File Sharing or Stealing

[Skavau]

True, lots of artist (christians especially) don't mind if their music is stolen or if they themselves stream it for free because its spreads awareness of the music. For a christian it gets the message of God out. For non-christian groups its free advertising. This way when they make a second album they can charge for it and their fans will buy it.

That's not how so many bands operate anymore though.

The bottom line is the internet, piracy and streaming taken into account has been so good for the majority of bands because without it they'd have no way to gain any effective publicity. Bands in niche genres are now able to gain an international following when 15 years ago they'd have been nothing more than a local cover band or folded before even releasing an EP.

What really hurts the big bands is that people have less reason to buy their stuff because every other option is so much more accessible.

 

[AirPo]

No in the example I just had an empty cup with me. I didn't purchase it from the lemonade stand. But my friend she did buy it so is it not her choice to share with me if she wants.

You don't get to use your cup to get your friends refills.

 

[Dave-W]

Now are still ok with people borrowing and copying music? I would not be. I'd be losing out on money I worked hard to earn. I know this because our friend from church is a professional musician who makes soundtracks for indie movies. It costs him ALOT to make them. Even when hes paid it still doesn't mean anything is free. And sometimes he gets hurt because of those copying things. He can only make enough money to live if he sells/gets paid for this music. So when copying happens his family loses food, money for bills and even their house in an extreme case, its his job after all.

Matthew 10:8b Freely you received, freely give.

I too am a musician. I have written several contemporary worship tunes and a few CCM tunes as well. About 20 years ago my wife and I put out a CD of original music and have enough material to put out another (maybe 2).

Most of the CDs in circulation out there were given away free/gratis.

I did not quit my day job nor would I even if if I had the chops of a Paul Wilbur (whom I have backed up) or other big name worship singer.

 

[Dave-W]

If person A buys a movie and person A gives it to person B and person B ask if they could make a copy to watch at a latter time. And person A gives them permission. Is that stealing or sharing.

It is only "sharing" if that copy is immediately deleted after watching.

 

[durangodawood]

True, lots of artist (christians especially) don't mind....

This is fine as long as its the artist making the choice to give away their work for free.

 

[AirPo]

This is fine as long as its the artist making the choice to give away their work for free.

The Grateful Dead used that as part of their business and becames one of, if not the, highest grossing tour bands ever.

 

[durangodawood]

The Grateful Dead used that as part of their business and becames one of, if not the, highest grossing tour bands ever.

Perfect for a band thats premised on live shows.

Other bands do their best work in the studio, producing music thats hard to replicate live.
I want there to be a market for that kind of product too.

 

[sunsurfkdt]

I still don't have my answer. What is consider pirating? If I purchased the movie on VHS and had no way of putting in on computer format but yet someone to that had purchased it had it and said I could borrow it is that considered steeling. I have not deprived anyone of property or money. (made a profit) I consider pirating people that go into movies theaters and film the movie and than tried to sell it.

I don't believe so, because, you won't have a permanent copy of it. You're using once. If u made a copy of it, yes, probably. But I could be wrong. Just my feelings. Some ppl give old books to friends.

 

[timewerx]

What about recording TV screening into VHS tapes while you are in a country not under the jurisdiction of the FBI and not a USA citizen??

 

[Goatee]

I think people who produce media make more than they should really be entitled to, and complaining about 'digital theft' is just greed masquerading as victimization.

But that's just me

Copying it to make financial gain is stealing. Copying it to preserve the original or to give a copy to a relative i would think is fine as long its not abused!

 

[DogmaHunter]

I'm just curious, because I think it is a good question.

A lot of bands actually put their entire discography on websites like bandcamp with an option to purchase a physical copy or download the files in good quality. You can stream all of their material whenever you like. Why do you think they do this?

They will surely have their reasons to do that.

And if they allow you to stream / download their music for free, by all means: knock yourself out.

However, it's no excuse to do the same with music from musicians that DO NOT allow you to do this.

Similarly, if George Lucas (and the other shareholders) decides that the new Star Wars movie can be uploaded and downloaded for free on any webiste, then Star Wars is a free movie and can be downloaded and uploaded free of charge.

That does NOT mean that you can do the same with the new Star Trek movie.

 

[Skavau]

They will surely have their reasons to do that.

And if they allow you to stream / download their music for free, by all means: knock yourself out.

However, it's no excuse to do the same with music from musicians that DO NOT allow you to do this.

Similarly, if George Lucas (and the other shareholders) decides that the new Star Wars movie can be uploaded and downloaded for free on any webiste, then Star Wars is a free movie and can be downloaded and uploaded free of charge.

That does NOT mean that you can do the same with the new Star Trek movie.

My point is that the 'age of piracy' has been a boon to the majority of artists because of the publicity involved with streaming.

 

[DogmaHunter]

My point is that the 'age of piracy' has been a boon to the majority of artists because of the publicity involved with streaming.

Contrary to popular belief, "free streams" are not "free" in the sense that the owner of the thing being streamed is not getting any money for said stream. It is paid for through advertising (with your user data, in most cases).

As for bands that deliberatly set up really free streams, those streams are more often then not categorised under "promotion" and/or "publicity". Established big name artists have far less incentive to engage in such. Especially those artists that don't tour 11 months per year and primarily do studio work.

Also, what you call "the age of piracy" (in this context), I'ld rather call "the digital age".

Yes, one could make a case that spotify wouldn't exist if it wasn't for old school piracy services like napster and kazaa...
However, online music services are a reaction to piracy channels (and the rise of digital players).

The music industry wasn't ready to deal with a shapeshift of physical carriers like cd's to digital mp3's that only live in cyberspace and on flash drives.

Spotify and similar streaming services imo are to be seen as an attempt of the media industry to embrace the digital age - not to embrace the internet culture of piracy and "free music". Streaming is not "free music", eventhough it might feel "free". It's not free.

And more importantly, which was the point I was making, a "free stream" of a song or album that was setup and/or sanctioned by the artist, is quite irrelevant to the topic of illegally sharing mp3's or illegally setting up streams without permission of the owner of the music.

 

[Skavau]

Contrary to popular belief, "free streams" are not "free" in the sense that the owner of the thing being streamed is not getting any money for said stream. It is paid for through advertising (with your user data, in most cases).

As for bands that deliberatly set up really free streams, those streams are more often then not categorised under "promotion" and/or "publicity". Established big name artists have far less incentive to engage in such. Especially those artists that don't tour 11 months per year and primarily do studio work.

Oh I know established artists are hurt by piracy, but they're also hurt by other things that the internet age has given us. They're hurt because you can easily stream and listen to other artists. They're hurt by the competition more than they ever have been. Alternative media has never been bigger in music.