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RIAA cutting their foot off?

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by oz_media

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I'm sure everyone is aware of the RIAA's constant battle to copy protect music to avoid P2P sharing of files. As a development manager myself, I have only seen positive responses from P2P sharing of NEW bands and NEW music.

P2P sharing has actually introduced me to several artists who I would never have looked at before. If I like them, I'll go buy the CD. I am into the liner notes etc. as well as the music. Not to mention, Kazaa uses low bit-rate MP3's and personally I think most stuff sounds like crap when it's compressed (If YOU can't hear the difference, you've got too many MP3's and not enough real audio).

I recently spent just over $400 CDA on a new MP3 walkman. I use the Creative Labs software to take my CD's and put them on to my WHOPPING 20 Gig MP3 player (that's gonna sound funny in a few years!).

PROBLEM: Creative Labs software doesn't accept copyrighted music. So why would I buy a CD that I can't take with me? I know I can remove copy protection and burn an MP3 with relative ease but it is not the built-in convenience of the Creative software.

The other day, I was in A&B Sound, I picked up 5 CD's and, before the checkout, put three back. They had copy protection on them so I can't enjoy them in my walkman.

I think the RIAA is cutting off their foot in order to PROTECT THE ARTISTS (which really means make THEMSELVES more money, only a minuscule amount goes to the artists in North America).

So to the RIAA, I say get with the program, YOU are causing YOURSELVES to lose money by making music unavailable to people who buy it and want to listen to it on the go.

These are also the same people who tried to stop production of the double cassette deck! Good job they did on THAT one.

One of the bands I work with has actually stared selling hundreds of copies from their back catalogue as a result of people hearing older stuff on Kazaa and BUYING it after hearing it.

With Apple Records suing Apple computers and i-Music, what incentive is there for Kazaa, Bear share or whoever to start charging for downloads, it'll just bring up another suit from the RIAA or their close affiliates!

4 replies

by thechas

Since at least the 1970's, the RIAA and the US recording industry have used bad assumptions to derive the "lost sales" due to personal recording.

Since the dawn of the first stereo audio cassette recorder, the RIAA has equated EVERY blank media purchase as a lost sale.

For some reason, they also believe that the teen consumer of 2003 should be spending the same amount on recordings as past generations. This fails to take into account that the teens of 2003 have more entertainment choices to spend the presently lesser amount of disposable funds on.

I have had several talks with my daughter about music, downloading, and copying.
She has no intention of buying a $15 CD for just 1 good song.
Since she is not allowed to download, she either copies from friends, or does without.

Back in the 60's and 70's, you could buy a '45' to get that 1 song you heard on the radio for about 50 cents.
If you liked the artist, you could wait a few months and spend $5 on an album that had at least 3 or 4 tracks that you had heard on the radio.
Albums were compilations of at least 3 'hits' along with the 'B' side of the 45 and perhaps a few 'extra' tracks.

In a pinch, we used to record to cassette off of the radio.

The music industry needs to start providing a product that it's market is interested in spending money on.

Their current tactic will at best result in a short term gain.
More likely, the RIAA lawsuits combined with corporate radio will succeed in eliminating commercial music as the youth will switch to video games and web based entertainment.

Chas

by oz_media

Their other idea is to offer music downloads on a pay per song basis (similar to i-tunes)but for people under 18 (demographic target of all new pop and mainstream)how are they supposed to pay for music online without a credit card. It will be up to some people to pay for the song and another 18 million to download that "paid for" song from Kazaa.

Why isn't this a problem in other countries?

Other countries don't have their music industry dominated by the record labels. Record companies own ALL of the radio stations here, they play what they want to sell, you listen to what they want you to buy. It's taken all of the individual expression away from the artists. If you want to be big here, you MUST sound like that week's favourite flavour. Look at Nickleback, 640 studios by Chad Kroeger (right beside one of MY studios) released the new and exciting band named Theory of a Dead man. Can you tell the difference between that and Nickleback? I wouldn't think so, I've got a fairly good ear still (despite the concerts) and I can hardly tell the difference. Kroeger even admits to understanding the North American 'formula'.

This is EXACTLY why I get bands into Europe, at least you can sound like you want to, play where you want to, receive great fan following (without the brainwashing) and build YOUR OWN CAREER!

I miss the vinyl days, at least the recording qualities were better and you can't beat analogue music.

by jkaras

a great cd from cover to cover. Last Couple I bought that I was impressed with was Floyd "Pulse", Tool "Lateralus", Temple of the Dog, Radiohead (take your pick they are so good :) just name a few. These days everythings been done so they release good with junk to strech out record sales. It's a schame that the consumer embraced the p2p world and what's even funnier is the pc or internet commercials claiming easy or fast mp3 recording to entice consumers to buy there product. The new .75 or $1.00 mp3 download is not a bad idea when you consider paying 15 dollars for crap and spend $15 for anything you want in ratio. However I understand that these downloads are only good on the pc you downloaded them to and you cant burn them due to copyright protection? WHat's the point if you bought it you own it and what you do with it is your business. How can you use it for your mp3 player? What if you have multiple computers? I just love rich talentless people that claim the rights and money for something that they had no other contribution other than fronting money and act like the genious was all theirs and no one has a right to it. Everyone needs to rebel against the music industry and refuse to support it so they go bankrupt and musician can then start all over and make music the way it was originally inspired rather than a controlled packaged product for mass consumption. The so called artists show their talent playing the superstar role to generate sales ie Madonna and Britany kissing, too bad they just prove that that is the only way anyone will even talk about their washed up careers.

by oz_media

You've made so many relevant points. As for the people causing the record companies to go bankrupt? Well, I don't think it will happen in NMANY lifetimes. Even if EVERYONE stopped buting CD's, record companies would still flourish, they own all the TV and Radio stations too.

"musician can then start all over and make music the way it was originally inspired rather than a controlled packaged product for mass consumption"

Welcome to Europe! That is exactly WHY the British invasion has gone home. Sure they come to the US and Canada once every few years to play a few shows and take advantage of the North American taxation systems but all in all, they are mainly staying in Europe, Japan & South America.

If you look at the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) during the late 70's and 80's, bands like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Twisted Sister were HUGE!
They caused as much of a stir as Britney and Madonna combined.

Now contrary to popular belief, they didn't disappear in 1984, they didn't break up. actually Iron Maiden has just released a new CD (as they have almost every year, Judas Priest is starting a new tour, Twisted Sister decided 'we're not gonna take it' and just played an outdoor festival in Germany and Alice Cooper is on tour now. These bands are mostly with independent or self owned labels now, they got away from the Capitols and BMG's of the world and enjoy strong and well supported careers.

The North American music industry is tainted by the so called fans. These fans have become so used to flavour of the week music that they no longer show loyalty toward an artist. It's turned into a corporate soap opera. It's been ruined for the bands, it's ruined for the radio stations and worst of all it's ruined for the fans (which is who musicians write for to begin with).

It's frustrating and I can go into many areas of disappointment with the North American music industry but wil save you the read. Ultimately you are correct, the fans should make a stand. Unfortunately, the industry doesn't listen to the fans here anymore, it simply dictates to them. "Here's what you're going to listen to on the radio, here's what you're going to buy."
Well lets see Britney successfully complete a single world tour, she won't because she can't. As soon as she gets to a country that hasn't been spon fed Britney, she can't perform due to the lack of screaming kiddies and the fact that they actually listen to her and realize she can't really sing.

A true artist can work anywhere, Brazil, Japan, Russia, Germany England etc. and do it for 25 years non stop.

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