(no subject)

[godream]

Me and the Siberian hamsters, huh?

But yesterday was a cheerful day -- it's really amazing how much more enjoyable and less energy-sapping work is when you're not stuck and frustrated. When things finally WORK it's a beautiful, beautiful sight.

But speaking of frustrating and depressing things, looks like the music piracy wars have their next victim lined up in their sights, and it's lyrics/tabs sites. "Unauthorised use of lyrics and tablature deprives the songwriter of the ability to make a living, and is no different than stealing," says the president of the Music Publishers' Association. Riiiiight, because if I can read the lyrics online and stumble my way through a couple chords then, hell, what's the point in buying the CD? ... and by "right", I mean "absurd".

Comments

[shaktool.livejournal.com]

I had always kinda figured that the fight against music piracy was rather futile, and that artists seeking a profit would eventually end up focusing on making music for movies, video games, advertisements, concerts, and other multimedia projects that are more difficult to pirate. And they would widely distribute their music to advertise these projects.

Now it's starting to seem like they're actually starting to win the fight. Or at least making progress. I'm not sure what to think about that, although you're right that attacking lyrics/tabs sites is ridiculous.

[godream.livejournal.com]

I still buy CDs. Not all the time, because I'm broke and because (let's face it) sometimes downloading is just easier -- but for the independent artists, the non-monoliths, the ones that (heh) cultivate that connection to their fans that makes you want to support them even if it means forking over hard earned cash... yeah, absolutely I do. (And usually the way I've heard of the new artists is by downloading sample mp3s or mp3s from friends first, would never have heard of them or bought their stuff otherwise.) But I think that last is the best (only?) way to do it: not to try to make it so that people *can't* pirate your stuff, but to make it so that they don't want to, whether that be by selling CDs and trusting fans to want to support you that way, or by giving music away for free and trusting fans will support your other ventures (or even the old paypal tip jar, back to the busking model of things).

... and all this Sony rootkit business and suing lyrics sites (trying to give them jail time? wtf?) is not doing much for my desire to support music.

One other perspective I find interesting on this: the number of authors who've gotten started or gotten publicity by giving stuff away. Cory Doctorow, John Scalzi, the whole of the baen free library (http://www.baen.com/library/defaultTitles.htm)... maybe authors in the scifi genre really are better in tune to the future and thus more aware of what they gain from breaking the traditional model?