhoof did the same thing last year.

...I'm an ardent supporter of independent music. My advice would be to seek out an indie label with good distribution and venue connections - if they can help out with CD packaging/reproduction and access to places to play, you're a few steps ahead of the game. Chances are they'll leave the marketing decisions up to your band for the most part, leaving your band in better control.

The smaller labels know that they have to form partnerships with musicians rather than act as parental figures as the large conglomerates do. If you keep each other happy and manage to make enough money to keep both you /and/ the label going, you have a decent shot of making music a career. Plus, you get to make more of your own decisions concerning direction, growth, etc.

http://www.killrockstars.com/

Kill Rock Stars is a great indie label that is home to Sleater-Kinney, a band who could probably make it big (TIME magazine called them "the only band that matters"), but remains true to their roots.

Makes a lot of sense to get rid of DRM since people can already buy audio CDs anyway which are DRM free. And might as well sell it in a format currently most popular amongst consumers, mp3, although I wish they'd also sell it in AAC format (comparable audio quality takes up less space on my hard drive).

Regarding other artists that also give away free mp3s, I find a lot of artists on the Kill Rock Stars label give away free full length mp3s, especially Stereo Total (factsheet) and DeerHoof (factsheet, Puzzling Music Archive).

Makes a lot of sense to get rid of DRM since people can already buy audio CDs anyway which are DRM free. And might as well sell it in a format currently most popular amongst consumers, mp3, although I wish they'd also sell it in AAC format (comparable audio quality takes up less space on my hard drive).

Regarding other artists that also give away free mp3s, I find a lot of artists on the Kill Rock Stars label give away free full length mp3s, especially Stereo Total (factsheet) and DeerHoof (factsheet, Puzzling Music Archive).

Makes a lot of sense to get rid of DRM since people can already buy audio CDs anyway which are DRM free. And might as well sell it in a format currently most popular amongst consumers, mp3, although I wish they'd also sell it in AAC format (comparable audio quality takes up less space on my hard drive).

Regarding other artists that also give away free mp3s, I find a lot of artists on the Kill Rock Stars label give away free full length mp3s, especially Stereo Total (factsheet) and DeerHoof (factsheet, Puzzling Music Archive).

Makes a lot of sense to get rid of DRM since people can already buy audio CDs anyway which are DRM free. And might as well sell it in a format currently most popular amongst consumers, mp3, although I wish they'd also sell it in AAC format (comparable audio quality takes up less space on my hard drive).

Regarding other artists that also give away free mp3s, I find a lot of artists on the Kill Rock Stars label give away free full length mp3s, especially Stereo Total (factsheet) and DeerHoof (factsheet, Puzzling Music Archive).

avoid riaa stuff at all costs. here's some amazing music to check out via p2p or via what few links i've bothered to dig up. what follows is a nice selection of pop and rock from some outstanding bands on some very fine record labels. support these artists, or artists like them--unencumbered by the riaa. support these labels. they do wonderful things. these are great songs from great albums.


aislers set, the - mission bells from (suicide squeeze/slumberland) aislers set on epitonic

ballboy - donald in the bushes with a bag of glue from silver suits for astronauts ep (sl)

barcelona - i have the password to your shell account from moshi moshi: pop international style (march) barcelona on epitonic

beulah - popular mechanics for lovers from the coast is never clear (velocette records) beulah on epitonic

boyracer - tell me where my hands should go from to get a better hold you've got to loosen your grip (555 recordings) boyracer on epitonic

bugs in amber - roller coaster ride from rocketship letters (sign language)

camera obscura - suspended from class from underachievers please try harder (merge)

can i be she-ra? - pizzacato

carissa's wierd - sofsticated fuck princess please leave me alone from songs about leaving (sad robot) more songs

catch, the - empty your pockets

cinerama - your charms from the flirt compilation

currituck county - the collision from unpacking my library (teenbeat)

decemberists - red right ankle from her majesty the decemberists (kill rock stars)

east river pipe - my life is wrong from (merge/sarah) east river pipe on epitonic

evening lights, the - in a day from landscape cdep (shelflife) more songs

faint, the -

Thought we already covered this topic. Alas...

In my attempts to kick my Kazaa habits, I find that many artists offer mp3s on their homepage. Also, try some of these sites:

• Epitonic
• Insound
• eMusic NOTE: Subscription service
• Warp Record's Bleep NOTE: Must pay for mp3s, but they're very high quality codes -- for you lame monkies out there, @ -aps)

Most mp3s available on the 'Net are from Indie groups. Definately check out band webpages, and label webpages (ex. Kill Rock Stars always is offering up the goods)

Don't be scared of buying cds though. It's by far the best way to aquire mp3s.

