Slashdot Mirror
Music and the Internet Reprise
Paul M. writes "Janis Ian, nominated for nine Grammys since 1967, writes, "RIAA's claim that the industry and artists are hurt by free downloading is nonsense." She wants the industry, artists, and consumers to work together 'to make technology work for all of us', something I've advocated all along. Record companies were to provide a means for exposure; now that the Internet provides near-universal exposure at comparatively no cost, the record companies' utility has expired." Janis' interview makes for good reading as well.
Be sure to visit Boycott-RIAA for further coverage of this and all issues anti-RIAA (Not that there are any /.'ers against the fine institution of the RIAA, but link provided just in case ;)
It doesn't stream, it downloads the album in a protected albx format. It doesn't let you burn to CD but you can listen to it all you want on your computer and again, it's free (as in beer). He could theoretically release the whole thing in OGG or MP3 format but since people could copy and burn the CD easily and legally then it might hurt album sales, which I think we can understand him not wanting to do. Still, this is an amazing step!
[shameless plug of favorite CD]
:)
Like "At Seventeen?" Go buy this CD. It's got a live version of that song that makes me weep plus tons of awsome stuff (like Barrett Strong playing "I Heard it through the Grapevine" - It's been covered left and right, but he's the guy who actually WROTE the damn thing, as well as short interviews with the songwriters. Promise, you won't be disappointed.
Triv
They lied.
Record companies make money from CD's. Hell, the profit margins are ridiculous compared to many other industries. Pressing a CD is $0.20, the jewel case is $0.05, and the printing may be as high as a dollar. Recording costs? Travel expenses? Venue fees? Those get charged back to the artists. It's the artists that lose money.
Moekandu
"It is a sad time when a family can be torn apart by something as simple as a pack of wild dogs."
Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius. -- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
--bdj
Record companies would still be useful down the road as publicists. After all, do any of us believe that Brittany made it this big on talent alone? They help certain artists onto the public radar (deserving or no).
The problem is that record companies are no longer the only mode of production and distribution. That means that they can't make artists into indentured servants. They would still be able to make money, just not all the money.
Boom Shanka
He slams Greene, record labels, and the industry in general and promotes the best interests of artists and consumers. His points are laid out cleanly in numbered paragraphs with bold "headline" statements, which makes it easy to skip the ideas with which you may disagree or of which you've heard too much of, and simply get to the stuff you want to read.
It's a very good article, but Fletcher misses the point a little when he says:
Correction: Selling albums was never the only way for artists to make money.
Janis Ian's solution.
Airplay, though, in the Clear Channel era, is the problem. What's needed are some popular webcast channels of non-RIAA material.
On a related note, Hilary Rosen (chief executive of the RIAA) is debating in proposition at the Oxford Union tomorrow evening, with the motion 'This House believes that "the free music mentality is a hreat to the future of music.'.
Get there early to get a chance to speak from the floor!