Unauthorized file sharing

Code:

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2012/06/05/how-should-electronic-musicians-deal-with-file-sharing/#more-40842

How Should Electronic Musicians Deal With File Sharing?

While researching an The Analog Roland Orchestra, a one man band (Michal Matlak) that makes music with vintage Roland gear,
I noticed an interesting comment on the group’s Facebook page that highlights the human cost of unauthorized file sharing:

“One week after releasing “Home”, some great guys uploaded it already on the internet.

It’s very sad because this kind of illegal uploads injures especially small labels and artists – where people put all their
effort, love, passion and money into a product where they will sure not earn some or big money with it – even it does not
cover the production costs. On the next release the artist and label thinks twice to ever doing another record…

Shitty people all over the planet.

The unauthorized file sharing of Matlak’s work has both financial cost, in terms of the loss of potential sales, and a
human cost, in terms of frustration and disillusionment.

Many would argue, though, that this sort of file sharing represents a huge opportunity. Those ‘shitty people all over the
planet’ may listen to his music, become fans and be the audience at his next gig – all because they could find out about
his music for free.

There’s no cut and dry answer to the debate over unauthorized music sharing. But the issue is especially important to
electronic musicians – because many are studio focused.

Ideally, music fans would try to respect the wishes of individual musicans – but that’s probably idealistic.

How do you think electronic musicians should deal with unauthorized file sharing? And, if you’ve got digital releases,
do you think that file sharing has helped or hurt you?

I recommend you to read all the different comments!

 

never heard of this guy. and never will again.

 

I buy cd's because I care about sound quality, or I buy flac/wav. How can someone who makes music himself choose to listen to music stream of 128 kbps? Isn't youtube 96 kbps? If someone would listen to my music in 96 kbps I would feel insulted.

People don't know quality anymore. Anyone remember the term 'high fidelity'? I miss those days...

The best quality of mp3 (320 kbps) contains only 1/4 of the data that a cd contains (1411 kbps). Nuff said.

 

Absolutely correct, and I couldn't agree more. I still love my vinyl collection too.

 

It seems to me that this guy is about a decade behind, or just unaware of the David and Goliath game that the record industry is. Even during the music industry's heyday (1990's), only 10% of the records released would yield a profit anyway. Music recordings have become more of a "business card" so to speak in order to open up opportunities for other business ventures (merch, live shows, endorsements, acting, etc).

I understand his pain as I am also a producer that values music for the artistic quality; but that isn't what sells records. Promotion is what sells records. I suppose he is getting free advertising by complaining about the cliche topic of P2P file sharing. Good for him. I hope his strategy works, but I seriously doubt it.

I have accepted that trying to make a living from selling recordings is like trying to win the lottery - not a very wise career choice. Use the recordings as a way to open up other revenue streams such a T-shirts and concerts. Since the introduction of Napster, music was released from its cage and I don't see it ever going back. Musicians and producers need to adapt their business model and stop hoping for the 1990's to come back. Open your minds to new sources of revenue other than just selling recordings.

 

Lol, and the 3/4 of the CD data is not even audible to human ears. You mistake quantity for quality. *yes*

But let me guess, you are one of the few with golden ears right? Keep it up!

 

Good read and lots of good comments.

It's funny how these discussions are always followed with arguments about the definition of "stealing" or "theft". Or CD quality lol

Justifications for guilt?

 

I see it the other way around: I kindly listen to this "found stuff" I otherwise wouldn't listen to. Everyone who tries to live off arts which can reproduced digitally has to deal with this kind of 'stealing'. File sharing does not harm the industry, it promotes the industry.

 

I agree that it probably doesn't harm the industry. But the artists are another thing.