Downloading prog

Here in Brazil is very hard to find even classic albums of classic prog groups. When I can find them, I buy, and sometimes import from e-stores like Amazon. But their price is very, very high, and now I start downloading and sharing my music files with other guys.

What do you think about this way of getting information about an artist? Do you realy believe in the corporations' theory that you are stealing the artist that you are supposed to love? Since you don't sell or have any form of personal profit, I don't think this is wrong, mainly because I buy the original product when I can find it with a reasonable price. Please post your comments.

I think downloading and sharing is fine as long as you buy the album when you can.

norbert88

felona wrote:  I download some stuff and usually I end up buying ALL of the artists back-catalogue as I am a bit obsessive like that so I personally don't think its harming the artist in this situation, where it leads to a purchase. However, I read a recent intervew by Nick Barrett of Pendragon on the DRPR site  who was understandably very annoyed when his recent album had been copied/downloaded. He made the point that if people don't buy the album then its like stealing from the artist. At the end of the day, the artist needs some income in order to keep on producing albums. If they don't get income - we don't get any more of their music. We lose out in the end as much as the artist.

Yeah same with me. I might download a song here and there but it is only
intended to lead to a purchase. I'm quite obssessive when it comes to
purchasing albums.

Yes, moodyxadi, I suspect the situation in Brazil is closer to that in Malaysia ... when I want to get an original album by a classic prog band ... I have to order it and pay at least double the price of what pop fans pay for the latest Britney Spears ...  

I'm in a very lucky position as CD reviewer ... with over 3,000 original CDs I have a larger collection of 60s and 70s rock than any given store in Malaysia or neighbouring Singapore ...  but it's still extraordinarily frustrating ... I've never even seen an original prog CD by a South American, Spanish or Quebocois band ... and most of my exciting purchases happen from bargain bins on a rare overseas trip ...

I certainly hate the thought of depriving prog musicians of their cash though ... 

So this is a real dilemma, especially for markets like mine where all but the most popular bands aren't available domestically.

Edited by Trotsky

Personally I find that the availability shared files has broadened my musical interests, especially in the prog category, and find that I am purchasing more cd's than I had previously. Therefore I am contributing more to the music industry in general. I think it evens out in the end.

I do like to have the original product with lyrics, artwork etc. But if a friend is interested in one of my CDs, I don't feel any guilty in making a copy to him. It was the same thing with the old K-7s, and I can't agree with the criticism about this kind of behaviour.

The music corporations are out of reality, and the distribution of products in countries of the Third World still s**ks, even with this whole globalization. The taxes we pay for foreign products, even when they are related to culture (music and books), are extorsive. So I'm waiting for a more disciplined and fair form of legal download of music and the material suport of the albums (artwork, etc.).

Just for example: from the fifty most popular albums of Progarchives.com, only 30 % are currently available in our local stores, if so. All albums from Camel's glory years are out-of-stock for more than a decade. What more can I do to know a group non-familiar to me? Shot in the dark? I'm sorry, but I think the same reasons that justify the RoIOs can be aplied to the downloading, since you don't have any gain in cash with this (selling copies, for instance).  

Some of my collection, when it was originally released, was on vinyl only. Then 8-track was popular. After that I had to buy it on cassett tape. Now, they want me to purchase the cd. I figure the music industry owes ME. I think I'll download, if I can.

I think that with services like Napster it's only a matter of time ... soon all music will be available for a low monthly fee. So downloading via illegal P2P sites will not be necessary anymore ...

Velvetclown wrote: Sorry MIKE but who wANT SOME CHEESY mp3 S

Cheesy mp3s? Napster uses 192kbps WMA files, they sound ok. But of course a CD will sound better, and a vinyl album with astonishing artwork will even LOOK good.

^ no kidding? I hadn't noticed that ...