RIAA Hires Artists, Then Sends In the SWAT team

cancan writes "The NY times is carrying an article about how the RIAA is hiring hip hop artists to make mix tapes, and then helping the police raid their studios. In the case of DJ Drama and DJ Don Cannon, they were raided by SWAT teams with their guns drawn. The local police chief said later that they were 'prepared for the worst.' Men in RIAA jackets helped cart away 'evidence'. Just the same, 'Record labels regularly hire mixtape D.J.'s to produce CDs featuring a specific artist. In many cases, these arrangements are conducted with a wink and a nod rather than with a contract; the label doesn't officially grant the D.J. the right to distribute the artist's songs or formally allow the artist to record work outside of his contract.' " This is more of the shenanigans that we've previously discussed on the site.

Comments

Parting Shots

[megastructure]

This has desperation written all over it. It would be a sad thing, really, if it weren't so funny.

In fact, it would be really, really cool if the RIAA actually went nuts (and not just in the metaphorical sense). I can't see them simply fading away like we envision.

Like the mighty dinosaur, their time has come, too. The only way they can save face (so to speak) is to go out with a bang. Call me when the RIAA reps pick up semi-automatic weapons themselves, and start holding people hostage for $buxx.

Similarly, it's hard to make P2P distributions of a nuclear bombing -- maybe they could try that!

In closing, I'm expecting quite a show for the RIAApocalypse.
(I'm just glad I'm a few continents away, for the time being.)

Re:This is why the music industry is doing poorly

[CmdrGravy]

Tower records were probably the crappest music shop I've ever been in apart from maybe Woolworths and WH Smith which at least mainly sell other stuff anyway. I'm not at all surprised they've closed.

Actually paintballs & vaseline more effective

[Maxo-Texas]

With a paintball gun you can put a camera up to 30 to 40' up out of action very quickly.
Other options include eggs (they set up particularly well in hot weather).
Be creative.

Need to remember to
a) Walk in.
b) Wear a hat and bulky clothing.

For lower-lying cameras you have more primitive options (St. Louis Slugger).