AMEN!!! :thumbsup:thumbsup

Album art rocked..

iTunes is something I will never use in my life aside from the first time I got an opid and it wiped half my music collection due to the default settings they had at the time. What turned me away the most though was all my buddies that over time lost their entire collections due to database fuckups, losing passwords, changing pcs, copy protection against other mp3 players etc etc. Apple has had a long history of fuckups with that platform and you never actually "own" the song. You just rent it and they can revoke it at any time and remove it from your system without warning and without compensation.

Back in the day you went to see a show at a bar, bought a vinyl and you OWNED IT. No company could take that way from you.

I create music, I wish to distribute it. However unless I use a social network platform full of everyone else's ads I cannot even begin to afford distribution. There used to be a really cool service that allowed unsigned artists to upload, share, sell and even have CD's printed and shipped right to the customer's door. Guess what, RIAA made so much bullshit over it that the service got the balls sued off them for potential loses to the 'recording industry'. So I'd be forced to sign to a label and let them, along with the distributors, take 95% of the cut. Even unsigned, if I copyright my works the legal way I still have to pay into an RIAA sanctioned entity to collect proceeds from my own shows...

I'm not straight-up advocating illegally obtaining people's hard work so people get shit for free however I have my reasons to not support the industry one bit.

I used to frequent mp3search.ru back before it kept switching names. Downloaded as much I you wanted for 5-10 cents a track. They would pay the RIAA what was considered fair for profits for them and bypassing distributors which low and behold turned out to be roughly the same profit for the band and label as a CD sale would be and the website itself was able to cover hosting and development. Minimal profit margins.

Services like that is where my support lays until the distribution and physical 'disks/mediums' are completely abolished in favor of digital mediums. We need more services like that and bands need to stand up to the big recording industry giants and support a platform that bypasses everyone making money off someone else's work.

Now there's a better step in the right direction....

I buy from BandCamp whenever possible.

Not all artists can do a donation model - there must a fan base to get there - but I know a lot of little guys who use BandCamp or similar services to let the end user decide how much the album is worth to them. Not all places are lucky enough to be able to support favoured artists by going to shows - not every where gets them, remember? Artists and their labels have to pick and choose where makes the most sense to book - and if the booking agent doesn't think the local scene will support a show, the show doesn't get booked.

In those cases, it does make sense for me to show my support for that artist by helping boost their iTunes sales to get them more exposure and increasing their audience - then I can support them more directly by attending a show for them in the future.

What if the theater is only 1/4 full? Then I'm not taking anything. The seat I am taking would still be empty.

That's right if it's not a sellout you can sneak in. But then you are not a broke loser so paying for a ticket is no big deal. :thumbsup


.

Cool. And I guess I can sneak in my own snacks because after all I never intended to buy the movie theater snacks so its ok. I mean why should an unwillingness to pay for anything stop one from enjoying the things one likes?

Wait, wait ... back in more foolish times did you ever buy popcorn from a concession stand? If you did that entitles you to time shift a small buttered at least.


.

Because it won't always work. Depends on the group. Only those with die hard loyal fans would pay when given the option to have it free.

I gave for the NIN release. Don't remember how much, but I enjoyed it and paid for it.

But really, that's all it is anyway these days. You can get it for free somewhere, or pay for it at iTunes or Band Camp. People have an option to pay or not pay, one of them options just isn't a favorable one.


Why wouldn't some people always pay for music? Not everyone believes it should be stolen.

Actually, in this case it does. It is also the concept that goes along with it. It doesn't matter if you *think* it should be free or not or even if you agree with any aspect of why they are charging you. The fact is, they are asking for money and you refuse to pay for it, and steal it from them.

Otherwise, just go download tracks from artists who want to give it away for free, and not those who sell it.

I don't believe in a lot of things for various reasons, but that doesn't mean I am in the right and can live a lawless life with no accountability. It's only my perspective of the situation, but that doesn't mean I'm right. It is your perception that music should be free. Those selling it disagree. Guess who's in the wrong? Hint... it's not the people selling it. It is their product, they have the final say. When it is your product, you have the final say. Give it away, sell it, trade it... whatever you want to do, you can do, because it's yours.


OK, how about you let strangers joy ride your car every night? Long as it's back by the time you wake, it's not stealing. You'll still have your car.

You can try to justify theft until the end of time. It doesn't matter what you're taking, if it's not yours and you take it without permission, it is stealing. And that is fine, but don't call it something else and make excuses for it. Just fucking say you steal it, and own your actions. And don't worry, we'll all still talk to you.