Recent articles like this one and this news article raise a very important point about file sharing. Namely, that people like my good self you are interested new internet business models based on file sharing: are asshats. In particular, we are thieving, stealing asshats. Without once again dragging up the rhetoric surrounding this debate let me quote noted singer James Blunt:
“The music business is made up of thousands of jobbing musicians, producers, mixers and engineers creating and shaping popular music and culture, but illegal file-sharing is cutting off the income from their work. Without the revenue from established artists, record labels cannot fund emerging musicians.” Quote taken from here.
I do not wish to argue the case here except to say this: What a load of crap. The music business is made of layers of people who never make real money and hardly any of them actually get paid. This has turned me off buying any more music from a mindless twat like James Blunt. Mind you, I never listened to that soppy crap anyway (I hate that song… prefer Weird Al’s version). This is what annoys me about his statement: as if he cares. He is a superstar and does not represent musicians in general. You want to see the people he is talking about? Go to the places where these emerging artists are? Well and truly before piracy artists where getting reamed up the pipes by industry. Long before, LONG BEFORE Lars Ulrich put another million dollars in the bank. Heres my key point:
Making music for a living is not a right, it’s a privilege.
You know why? Most people who write songs, paint paintings, write novels make no money. James Blunts of this world are far and few between (less than 0.0001% I would argue). Even the people who appear on independent radio stations make little or no money from their art. Is this because of piracy? No, it’s because the industry has extremely high barriers to entry and high competition. In essence, it’s the perfect business model. You don’t have to create new talent often, just find a hit from the cream of the crop to support all your failures and presto! You have a business model. It reminds me of something I read about the death of the midlist… but that’s another post.
So why did file sharing make me who I am? Almost all of the papers I read to do my PhD were given to me by others, or shared with me. Programs I needed but couldn’t afford and so on and so on. I could have done none of this without file sharing. But that aside, there is a key element in file sharing that made me who I am and it can be summed up by this word: sharing. The fundamental human trait that those who are successful fail to remember. Your fans are paying for your mansions, your clothes, your cars and that ridiculous haircut. They like your music and pay for it to support you. In droves! So why are you turning on them? Don’t you already have enough? Emerging artists? If you believe so much that it’s hurting them why not go and find them and help them by introducing them to your friends in the record industry? In 1960 there was a very high barrier to get in, was this because we listened to the radio? Bullshit!
In closing my argument (if you can call it that) let me add that file sharing isn’t the real issue. The issue is: finally we may have an opportunity to create balance in an industry that is horribly one-sided and over compensates popular artists more than any other. This is critically unfair and needs to change.
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A wonderful post.Straight into the target.
Luke,your revealing observations have to be
applauded by anyone that is honest with
himself and paints an objective picture of
what is going on in music,arts,etc.Without
sharing nothing serious can be achieved on ones own. I principally agree with what Luke is advocating – the true lovers of music,the
real artists are not the “money makers”,who
are artificial products of an obsolete system
that favors mainly crab.Unfortunately one
observes a frightening proses of secondary stupidity and modern barbarians knocking
around.This is the sad normality of our age.
Thanks Mike,
It is a sad normality… and it’s hurting artists not helping them.
You make some interesting points, but I’m sorry, I think a large portion of what was written is absolute crap and seemingly written to justify the gigabytes of (likely) stolen music on your hard drive.
- If making music for a living is a privilege. Who the hell do you think you are to just take as though it is yours, what has likely cost a lot of time and money to produce? Would you steal painting off the wall of an artists home and make the same argument?
- I am a musician and I can tell you, (especially in Australia) that if one of my bands made it big tomorrow, it would be a long time before I was ever in front by the time you took into account, music lessons, instruments, studios, etc etc the list really goes on…….
- You’re right that most musicians don’t make money off what they do (or at least not a lot) So I wonder, do you choose to pirate your music based on incomes of said artists? If an artist signs with a big label, regardless of his popularity, if the album does not sell, he is less likely to be re-signed (its a hell of a business) In effect, pirating has taken his job.
- You get on a high horse about sharing (how benevolent of you) when in fact, it isnt sharing…….. pirating music is no more “sharing” than me stealing your car because I needed a life home after a big night.
Like I said, i thin you make some good points, but I do not agree with a large portion of it.
Take it easy.
