Illegally Downloading

[JohnR012]

The only reason people bring this stuff up is because of record companies and big corps, its not because of bands needing money, ya they like having money but the record company takes that away (diff sub), they can make the money lost of downloaded stuff at the concerts, because there fan base grows, more people hear them, people pass there music around and they gain fans, and then those fans buy there next record (or old ones they dont have)...so in fact wouldnt the BAND gain money?

Hear, hear, I would love my music to be downloaded for free accross the world. That's fame for the little guy. I heard Sir Mix-a-lot on the radio talking about this subject. I know he's not the greatest example of a good guy but, compared to the people today, he's pretty tame. Anyways, here's a quote from an interview with him.

Sir Mix-a-Lot: The record industry. Everything's wrong with the record industry right now. You got guys paying $20 for wack CD's with one song, you got the industry talking about suing kids for downloading music, you got these artists with Web sites and they charge you to watch the very same videos you can watch for free on MTV.

It's just backwards. The whole business is dying and I think that's beautiful, let it die. If it dies it's going to help the musicians get their product out there because the fans are so weaned on MTV that they're scared to look elsewhere for product. I'm not dissing MTV, I'm just saying there needs to be some other things out there.

DL: So you don't object to people downloading your music?

SM: Well, I don't want to go broke because of it. But if a guy is going to spend $20 potentially on my CD and he's downloading my stuff, I don't mind. I'm giving a lot of stuff away free on my site, (www.sirmixalot.info). You can check out any song you want, you can look at any video you want and that's what the Internet should be about.

I edited some of this to make it family friendly but I really appreciate a big name artist standing up for the little guy.

 

[Danabomb]

if you want a good P2P program go to bearshare.com. It is like 1000 times better than Kazaa. I download music and movies everyday and it doesnt phse me one bit.

 

[ChrisLockhart]

One of the sad things about this crime, to me.. is how openly people admit to it.. probably more so than any other form of theft.

 

[ChrisLockhart]

To me, there is little difference between this sort of piracy and the following:

if you write a short story on your computer, and save it on your computer. I come over to your house and copy it to floppy and then email it to all of my friends, without your knowledge.

In both cases, a copyrighted work is used in a way not authorised by the copyright owner. To me, that's the end of the discussion right there. I'm not sure I understand why so many people feel they have the right to use the creative works of other people in a way that the entities that actually own that work have not authorised, and in many cases have prohibited.

 

[JaelWasWickedCool]

as a few other people have stated, i download to check bands out. i don't download whole albums, because i feel like it's wrong and i prefer to own actual copies.

generally i check to see if i can find full songs somewhere legally on the internet (for instance, band websites, record label websites, purevolume, epitonic, etc), and then if i can't, i'll download a song or two to see what a band sounds like. if i like what i hear, eventually i'll buy albums by the band. ("eventually" because my list of albums i'd like to own is a few miles long, to say the least.) (i own around 200 albums now and am continually adding to that number.)

a few things have been mentioned against downloading that i don't really feel are totally valid. one is that hearing clips of the song generally gives you no real feel for the song itself. i've heard 30 second clips of songs and enjoyed those 30 seconds but then not enjoyed the full song very much at all. so, saying that one could simply go to amazon or a similar site and check music out that way isn't particularly valid in my eyes. also, downloading legal mp3's from band websites, etc is much better, but it tends to limit what material you're able to hear by the bands. some bands offer a couple mp3's per album, but most only have their recent material available. if you're interested in the older stuff, sometimes the only way is to use a P2P program or something like that.

i'm not trying to justify stealing or to say that it's right to simply illegally download all music, but i have no conviction to stop the way i do things. i've bought so many more albums since i started using the internet to discover music, it's not even funny.

 

[Higher]

If it's good, I make an effort to buy. Otherwise...

 

[StokeCityFC]

The only things I download now are clips from TV shows - That isn't really illegal as you can't buy them.

 

[Hematoma]

I don't and here's why:

1. I am an artist myself and I know that those guys work hard for their money so I don't want to rip them off, especially artists I like.

2. I'm a capitalist

3. Even though it's a relatively harmless act it's still theft.

 

[TheTruthinFiction]

I don't and here's why:

1. I am an artist myself and I know that those guys work hard for their money so I don't want to rip them off, especially artists I like.

2. I'm a capitalist

3. Even though it's a relatively harmless act it's still theft.

Theft? Downloading music is not theft, going in the store and taking it out is theft. I am an artist too and have been recording and releasing cds for almost 10 years, nobody works hard, we sit around and think up an idea and there it is. Producing is a cakewalk, sound engineering--cakewalk. Somewhere along the way the whole concept of music has been lost, it is an art form, to be enjoyed, not to get rich off of. I posted this in another thread about this topic, say we wanted to release 10,000 cds, our average cost is going to be around 2.00, throw in a couple more just for whatever you want, ok, that is 4 dollars. So we spend 40,000 dollars, we turn around and sell those for 8 dollars a piece, we have just made a 40,000 profit, every year, splitted among four guys who already have jobs, we could get greedy and sell them for 15 bucks a piece but then people would start downloading them . Not to mention, the horrible releases that come out every week, that have two quality songs and 10 rejects. You have to look at both sides, stop ripping people off and the people will stop ripping you off.

