What are the opinions of this group's members in regard to file sharing

[Beaverhausen]

Or getting music through file sharing. I don't do it so I'm not sure the correct term.

Personally I think it is stealing pure and simple. I am so sick of the arguments that show up on this site regarding this topic.

I say this as an artist who has released one CD of my own and plan to do another soon.

I'd like to hear your views.

[cleofus1]

1. i only use it for music

that i cannot buy...it is rare...but sometimes i can't find a song on i-tunes or at the box stores and then i get the old...it's out of print...then i say ok...fine....i'll just nab it off the internet...for the most part though...i just buy stuff...mostly from i-tunes...

[ProfessorGAC]

2. I'm Ambivalent

While i understand the views of the folks who blame the industry for their inability to develop a better pricing structure, and funnel more money to the musicians, as well as develop a more selective delivery system, i still think that those getting stung the most are the artists. First, they only get 15 - 30% of the wholesale gross receipts, from which production costs are deducted. Thus every dollar the company doesn't see impacts them tremendously, at least until the production advance is covered.

At that point, the losses are shared equally. But, the first x hundred grand impacts the people who get the least, which makes file sharing a regressive income hit on the artists.

So, while the industry sure has to shoulder part of the blame for the desire of people to do it, i am very hesitant to participate.
The Professor

[Al Dente]

3. I disagree with alot of people

on this topic. I am a serious musician, it is my life, and I could never do anything else. Alot of people feel that burning CDs and file sharing is wrong, but I don't have a problem with it. Personally, I would rather my music be shared with everyone for free, than never be heard, cuz that's why I am making it, not for money. Now I do have to make a living, but that comes from playing live shows. Most real musicians do not make very much money off of their CDs anyways, its all from playing shows. That and merchandising is where the actual musicians make their living. Take Dave Matthews Band for instance, I don't want to start any arguments about whether they are good or bad, but they make no money off of CDs. They make it all off of merchandising and playing shows. And they even play some shows for free. That is the right attitude to have, and even though they are multi millionaires, and they don't have to worry about money anymore, it shouldn't matter because if you are in music to make money, you are in it for the wrong reason, plain and simple. You have to accept that not many people make a very good living on music, even alot of the pros don't. The most important thing is that you are sharing that part of you with the world, or your community, or whatever size your fan base is. If you wanna make money and say that "You can't share my music because IT'S MINE! MINE!!" Then just keep your music to yourself and never let anyone hear it, it's probably better that they don't anyways. Make music for everyone, not yourself. The only people not benefitting from file sharing or burning CDs is the publishers and record companies, who are crooks anyways. Almost none of them are musicians and they give musicians a horrible horrible time trying to even get their music out there the way they want it, not altered or shortened. Trying to prevent people from hearing it just so they can make another bundle of money is insane. Sorry for the long post. Peace

[leftofthedial]

5. Most indy artists make significant income from CD sales

I don't know what you consider to be "real" musicians. I've been in the business for 30+ years and seen every abuse of the industry from every angle. Having performed in and promoted hundreds of indy shows I can tell you that CD sales account for 33% to more than half of the total revenue.

As for major label music, ironically, your statement is true. Relatively few major label releases recoup, the point at which the artist makes any money at all. Major label artists make a huge percentage of their income from touring and increasingly treat CD sales as a kind of marketing for the tour.

Don't get me wrong. I hate the major labels passionately. But filesharing major label releases means that other creators, notably songwriters, don't get paid. Any argument along the lines of "the labels are evil" or "the artists make enough money anyway" or "CD's cost more than they are worth" or "I'll go to their concert and spend money anyway" are just absurd rationalizations for theft.

[Al Dente]

6. why is it ironic that my statement is true?

I am also still having trouble with the concept of ownership of music. That's like owning a fart. Just because you made it, doesn't mean other people can't smell it. To me music is not a tangeble thing, its out in the air, it floats around, once you make it, you can't own it. You can claim that you created it, but ownership is universal.

[leftofthedial]

7. you may have trouble with it

but the weight of intellectual property law since the beginning of history has no problem with it. Authors (and publishers) own their works according to copyright law.

It's no more difficult to grasp than the concept of owning land or a car or a bank account.

[Al Dente]

8. You seem to know alot about this

and I would like to talk to you about it. I don't mean to start any trouble because I think arguing is the best and sometimes only way to get straight information from people, then to take it for what it is and make it right for me. I still believe in what I have said to be true, but I would definitely like to hear more about it. As for the topic at hand, I know people older who have been doing it for longer than even you who have talked to me about this and feel the same way, maybe even more passionately than me.

[leftofthedial]

9. I'm sorry to sound argumentative

I was the founder of one of the first music download sites and I've been a professional songwriter and publisher for a couple of decades now. (Jeex I'm getting old!)

I think it's the artist's choice, not a random consumer's choice. It's kind of like the bands that encourage taping of shows and those that don't. You can feel however you want, but it's the band's decision.

You could apply all your music arguments to basketball shoes at the mall. Theft is theft, no matter how you rationalize it. Personally, I think the industry, and particularly publishers, are totally wrong-headed in their opposition to downloading, but it is legally and unambiguously their property.

File sharing technologies are too indiscriminate.

[Al Dente]

10. Thanks for the info

but I still feel the same way I did. We're just on a different page here. I just got screwed over at a jam session in town by this jive trumpet player. I wanted to kick his ass. Anyways, that had nothing to do with it, just had to get it off my chest. Peace

[leftofthedial]

11. music would be great

if it weren't for musicians

especially jive trumpet players

[leftofthedial]

4. If artists make their catalogs available this way

the technology makes for a great distribution system

if artists do not, it is theft and copyright infringement

[tuvor]

12. I don't feel guilty as long as I must pay a levy on blank media

(Especially if I don't always use blank media for copying new music. Sometimes I'm just backing up stuff I already own!)

"In 2000 a levy was introduced on blank media in Canada to compensate music artists for lost royalties due to the copying of music by individuals. The levy is paid by the Manufacturers and Importers of Blank media in Canada to the CPCC (Canadian Private Copying Collective). The CPCC then distributes the monies collected (minus administration fees) to registered artists. The Copyright Board sets the rates, but does not collect them. They issued a FAQ in 1999 about the Levy." --http://www.sycorp.com/levy/

More info can be found at http://www.cpcc.ca/english/index.htm

BTW, have you ever seen Janis Ian's take on the whole thing? http://www.janisian.com/article-internet_debacle.html

[Blue-Jay]

13. I only use file-sharing to find out if I like a band or not.

If I like them, I'll buy their stuff. If not, I'll just wipe it from my drive and look elsewhere. No different than listening to music in the music store before you buy it, really. I've found a bunch of bands that I've grown to love over the years this way.