Downloading

I don't really have any significant comments to say about downloading in general. About the closest I can come to downloads is listening to streaming samples from an artist's web page, just to see if I like their music before considering a CD purchase.

On another issue, I don't understand listeners that prefer downloads over actually having the CD. It seems like they aren't getting the full artistic effect of what the artist was trying to get at. Instead it would appear to me they are only getting a fragmented picture of the artist's message or intentions. An album is just not the same to me if it isn't listened as a whole, with the visual experience of the insert artwork (this was an especially better experience in the days of vinyl). And for audiophiles, it's a better listening experience than a compressed mp3 file.

My only problem nowadays is that I wish I could buy more CDs than the handful I have done over the last two years, but economic times aren't what they used to be. Clearly, big tax cuts for filthy rich people don't do a bit of good, but that's another argument for another thread.

Sckxyss wrote: Option 2. If the only way you can get an album is by forking out $40+ on ebay or Gemm, the artist isn't getting anything for it either way, so there's no point IMO (unless you want the hard copy). Otherwise, I think it's important that the artists get paid for what they're doing.

Unless you buy directly from the copyright holder, the artist doesn't get any money from your purchase.

micky wrote: discussion is akin to promotion...

This just isn't true.

Guess we can't discuss any news stories where someone did something illegal, then.  After all, we're promoting their actions.


Edited by Pnoom! - February 15 2009 at 09:33

progaeopteryx wrote: I don't really have any significant comments to say about downloading in general. About the closest I can come to downloads is listening to streaming samples from an artist's web page, just to see if I like their music before considering a CD purchase. On another issue, I don't understand listeners that prefer downloads over actually having the CD. It seems like they aren't getting the full artistic effect of what the artist was trying to get at. Instead it would appear to me they are only getting a fragmented picture of the artist's message or intentions. An album is just not the same to me if it isn't listened as a whole, with the visual experience of the insert artwork (this was an especially better experience in the days of vinyl). And for audiophiles, it's a better listening experience than a compressed mp3 file. My only problem nowadays is that I wish I could buy more CDs than the handful I have done over the last two years, but economic times aren't what they used to be. Clearly, big tax cuts for filthy rich people don't do a bit of good, but that's another argument for another thread.

Streaming is one of the best ways to gin up interest in your band these days.  Those who want to enjoy music without paying for it should take advantage of that.  When I was a young 'un we had this here thing called the radio, sure it had commercials, but we liked it, well not all that much.  College radio stations were always the best to encounter stuff you hadn't heard before. 

Totally addicted to hard copies and love albums with good cover and/or booklet art, particularly lyrics in print for the vocal artists.  I have cut down on new acquisitions, too.  Partly for economical reasons, partly for space reasons.  As you can see I can't possibly fit much more music into my signature.  V


Edited by Slartibartfast - February 16 2009 at 05:48

Trouserpress wrote: When I was a student I had literally no other means of experiencing new music than to download it. I could only just cover my bills and had nothing spare to dish out on CDs. As a result of the bands I discovered through this means (most notably Cardiacs) I have subsequently spent a great many pounds on seeing them perform live. That's money I would not have spent had I not downloaded albums by them. Personally, mp3s aren't enough. The money I HAVE spent on CDs (when I can afford to) usually goes on albums I already "own" in mp3 format. I'm sure the same goes for a lot of other illegal downloaders like myself.

This pretty much applies to me.

I buy about 10 Cds a month.  7 or so are from emusic, and then I buy 2-3 albums (always ones that I've already downloaded).

When there are alternatives to downloading (such as free streaming on last.fm; I've got a long list of albums I'm interested in that are available free on there), I use those.

As it stands, though, music is currently one of the few industries where a great many artists don't allow you to "test-drive" (so to speak) the entire product.

Mr ProgFreak wrote: http://www.emusic.com/album/Subterranean-Masquerade-Suspended-Animation-Dreams-MP3-Download/11383478.html There's no excuse for not downloading legally!

Edited by Pnoom! - February 15 2009 at 09:45

Don't take it too seriously, I just found it ironic.

I'm an avid emusic user, and I currently have 62 albums in my save for later, which should last me about 9 months (and that's ignoring all the albums that will get added to the list as I discover new bands that pique my interest).

I use too many music sites already, sorry man.

I rate them all at RYM, though.  Don't have the time/desire to rate them all at two different places.

And I only have the 75tracks/month plan, unfortunately.  At some point, hopefully, I'll upgrade.

Pnoom! wrote: I'm pretty sure stealing requires depriving somebody of something they wouldn't otherwise have, which downloading doesn't do.  And if illegal downloading does qualify as stealing, then all that indicates is that our definition of stealing is too broad and covers more than it ought to, because illegal downloading is a world removed from stealing a hard copy of a CD.

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: Simple: People has physical and intellectual properties

True.

If you sell your goods, you get money

True.

If you sell an album, you get royalties which is money

True.

If you illegally download, you are STEALING THE ROYALTIES FROM THE AUTHOR

If you don't download the album, the artist gets no royalties.  If you do download the album, the artists gets no royalties.  So no, the artist has not lost any royalties from you downloading the album.

On the other hand, if you steal a CD, in order to sell another copy of that CD, they must procure another CD in order to sell it, which costs money.  Therefore, they have lost something that they did not lose in the first case.

He won't receive that money

He wouldn't receive it if you didn't buy it in the first place.

Ergo...You are stealing that money from him and using his property in our benefit....The two caracteristics of a crime are there: Animus delicti (You know you are taking something it's not yours) and animus lucrandi (You are geting a benefiit from the act).

You aren't stealing that money from him because he doesn't have it in the first place.

BTW: Stealing copyrighted material is worst than stealing a CD, a CD has monetary value of 2 or 3 bucks, not more, if you want to talk about commercial value, lets say 15 to 20 bucks, if you steal one, it's shoplifting. Copyrighted material is invaluable, that's way you can be forced to pay US$ 125,000 per song.. Iván.

CDs contain copyrighted material.  Therefore, stealing a CD is like downloading illegally, only someone actually loses money.

Also, the idea that copyrighted material is invaluable just isn't true.  If it were, artists would never let labels own their work.

Tony R wrote: That's about as accurate as saying that Canada is the 51st State of America!!

So it's completely accurate, then.

Slartibartfast wrote: Other points to ponder.  If I buy used, nothing new goes to the artist, but if I buy new and they are signed with a major record company, they don't get much.  If I buy directly from their site they get the max.  Please do that whenever you can.

If you don't buy hard copies directly from the artist/label, it doesn't matter whether it's new or used, the artist gets nothing from your sale.