The RIAA sucks.

Kizzume · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:02 pm Post subject: The RIAA sucks.

[url="http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9791383-7.html?tag=nefd.pulse"]http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9791383-7...?tag=nefd.pulse[/url]

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

You have it right. The touring greatly outdoes the cds in terms of money these days, and Rolling Stones is a great example. And yeah, the merchandise has a lot to do with it. Bottom line is, if you want to support your favorite artist, go to their concert, buy a t-shirt, steal their cd, and copy the hell out of it and give it to everyone you know. Think I am joking? See what my favorite artist has to say about cds in general.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ5iHaV0dP4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ5iHaV0dP4[/url]

Or for all those who are to lazy to check out the video link, here is a transcription of the main part

Kizzume · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:03 pm Post subject:

I think the only reason to get CDs is to get the best copy possible. If you just want to hear the song and you don't care that much about the quality, download it whatever way you choose.

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

Yeah, but I have to admit Kizzume, I do care about quality. I think I am going to look into getting SACD's of my favorite albums. Many of my favorite albums are available in that format. Now THAT's quality!

Kizzume · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:04 pm Post subject:

The SACD thing doesn't seem worth it--a special player JUST for those? If you don't get the special player, the sound quality will be the same as on a regular CD.

I like the idea of DVD-Audio a lot more. The ability to have true surround is kind-of cool too.

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

You should mention that in that one thread on otl, where we were talking about how the industry can now succeed! But yeah, I could be down with DVD-Audio, but I am not sure that any of the CDs I favor are available in that format at this time. Maybe Nine Inch Nails....

Kizzume · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:04 pm Post subject:

Done.

Kizzume · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:05 pm Post subject:

I found this image on another forum talking about this, I think it's great!

Hackfest · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 402

The law is the law, and people should respect it. That being said, I don't think you should run me over with a police car if I jaywalk. Greed sucks, and big labels reek of it.

Kizzume · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:06 pm Post subject:

I personally look at the file-sharing programs as a modern-day Robin Hood. Sure, it's wrong, but it's one of the only ways that citizens are able to balance things out.

The other way is not listening to radio--listening to independent artists only. That's basically boycotting radio and the entire industry--it's not something the people are going to do. It's like telling people to throw away their televisions.

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

See I even go a step further with it. I don't think "stealing" music is wrong at all, so long as your money is somehow set aside to assist the artist. What I mean is this: I have copied a lot of Rolling Stones CDs. But on the other hand, I have seen them live, and purchased one of their t-shirts. The money they made off of my VERY EXPENSIVE TICKET, and that shirt, far outweighs what they would have made from their own cds. I simply found a better way to support them. I don't want the record companies having $.001 of my money.

As you have already seen with the video I have placed everywhere I can, Trent Reznor, a rock star who has around $4.5 million in the bank (At age 42-- in other words, he could still very easily run out of money some day) has said it himself. "Don't buy my music. Steal it." But I garantee he wants you to come see him live and buy his t-shirts.

I don't think copying cds is wrong. Here is another reason:

Is it wrong to check a book out of the library? What if you read it, and then don't buy it because you already read it. Shame on you. You are a thief!

Why is it any different to go to the library and copy a cd. Books are generally read only once. So if you check books out, by this logic you are a thief. It works to the same result-- copy a cd from the library and you probably won't buy it. Check out a book from the library and read it, and you probably won't buy it.

But few people will argue you are a thief if you check books out of the library.

Kizzume · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:06 pm Post subject:

Actually, as far as tickets--they basically just pay for the concert with those. Putting on a show is VERY expensive. The tshirts and the merchandise is where they make the money.

When you borrow a book or a cd from the library, you are doing just that, borrowing it. When you copy a cd, you aren't just borrowing it, you have copied it. Most of the time, people who get copies of albums don't go out and buy those albums--why would they? They already have a copy.

There's no getting around that stealing music isn't exactly "right", but it's not something that hurts the artists. It ONLY hurts the record industry and those who get perks from the record industry for going platinum.

There needs to be a change--one that reduces the importance of big record companies. The RIAA needs a swift kick in its ass.

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

But Kizzume, consider what I am saying. How many books, that you first checked out of the library, did you end up buying? When you read a book, you haven't just borrowed the text. You used the information. That is why Barns and Noble won't let you take back books after you have purchased them. Because they know you could just read them and take them back.

Hackfest · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 402

The difference is that the library has the consent of the publisher. You can't justify it. I wonder how far people should be allowed to take the whole "It's wrong, but I don't see enough validity" approach to laws. Doesn't that mean that anyone can interpret any law they don't like? That's dangerous.

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

The library also has the consent of the music publishers, doesn't it?