Cory Doctrow just finished a chilling article on the history of music file sharing that points to further gloom for the music business. He states that:
“. . .the latest record-company salvo in the copyright wars, a cozy deal with British
ISPs that will have them spying on and degrading the connections of
subscribers accused of infringing downloading.”
What Cory goes on to say is that this will not stop file sharing but will drive it further underground with private file swapping networks. In other words, the insatiable thirst of the record companies to fleece us out of everything we have is going to backfire on both them and, unfortunately, the musicians and songwriters.
Despite what the media has told us Napster was a very good idea for every one. Here’s how Napster 1.0 worked: Music lovers could download as much as they liked for a base price which worked out to around $15 a month, or the price of 1 1/2 CD’s. Cory also says “they had the fastest-growing technology in the history of the world at their disposal, 70 million internet users in 18 months, and they’d found that the average American user was willing to spend $15 a month for the service.”
So what happened. Napster was sued into oblivion and new operations sprung up to take their place. But these new guys were not as honest as Napster and now file sharing - or stealing - is breeding a new generation of music user who does not feel they have to pay for the labors of those who create music.
As I have stated before, I don’t care about the Michael Jackson-owned Beatle portfolio that makes him millions a year. But I do worry about the guys and gals who can’t get paid for what their music is worth. However, now the moguls have created an underground network of computer-savvy music enthusiasts who can get songs at will. And fewer good people are getting paid
However, what I do like is that making music, even on computers, and sharing it on venues like YouTube is broadening the industry and taking it from the hands of Sony and the other guys who still make billions by just re-releasing a bunch of ’60’s songs that they got basically for nothing. Popular music didn’t just happen. In an older blog I found a pic of an ad put out by the musician’s union in the 1920’s stating that vinyl would kill the music industry. It didn’t. It gave obscure bands and orchestras new fans.