Pauly
Pauly,
Thanks for your blunt, if not terse, reply. Here’s my perspective:
- If making music for a living is a privilege. Who the hell do you think you are to just take as though it is yours, what has likely cost a lot of time and money to produce? Would you steal painting off the wall of an artists home and make the same argument?
No I wouldn’t steal anything but by the same token is listening to the radio and recording it stealing? Watching and recording TV? Listening to a podcast? I do buy music all the time, I support emerging artists of all sorts (not just in music but in software, literature and academic work – I believe an artist can make a living from there craft and I believe we should – as I said there has to be a way to make this fairer) There are smarter ways of managing this issue instead of reverting to facile arguments about how we are stealing music. There are a ton of new and interesting models around that can help. That’s all I am saying. Would I steal a painting? Of course not, that’s an entirely different problem. I do have a Monet on the wall at home … it’s fake… a reprint none the less.. is that piracy? However, if that artist was smart and could generate buzz why not use that by allowing free content?
- I am a musician and I can tell you, (especially in Australia) that if one of my bands made it big tomorrow, it would be a long time before I was ever in front by the time you took into account, music lessons, instruments, studios, etc etc the list really goes on…….
Tell me about it. I have spent 10 years doing research and working hard. I have three degrees that I paid over sixty thousand dollars for. I am not even close to being in front. But you know what, if I could get people to read my stuff I would do a lot better. Mind you, most journals have the same attitude you do, and block out people from being able to download and share my work. The irony? I don’t get noticed and can’t capitalise. When I get into a space where it’s free, I get noticed and cited. As a matter of fact this blog is a case in point. If any of you steal my stuff I will love you forever. Srs.
- You’re right that most musicians don’t make money off what they do (or at least not a lot) So I wonder, do you choose to pirate your music based on incomes of said artists? If an artist signs with a big label, regardless of his popularity, if the album does not sell, he is less likely to be re-signed (its a hell of a business) In effect, pirating has taken his job.
How is that related to piracy? I don’t see the connection, could be that I am over tired. Whenever any of my previous businesses have failed it’s been because people didn’t engage with it. That’s complex. Or put simply the idea sucked enough not to be popular. Are you saying that piracy stops bands from getting popular? Piracy stops albums from selling? Artists don’t get signed again because of piracy? Is this so in the 1950′s and now? I doubt it. The whole point of what I said agrees with you, it IS a hell of a business… why is that so? Piracy? No, it’s always been a hell of a business. Ask any author they will tell you the same thing. The barriers are too high and only a fraction of stuff is ever popular enough to support people.
- You get on a high horse about sharing (how benevolent of you) when in fact, it isnt sharing…….. pirating music is no more “sharing” than me stealing your car because I needed a life home after a big night.
I am not getting on my high horse at all here and I believe that either you didn’t read what I wrote or you are simply rehashing an argument that makes no sense at all. I don’t think you honestly believe that stealing a car is that same as piracy. Duplicating a car and using it free of charge would be piracy and for the record I don’t agree with duplicating content and selling it at all. Sharing a car is different. If you stole my car after a big night out, I wouldn’t consider that piracy… I would consider that theft. Now if you make music and find people who like it how will they here it unless you use some free method to gain exposure… how will you create a buzz about it? You can’t. People create buzz by talking to each other, sharing information. I know this from teaching 400 plus people… it’s amazing to see in practice. Totally amazing.
My point about sharing is this: it’s a fundamental human trait regardless of piracy. No high horse, no nobility, no left of centredness. We share information about movies, we share stories, books, clothes, hats, baby stuff… you name it. I am simply pointing out that industry people are missing the big picture here. Whether they like it or not, things have changed… they haven’t. The same thing happened with radio, records, tapes and cds. It will continue to happen until people realise a shift has occurred. Suing people and making us buy stuff instead of inventing smarter business models (or in my case letting people download and read my stuff) is how things are now. You can have both, good problem solving practice (read Russell Ackoff) will show you the way. The arrogance I sense in your reply is that you think you can tell society how to buy or acquire it’s music, instead of understanding trends and finding smarter ways to capitalise. And this too: Bands always need free to get attention… and now it’s doesn’t always work as I am sure you know. What I want to do is find better ways that are more akin to what people expect in 2009 not 1989.
If your closing comment you say you do not agree. Most people don’t in your line of work and I’m not surprised. Just wait five more years and then come back and tell me… how are we supporting artists? Oh there’s my mistake assuming it’s about the artist… now I see. It’s not is it? It’s about the business?