I refues to pay for an entire album (10-16 tracks?) when only 3 are listenable. Maybe if the record industry quit pushing out garbage people would buy, oh and lowered the price of cd's a little, they've been nearly the same price for 10 years now (at least where i live, new cd's sell for around $15 CAN).

Broaden your horizons and stop listening to the mass-market pap. There are plenty of indy labels that (A) put out better music than anything available from the major labels, and (B) price their products reasonably.

I don't think the music labels are big on making themselves a brand identity.

That might be the case for bigger labels (Motown ain't what it used to be), but most small labels (many of which have deals with bigger companies) are big on creating that identity.

Def Jux. Kill Rock Stars. Blue Note. Ninja Tune. Invisible. Fat Possum. Tooth & Nail. Trojan. Moon. Death Row. Every one of these labels has a very distinct brand identity, and, as a result, devotees generally have a very good idea what they're getting.

"music nowadays completely SUCKS!!" is your opinion which you definitely have the right to say.

i must say though, that i find the statement wrong and seems to come from someone that fell out of the loop and doesn't "understand" the kids and their music. i am by no means a youngster and i can't say that i have watched mtv or listened to clear channel radio in years. there are many great artists out there and taking the DIY route that make compelling and innovative music. many can be found on such independent labels as:
matador records
desoto records
thrill jockey records
kill rock stars
dischord records

just to name a few, there are many many others. some places to buy independent music and distributors of:
parasol records
southern records
insound

Depends what style of music you like. Some good places to check out are sites like epitonic & insound. They carry or have reviews of lots of good indie stuff, and a wide range of styles.

If you like punk/indie rock/hardcore, check out Dischord, Reptillian, Ebullition, Level Plane, Magic Bullet, Kill Rock Stars, K Records, Drag City, Happy Couples Never Last, Three One G, Load Records, Robotic Empire, Sound Virus, Exotic Fever, Lovitt... There are hundreds more. Most of these labels have MP3s of their bands, so check em out and see if you like em.

If you like metal, check out Relapse or Hydrahead.

Some of my favorite bands (which you should be able to find in the above sites) include Tragedy, Orchid, the Oath, Saetia, Page 99, Usurp Synapse, Q and Not U, Fugazi, Lightning Bolt, Books Lie, Killsadie, Pig Destroyer, Mastodon... and the list goes on. (Note : I didn't check all the links, just typed what I was pretty sure they were. Use google if one you want is broken.)

And:

Kill Rock Stars

A boycott wouldn't do much because almost no one would bother with it. Instead, try having a day or a week of protests - picketing outside theaters, chain record stores (Best Buy, Tower, Virgin, HMV, et al). That would be great because it's actually somewhat realistic and unlike simply not buying things, it sends a clear a direct message to the companies that people are pissed off at them, while it also educates consumers who don't know any better.

Of course you could always try buying indie music as well, though some have major label distributors, you can always find others.

Would you please explain why $10.00 is too much for an artistic work? While you're at it, name five other mass produced serious artistic works that are sold for under $10.00.

Letsee...

Movie tickets in my area are $7.5, but I can't take the movie home and watch it whenever I want.

Books, if I wait for a paperback, then it might be under $10.00 depending on author, age, and genre.

Umm... That's all I can come up with.

Even Dischord, a well respected independent label, sells their CDs for $10. Kill Rock Stars, another indie, sells 'em for $11 - $13.

I will never buy another CD again.

That's silly. There are plenty of independent record labels.

There are plenty of bands that, though they may not have the level of exposure that the Britneys and Christinas and Avrils have, they have national attention. Sleater-Kinney, for example, are still on an independent label. And they get seriously great press. The only thing they sell out is tickets to their concerts.

So I don't think you have to sell out to a major label. It sounds like the band in question here is doing everything right. But I think the trick is simply to be a really great band. Talk all you want about indie movies and indie music, but the real reason you don't hear about most of it is because it SUCKS. The key to success -- and I'm talking long-term, not flash in the pan -- is to have talent. To engage audiences and re-engage them time and time again. To challenge audiences but still be accessible. Just be a great band and work hard and the audience will come to you. Don't sell-out, but don't suck, either.

When the site isn't /.'ed, I'll be sure to check them out.

Check out the Olympia-based independant label Kill Rock Stars, home of bands like Sleater-Kinney, Bikini Kill, and Bratmobile. The bands share profits directly with the label, and have full control of every aspect of production, from what colors to use on the liner notes to when and where to tour. The label's advertising budget is minimal, but word-of-mouth and "grassroots" style adverts have proven quite effective in expanding awareness of the bands.