 

[Hematoma]

Theft? Downloading music is not theft, going in the store and taking it out is theft. I am an artist too and have been recording and releasing cds for almost 10 years, nobody works hard, we sit around and think up an idea and there it is. Producing is a cakewalk, sound engineering--cakewalk. Somewhere along the way the whole concept of music has been lost, it is an art form, to be enjoyed, not to get rich off of. I posted this in another thread about this topic, say we wanted to release 10,000 cds, our average cost is going to be around 2.00, throw in a couple more just for whatever you want, ok, that is 4 dollars. So we spend 40,000 dollars, we turn around and sell those for 8 dollars a piece, we have just made a 40,000 profit, every year, splitted among four guys who already have jobs, we could get greedy and sell them for 15 bucks a piece but then people would start downloading them . Not to mention, the horrible releases that come out every week, that have two quality songs and 10 rejects. You have to look at both sides, stop ripping people off and the people will stop ripping you off.

1. There's no guarantee anybody will buy the cd's you sell, let alone every single one you produce

2. 40k profit? What did it cost in way of utilities, producing fees, time, rent, equipment etc. etc?

3. The fact that each album may only have two hit songs is irrelevant, if are only going to listen to those two songs anyway then you should just pay 2 dollars (or whavever they charge which I nkow is less than a cd) and get those two songs

 

[TheTruthinFiction]

1. There's no guarantee anybody will buy the cd's you sell, let alone every single one you produce

2. 40k profit? What did it cost in way of utilities, producing fees, time, rent, equipment etc. etc?

3. The fact that each album may only have two hit songs is irrelevant, if are only going to listen to those two songs anyway then you should just pay 2 dollars (or whavever they charge which I nkow is less than a cd) and get those two songs

That is the full cost, $4 per cd, we sell every copy and usually have to do double and triple prinitings where there are hardly no costs. I have my own studio, I do the producing, our guitar player is a graphic designer he makes the artwork. Where is an illegal site at anyway? I asked this earlier, the sites in Russia are legal, they have documented papers. The sites in the US are legal, they charge as much as the cd costs in the store. Outside of Kazaa I don't know of anymore. It is relevant if you want me to pay 15 for 10 songs, then they better be good or I will download them the next time. That is all there is to that. Plus, I still don't know of an illegal site.

 

[ChrisLockhart]

There are tons of sites for illegal downloads, as well as newsgroups and irc and other methods of networking with people for downloads. people also share over IM clients.

Plus, just general websites, which tend to come and go to fly beneath the radar.

It's always there

 

[all things through Christ]

Do you illegally download things form the net by use of P2P Programs, torrents and other such things? I am just wondering.
What is your opinion on it?
Pete

I used to, but not anymore. It is a sin and there is nothing for me to gain from it. Everything is futile.

 

[Leesy]

I have slow net so i don't personaly download much but i do get a fair bit of friends computers

Just an after thought i was at a 28Days concert and the lead singer said "You don't make any money out of music you make money from selling shot glasses and T-shirts for $10. We support you downloading our music from the net.
This next song is from our new CD if you've purchased a copy of it go home and burn it for atleast 5 of your mates" I don't think the record company would have been two happy with it they are a fairly big Australian Band

 

[mycatspice]

I never download anything unless it is unquestionably legal. It's the right thing to do.

 

[TheTruthinFiction]

There are tons of sites for illegal downloads, as well as newsgroups and irc and other methods of networking with people for downloads. people also share over IM clients.

Plus, just general websites, which tend to come and go to fly beneath the radar.

It's always there

I still have no idea of illegal sites, it's never on the news anymore. The Russian sites have all been cleared, the sites in Spain have all been cleared. I just don't get it. If it's always there I should know something about it. I'm honestly asking this as nice as I can, you say tons of sites then talk about newsgroups, irc and IMs, those aren't sites that is person to person sharing. Then general websites, I know of at least 20 sites that have downloads and all cost a fee to download and all are legal. I think this thread should be closed, no one is answering anything.

 

[simwells]

I'll be honest I download occasionally even though it's clearly theft and wrong, but I only download CDs when I'm too impatient after ordering them to wait till it gets to me, to listen to a song which I then delete to decide if I want to buy an album. And there are a couple of downloaded albums I have as I haven't been able to get hold of the CDs yet.

 

[peanutbutter12]

Theft? Downloading music is not theft, going in the store and taking it out is theft.

It most certainly is theft. You are taking something that doesn't belong to you that is meant to be purchased. I guess this also means it's ok to download movies and programs too?

I am an artist too and have been recording and releasing cds for almost 10 years, nobody works hard, we sit around and think up an idea and there it is. Producing is a cakewalk, sound engineering--cakewalk.

It's fine if you're one of those artists who give away their music for free. For some of us, music is our lives. You don't do any massive touring/promotion. You aren't contracted with a label or getting exposure on national radio/tv. Those of us with dedicated lives need to make money from what we do. Bands who can't live off their music don't stay bands very long.

