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Carp-Free Independent Music Labels
robkill writes "The actions and intentions of the RIAA have been under close scrutiny in the folk music community as well as Slashdot. In addition to Janis Ian's article previously featured here on Slashdot, guitarist Harvey Reid has an article on the importance of internet radio for the independent music community. Besides posting a number of good links, he has started a signup webpage for independent artists and music labels who are interested in circumventing the CARP fee. Right now, it's only a mailing list for Artists and Record Labels who want to see internet radio succeed. So if you own the copyrights on some independent music, why not join the list? For the rest of us, it's a good list of musicians to support."
won't fall by the wayside. It will take artists and musicians to make internet radio, and downloadable music something that we can all enjoy for a long time to come. We can huff and puff all we want, but they are ones who have to lead the charge for anything to change for the better.
"The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away" -Tom Waits
Well--I'm not advocating socialism, but I don't think any single entity (and a non-governmental one, at that) should have this degree of control of the the type of music that we listen to and what we are and aren't able to do with the content in which we have legally purchased licenses. Not to mention, what happens when you aren't part of RIAA's big scheme of things? You can't exactly depend on a file sharing service to help promote your music, as they keep shutting the damn things down.
Hang out at live shows if you want to support your local unsigned bands. A lot of them are really quite good. Then, when you're buying their CD if you liked the music (this is about supporting the musician, remember) suggest CARP-free web radio. Leave them a card with a link to information, maybe your e-mail address (a lot of them will have mailing lists, questions, etc). I've mentioned mp3 archive sites and streaming audio to several guys here; none of them have done it yet but all of them were at least thinking about it. The local small time musicians know the problems in the industry a lot better than the geeks do, but geeks can at least make suggestions :)
Hell, I don't want my favorite artists distracting themselves with this business bullshit, unless being a fighter is part of what they already are, like Ani diFranco or Courtney Love. Life is too short, time too scarce for the few genuinely talented artists we have to go running off on tangents.
This is a battle that we, the consumers, should be fighting. If we decide, en masse, not to play the RIAA's game, what the Hell can they do.
Can I suggest that PeerCast (as discussed on /. earlier) is a very good place to start.
And, remember, if we really want to stop these bastards shagging us, we must always remember that our participation in P2P has to be about growing a new, fairer system, not just getting our hands on free stuff.
well then stop supporting them. Every time you buy a record from a big company you put oney in the RIAA's pocket. Write letters to small labels , indie music magz and the like saying we will buy no corperate media. Hell right letters to sony and BMG too, maybe they will get the hint. If people can be shamed into veganism and not wearing fur, maybe they can be shamed into NOT buying shitty music.
The only way to bust a doper--is when you yourself become a smoker!
Write to the bands and tell them you are Boycotting RIAA labels and the reasons WHY, and urge them to sign with a non RIAA label. Leave Boycott messages on bands fan site message boards.
Extend the Boycott. If a company has non-music bussiness Boycott that too. Don't buy that Sony monitor, or TV or PS2. Don't go see that AOL/Time Warner movie. Drop AOL in the unlikely event a slashdotter is using the service. Don't watch AOL/TW stations on TV. If a company hires an artist that is signed to an RIAA label as a ad spokesman, write them and let them know you won't be purchasing their products.
Include the MPAA in the Boycott too.
You have a big advantage. The RIAA and the MPAA deal in a non vital product, entertainment. You won't die of music hunger or movie thirst if you boycott their products. Use it.
Don't worry about the artists being hurt in a boycott either. Are they worried that the RIAA's ploys are going to hurt you? Are they speaking out against copyright extensions and attempts to narrow the scope of fair use? If they aren't, why should you give a shit about them?
Quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est
I am going to get modded down for this, but the problem is not with RIAA/MPAA/BSA/Microsoft/GM/AOL/Enron or whatever monopoly is terrorizing you at the moment, but with the semi-Socialistic government of the US(and pretty much the rest of the world too) that fucks up everything and allows laws to get passed letting these companies screw you.
In my humble opinion a country should not need laws, but rather a principle (i.e. "Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness") for the US.
RIAA would be harmless if they tried to compete in real world capitalism as opposed to trying to legislate out of their ass.
Quoting from the article: ... the major record labels [working through the courts] ... have ... apply... ... retroactive to 1998.
>
> now made a serious move that, if successful, will
> hefty fees to broadcasters,
Retroactive to 1998? Yeeeesh. If that's true, it would
represent a serious abuse of power, or I'm missing something.
Lawmakers can't even _think_ about levying fees retroactive
to 1998 (Article I Section 9). But now the courts _can_?
The courts are supposed to interpret the law, not go off
on their own doing things that *can't* be made into law
because the constitution won't allow it. Or is there some
twisted interpretation by which some extant law can be
construed to indicate that these fees should have been paid
all along? Can someone explain this, before I lose my last
shreds of faith in our legal system?
Cut that out, or I will ship you to Norilsk in a box.