Ultiamtely, bands on the label don't sell nearly as many copies as, say, Blink 182. And they will not become rock stars; check the label name again. But that's not what they're in it for - they're out to make music, and to make good music, and to earn a decent living doing it. And most of the bands manage to do just that, thanks to the far higher share of the profits they get.

Proof positive that a record label that supports the artists is not an oxymoron.

More to the point why are CD's from labels like Discord, K Records, Kill Rock Stars, Thrill Jockey, and Touch and Go so much cheaper???

In part because the people working at these labels - from the owners on down - make a lot less money and work a lot more hours. And somehow they still manage to give their artists better contracts (usually ~50% of profits). Small is beautiful - support your local record store, & support small labels. Of course when it comes down to it most Napster fans really just want their corporate crap music by numbers...

Another label with a similar ethos is KillRockStars. I applaud these labels for their open minded view of the internet and music sharing in general, and I think that we, as the record-buying public should support them in their quest in "exploding the teenage underground into passionate revolt against the corporate ogre since 1982."

As for boycotting the RIAA and still buying music, I'd suggest buying bootlegs. This seems to piss off the RIAA more than mp3s (at least it used to) and you end up getting the same music. Amen!

Kill Rock Stars is the absolute epitome of indie labels, and they have the absolute epitome of indie punk bands, Sleater-Kinney.

Kill Rock Stars is the absolute epitome of indie labels, and they have the absolute epitome of indie punk bands, Sleater-Kinney.

Try a few of these : (notable bands in parenthesis)

Dischord Records : Independent for close to 20 years. (Minor Threat, Slant 6, Nation of Ulysses)
No Idea Records : punk, hardcore, emo (Small Brown Bike, Hot Water Music)
Troubleman Unlimited : post-punk, post-hardcore, post-rock (Camera Obscura, Red Scare)
Jade Tree : all about the emo rock (the Promise Ring, Cap n Jazz, Jets to Brazil)
Lovitt Records : Indie Rock, Emo, some Electronic-tinged (try Milemarker, 400 Years)
K Records : Indie, Folk, Other (Beck, Dub Narcotic Sound System, Sebadoh, IQU, Make-Up)
Kill Rock Stars : Indie Rock (Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney)
Three One G : crazed hardcore, No Wave, some electronic-type rock (try Black Cat #13, the Locust)
Ebullition : hardcore punk, some emo (try Orchid, Bread and Circuits, Reversal of Man)
HydraHead : the best in metal and straight edge(Botch, Cave In, Soilent Green)
Relapse : metal, hardcore, tough guy stuff. (Napalm Death, Exhumed)
Reptillian Records : a variety of sounds, from garage rock to grindcore to rock'n roll (Page 99, Electric Frankenstein)
Revelation : More hardcore and metal. (Rancid, Brandtson, Isis)
TrustKill : Tough guy stuff. (Poison the Well)

All guaranteed (as far as I know) to be RIAA free!

Josh Sisk

I know the feeling. Olympia-based Kill Rock Stars isn't on the list either. I guess I'll have to buy more from them now. Not a problem.

So if a band who's on a big record label ends up having all their songs on napster, it's a form of promotion, but if the same happens to a band on an indie lable, it will hurt their sales? Sounds fishy to me. Although Napster is a bit much, I have bought CDs due to mp3s, mainly indie cds - because, guess what, they're still out there. Kill Rock Stars, for example, has one or more mp3s per artist up. Check out other labels too: The bottom of this page is a great start, includes Chainsaw, K, Villa Villakula. Others (some may be considered "inbetween") are Restless, Righteous Babe Records, Matador, etc., etc.

So if a band who's on a big record label ends up having all their songs on napster, it's a form of promotion, but if the same happens to a band on an indie lable, it will hurt their sales? Sounds fishy to me. Although Napster is a bit much, I have bought CDs due to mp3s, mainly indie cds - because, guess what, they're still out there. Kill Rock Stars, for example, has one or more mp3s per artist up. Check out other labels too: The bottom of this page is a great start, includes Chainsaw, K, Villa Villakula. Others (some may be considered "inbetween") are Restless, Righteous Babe Records, Matador, etc., etc.

But something happened: the big labels found out about these small labels, thought they could produce more pablum, and bought most of them out. Here are some labels that do quite well for their rosters: Kill Rock Stars, K, Matador, Merge, Touch and Go, and more... And bands like Sleater-Kinney (kill rock stars) or Belle and Sebastian aren't exactly starving either. Sleater Kinney makes a guarentee of $3000 each show, and sells 100,000 of each record they put out. It's also not uncommon for bands on above labels to sell 6,000 to 8,000. So before you call it a night, don't count the little guy out yet.