That was probably/definitely written by an idiot who got busted for downloading.
It's stupid to claim "I love the music, that's why I do it." If you loved the music, you'd support the people making it by paying them. You obviously don't love music that much if paying for it is a hassle to you.
Quite tired of seeing stupid people try to justify it. The end line just seals the coffin; "So much for doing it for the kids." News flash, real musicians do it for themselves. If you're so naive as to think they owe you, then you're even more an idiot. I'm sure Ralph Lauren would be pissed if someone was stealing all his clothes out of stores with the motive of "I was eager to wear your label. You should be thankful."
Moreover, people download and then b*tch about the music if they don't like it, slandering it on messageboards and blogs etc. What's the big deal? What did you lose? Money? No. Time? Yes, your own fault.
-AC
Yah, but as long as people keep downloading music from artists that are signed with big record labels, i think it's a good thing so that eventually the huge record labels crumble and the whole music industry changes for the better. But that's pretty ****ed up if your stealing from indie music artists that you love.
Originally posted by RefusedThe internet is probably the best thing that ever happen to indie artists. Instead of having to gain fans strictly through local live shows they can gain a fanbase from all over the world without ever getting any radio play. I'd think in the long run it's helped indie artists more than it's hurt them.
Yah, but as long as people keep downloading music from artists that are signed with big record labels, i think it's a good thing so that eventually the huge record labels crumble and the whole music industry changes for the better. But that's pretty ****ed up if your stealing from indie music artists that you love.
Originally posted by Refused
Yah, but as long as people keep downloading music from artists that are signed with big record labels, i think it's a good thing so that eventually the huge record labels crumble and the whole music industry changes for the better. But that's pretty ****ed up if your stealing from indie music artists that you love.
You're uneducated and foolishly rebellious in your anti-record company attitude. The record industry wouldn't change for the better if majors were gone, sorry to inform you. Second, it's hypocritical to say it's wrong to ONLY steal from artists you love. I'm anti-downloading overall. I care less about others, but I'm anti-downloading for everyone. I think everyone should pay for their music.
On your incredibly naive and passe punk point of view, big record companies, as money and greed orientated as they are, are not evil. It's their job to make money and it's their job to sign artists that will make them money. Ironically it's not in their interests ALWAYS to rob their artists, because then they leave and that's not necessarily what they want.
Radiohead are on a major, Foos are on a major, many great bands are on major labels. If major labels know that a band are talented enough and reliable enough to get units shifted on their own, 100% free of interferance, they will allow it. Tool, Radiohead, Opeth, they all do this. The only time record companies puppeteer acts are when the act has no talent and is purely a vehicle for robbing kids of their money. It's like money for nothing. If a band stands firm and says they won't lay down, then chances are the record company will cave in and leave them be, if the band is reliable enough. So no, actually. You're wrong there.
People like you always assume majors are evil corporations who couldn't give a shit (which may be true in MANY cases, but not all) and that every independent label is strolling around with great artist/exec relationships, bands not complaining. Trent Reznor famously had TVT try to rip him off and tie him up in legal hassles for ages, Offtime records screwed At the Drive-In on many of their early EPs and let's not forget the semi-famous (if you're a Tool fan) lawsuit that cost Tool many years in court, on account of their former label.
You shouldn't go throwing silly opinions around.
Originally posted by Afro Cheese
The internet is probably the best thing that ever happen to indie artists. Instead of having to gain fans strictly through local live shows they can gain a fanbase from all over the world without ever getting any radio play. I'd think in the long run it's helped indie artists more than it's hurt them.
You're confusing the issue majorly, which is the worst thing people do on the issue of downloading.
The internet is great for exposure. EG: Forum discussion, websites, music sites. THAT'S where the exposure comes from. You can gain exposure enough to wanna buy their CD without doing it illegally. Illegal downloading only does nothing but harm the artists, to one degree or another.
Illegal downloading is a pointless debate that nobody can win. I've heard and successfully countered each and every excuse in the book.
-AC
Originally posted by Alpha CentauriI'm not excusing illegal downloading.. it's illegal and therefore can't be excused any more than anything else that's illegal. I was responding to Refused's post about indie artists. Most of the time, people will hear about these artists through forums like this one, then download their music and become a fan. Eventually they're buying cd's and going to concerts. Some don't, and that's wrong, but the majority of these people would've never known about the artist without illegal downloading in the first place. Most people aren't going to buy an album based on a little sample of their music. They want to know for a fact that they enjoy the music, and a lot of people can't do that through articles and little audio samples. Once again, not that this is "right," it's just the way it is.
You're confusing the issue majorly, which is the worst thing people do on the issue of downloading.The internet is great for exposure. EG: Forum discussion, websites, music sites. THAT'S where the exposure comes from. You can gain exposure enough to wanna buy their CD without doing it illegally. Illegal downloading only does nothing but harm the artists, to one degree or another.
Illegal downloading is a pointless debate that nobody can win. I've heard and successfully countered each and every excuse in the book.
-AC
It does get abused.. but in the long run it adds the artist's fanbase more than anything in the case of more obscure artists. In the case of already established artists, it basically does almost nothing besides harm.
It's like this gets talked about every single day. Yes it's wrong to steal, but I wouldn't call the people the do it stupid or insult them personally for doing something I don't believe in. No matter how much we argue, it's never going to change (I know, duh huh?). So arguing (especially with AC) is pointless.
Good contribution, Doom. This is a discussion board though. Bush got elected again last November, people are still going on about it. Shit happens.
Originally posted by Afro Cheese
I'm not excusing illegal downloading.. it's illegal and therefore can't be excused any more than anything else that's illegal. I was responding to Refused's post about indie artists. Most of the time, people will hear about these artists through forums like this one, then download their music and become a fan. Eventually they're buying cd's and going to concerts. Some don't, and that's wrong, but the majority of these people would've never known about the artist without illegal downloading in the first place. Most people aren't going to buy an album based on a little sample of their music. They want to know for a fact that they enjoy the music, and a lot of people can't do that through articles and little audio samples. Once again, not that this is "right," it's just the way it is.It does get abused.. but in the long run it adds the artist's fanbase more than anything in the case of more obscure artists. In the case of already established artists, it basically does almost nothing besides harm.
Yes but all that pretty post amounted to was "People will do it, it's wrong, but they'll do it." Which I never denied and yes, if people gain their first taste through illegal downloading and cancel that out by paying, fair enough. That, believe it or not, is the minority.
-AC