Well it happened. . .the record companies have finally taken steps to counteract the mass piracy that occurs every day in the form of 'bitTorrents'. They have begun sabotaging this popular file-sharing system by uploading 'decoy' trackers, in which the album being downloaded consists of 15 seconds of a song on repeat. I never thought that this technique, which we all remember first showed up during the heady Kazaa and Limewire days, would make its way to the bitTorrent community. It was our last stronghold of mass piracy. It seems like the end of an era.
Today I tried to download the new Fall Out Boy album with my nifty bitTorrent client Utorrent (if you don't already have a bittorrent program, go to utorrent.com . . .and YES that's right, Fall Out Boy. . . I'm not afraid to admit that I enjoy their brand of in-your-face corporate emo-punk that many a hipster would scoff at. I mean, just because kids in grade 8 think it's cool doesn't mean that it's garbage. . .obviously the majority of pop music is garage, but there is some good stuff too . . .but anyway, I digress) When I finished downloading the album the songs were nothing but the first 15 seconds on repeat. Jeez, it's like they want us to PAY for the music or something. I understand their motives, but this is getting stupid.
I understand that record companies need to make money. But I also realize that we have technology in place that it makes it TOO EASY to file-share (i.e. get music for FREE). So let's work together. Let's figure out a system in which music-lovers can get their music for free and record companies can still make some money. Here is this humble bloggers suggestion:
Artists will make all of their music available for free download on their official website. Website advertisement will provide all of the revenue.
Done.
I know if one my favourite bands said their new album was available for download in its entirety from their website, I would download it there rather than from a torrent. And maybe afterwards I would have an unexplained urge to go buy some brightly coloured t-shirts from American Apparel.
At the end of the day, I get free music, buy some shirts at American Apparel due to their great web ads, and American Apparel can afford to pay their sales representatives; one of whom is in an up-and-coming indie band that releases a sweet new album which gets an 8.9 on Pitchfork. And thus, the circle of life goes on.
Would this not work? Please post your thoughts.
3 comments:
1. we all dabble in some fall out boy, i'm pleased that both you and meghan are doing so with pride.
2. you and i may both be better able to assess the feasibility of your proposed solution in a few days, perhaps when i have downloaded my new fat robot album for free from the website?
3. i am pleased and honoured to be your new blog buddy.
I have a solution:
Instead of relying on online advertising revenue, how about television ad revenue? For example, bands could just sell their music to a variety of companies (like car, shampoo, cell phone, computer and milk companies) and make their money that way. Then after this becomes the industry standard those bands who were clinging to their bleeding-heart ideals of "artistic integrity" will be forced to either associate their music with consumer goods, make virtually no money, or stop being bands.
OR,
We could support the bands that we like.
thanks for your comments
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