This has been bothering me: think of your all time favourite band. Do you download and burn their music? Do you not consider that ripping off your favourite band? Can you call yourself a true fan because of this? I just want to see what you guys think, if you can try and justify why it's okay, or not.
My favorite band drives a Ferrari with a Mercedes parked out back as a backup car. I have been buying CDs lately...they are cheap on their release date and save the headache of downloading them from shady sources.
I don't download much because I'm not into the technology. However, I buy a lot of used CDs. Before downloading was invented the record companies were all hot and bothered about us buying those, for the same reason. THEY don't get any money. It really bothered me that millionaires like Bonnie Raitt and Garth Brooks made commercials appealing to us to stop buying used CDs. They can afford to buy all the new CDs they want. Heck, they probably get them free from their record companies and other industry contacts. They have no idea what it's like to have to decide between buying a new CD this week or taking my car instead of the bus to the subway station every day because it's raining, and spending the money on parking instead. The reason the record companies have to get their highest-paid talent to do the anti-downloading "public service" messages is that the new bands simply won't play along. They like downloading. It gets them heard. That's all they care about. They'll worry about the money later after they sell a few hundred thousand CDs. Just remember that when you pay $16 for a CD, about one dollar goes into the pocket of the artist--two if he also wrote the songs. Figure another dollar for the hard-working people who produce the music, deliver the donuts, sweep the floors, stock the record stores, etc. That still leaves $13 that goes directly to the executives and stockholders of the record company--people whose "value added" is marginal if not negative. These people ride around in limos swilling champagne in the back seat while the rest of us are working. So no, I don't think I'm ripping off the bands. The record companies do a fine job of that. I'd be happy to send a buck to a special fund every time I buy a used CD or do a download.
Huh. Now that's funny. I've never heard of the record companies being against buying used albums, but now that you mention it it doesn't surprise me a bit. And it drives the point home beautifully. When downloading music, one can easily see oneself as commiting a criminal act. But, when buying used music... no. It's not so clear cut anymore, is it? But, it is to the record companies. Why? Because they're not making money. It doesn't matter that they've already made their money off of that album. They want to make their money again. And again. And again. Next thing you know, they'll be licensing music. Where you have to keep paying every so often to renew your albums or they refuse to play any more. And it all started with these people with musical instruments who would travel around and play music at barn dances and hootenannies. Fucking lawyer scum. Kill them all.
Lol. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! That sounds like a hysterically funny, ridiculous scenario but it'll probably happen. Can't trust those... Too bad they're all dead and we cant kill them all too!
Bands make about 3 percent or less for every CD sold. They also get a royality from radio stations every year. They go on the road where they charge whatever they want and that's theirs totally, no percentage taken away except from their manager. It costs about 2 cents to make each CD. Therefore the music companies are ripping us off, not we ripping them off. They make plenty even if we rip their stuff. The majority of people buy the CD's for they worry allot about being caught downloading for free. I believe that now that the music companies are offering favorite songs for under a dollar more people will do that. I buy then I put it on my HD then I share ny own music with whomever wants to download it. It's like going to a library, when you check out a book there's no charge is there? They buy the book then let others read them for free.
Thank you for the insight, I am feeling more convinced that it is all about the money to those companies! I think there is also something special about owning albums by your favourite artists, it's like knowing that you feel close to their music when you can flick through the covers and see how their music and style has progressed. But that's just me. I do download though, mainly to get a feel for different artists old and new, to see if I like them or not. The library idea is a very nice way of putting it! They make people out to be stealing music like they own it, but it's the artists that make the music! :m:
I own over 400 record albums, the old vynal type. The cover artwork was worth the price of those albums sometimes, usually about $2.50 US to $3.00 US per album. Nowadays there's little artwork on CD covers that's worth owning, IMO, but they charge 15.00 US for it. Over 70 percent of people buy there CD's today so the record companies are weathier that ever but don't pass on any savings to the consumers, I wonder why they are so greedy. To bad we the consumers can't take them, the record industry, to court to get them to reduce their prices but they take us to court to fine us for getting something that we already bought and share with others from them for free.
I don't really download anymore because I feel kinda bad. Also I got a virus once before. Plus many of the bands I listen to are not rich "gangstas". haha Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Most people are paid average salaries of about $12,000.00 US a year that are in the low income brackets and they are expected to pay $15.00 for a frikkin CD that's only cost .02 cents to produce. It seems that the music companies want to rip off everyone LEGALLY for the law protects them more that the average citizen today. Most major companies are ripping everyone off from their own employees to the general public.
Can't stand the crappy 128 kbps sound from downloading. It's like having shit poured into my ears. I buy, and then rip mp3's into a cool 256 or higher. I can afford it easily, since my CD-buying frequency is about one CD every three months.
I don't care who it is. They be charging 18 bucks for a freaking 12 song (sometimes less) album. Get the fuck outta here.