Somewhere along the way the whole concept of music has been lost, it is an art form, to be enjoyed, not to get rich off of.

You have a very vivid imagination of what this business is if you think everyone is rich. That's fine if you have done your own recordings for the past 10 years, but unless you've delt with the political/financial side of the industry, you are completely clueless. There are very few bands who ever make it to the point of being super rich. There are many great bands, a lot of which I work with and have seen first hand who make awesome music but aren't making the millions they deserve. And personally, why shouldn't they be making millions? If they work their butts off making music people like, why shouldn't they have the opportunity to make a load of money from it? To me that just sounds like bitterness cause they have something you don't. Usually when it becomes about the money, people notice.

I posted this in another thread about this topic, say we wanted to release 10,000 cds, our average cost is going to be around 2.00, throw in a couple more just for whatever you want, ok, that is 4 dollars. So we spend 40,000 dollars, we turn around and sell those for 8 dollars a piece, we have just made a 40,000 profit, every year, splitted among four guys who already have jobs, we could get greedy and sell them for 15 bucks a piece but then people would start downloading them

Again, this works for you, but for bands in the industry, there is a lot more to it and a lot more expence. Lets take a look at all the different people who make money from cd sales... The band, who makes very little... do you realize that you make $4 per cd, that is about $3.65 - $3.85 more than mainstream bands usually make from cd sales? Then you have the label who has paid for your promotion, the cost of the cds, the cost of the studio time (home studios/engineering just doesn't cut it compared to professional), the cost of production, design, webpage service, consumer services, etc, etc... Then you need to pay your managment, etc. So there is a lot more expense than you see. Bands make the majority of their money from concert ticket sales and merch sales.

Not to mention, the horrible releases that come out every week, that have two quality songs and 10 rejects. You have to look at both sides, stop ripping people off and the people will stop ripping you off.

This really has nothing to do with people downloading. If you only like a few songs on a certain cd, pop open itunes or whatever other program and buy it.

CJ

 

[TheTruthinFiction]

It most certainly is theft. You are taking something that doesn't belong to you that is meant to be purchased. I guess this also means it's ok to download movies and programs too?

It's fine if you're one of those artists who give away their music for free. For some of us, music is our lives. You don't do any massive touring/promotion. You aren't contracted with a label or getting exposure on national radio/tv. Those of us with dedicated lives need to make money from what we do. Bands who can't live off their music don't stay bands very long.

You have a very vivid imagination of what this business is if you think everyone is rich. That's fine if you have done your own recordings for the past 10 years, but unless you've delt with the political/financial side of the industry, you are completely clueless. There are very few bands who ever make it to the point of being super rich. There are many great bands, a lot of which I work with and have seen first hand who make awesome music but aren't making the millions they deserve. And personally, why shouldn't they be making millions? If they work their butts off making music people like, why shouldn't they have the opportunity to make a load of money from it? To me that just sounds like bitterness cause they have something you don't. Usually when it becomes about the money, people notice.

Again, this works for you, but for bands in the industry, there is a lot more to it and a lot more expence. Lets take a look at all the different people who make money from cd sales... The band, who makes very little... do you realize that you make $4 per cd, that is about $3.65 - $3.85 more than mainstream bands usually make from cd sales? Then you have the label who has paid for your promotion, the cost of the cds, the cost of the studio time (home studios/engineering just doesn't cut it compared to professional), the cost of production, design, webpage service, consumer services, etc, etc... Then you need to pay your managment, etc. So there is a lot more expense than you see. Bands make the majority of their money from concert ticket sales and merch sales.
This really has nothing to do with people downloading. If you only like a few songs on a certain cd, pop open itunes or whatever other program and buy it.

CJ

Oh great, a music business expert at the age of 23. I can put you in contact with 5 semi-major to major labels that have tried to sign my band, but I have enough sense not to let someone sell my music, promote it the way they want to and tell me what I can and can't do with my music, that's why it is called my music. Do I have a bullseye on me? Everywhere I post I get some genius know-it-all that decides to tell me about paying managment, I am the manager of my band. I am the producer of my band. I write the lyrics and music for my band and for a few others as well. I don't need a webpage, I don't need pop radio or MTV. By the way, I have 25,000 copies of our newest cd already pre-ordered, this time I decided to make a little extra money because it is a 75 minute cd and bumped the price up to $12. So now, we will make $8 a cd profit, on pre-orders alone, we are looking at making $50,000 a piece. You said that the, "bands in the industry" make .15-.35 a cd would need to sell around 750,000 copies to make that much in a four person band? And to think, I have a vivid imagination about the music industry, it looks more like I have a very clear mind that doesn't need 50 people to lead my band around by the hand.

 

[TheTruthinFiction]

Then you have the label who has paid for your promotion, the cost of the cds, the cost of the studio time (home studios/engineering just doesn't cut it compared to professional),
CJ

It just doesn't cut it even though I have produced or co-produced over 20 bands that are on those, "music industry bands" labels, keep talking about how much you know about me, throw some more Dr. Phil wannabe Psychology in about how I'm bitter even though my little non-professional band profits more than 70% of major label bands and you will continue to look really smart