Downloading your music vs buying your music

But they can be stolen, scratched, burned, water damaged, crushed, or taken away by tornado! :eek:

I've always been scared of theft or damage...my CD collection owns me. :(
 
I download my music. Illegally. Why? Because I am all for the illegal download industry. Songs should be available on the internet, and people should not be forced to pay for them.

Well, that might have sounded a little blunt, but I also have the arguments to back this up.

Music is about the expression of an emotion, making a statement, giving an opinion on something, etc. The prime objective of any artist should be to do these things, and reach as many people as they can with this, because you want people to feel the way you do, you want people to think about things. Even if people do not agree with your viewpoints as an artist, still you made them at least think a little more about the subject, and that what it is about.

Up and until a few decades ago, the only way to reach a lot of people, was through extensive advertising of your product, and selling it in as many countries as possible. This has changed. Music is no longer only available via the selling of cd's, but also for free, and to a lot more people then you could reach before the coming of the internet. In that aspect, you would think that any artist would erabrace the downloading of their music with open arms. In what other way could you bring your message to so many people, could you bring over your feeling to this magnitude of humans?
All the things that music is about, are being strengthened by the illegal download of music, people from all over the world can listen to your music with one click of the mouse. I'd say that that is a dream come true.

Yet many artists are against the illegal downloading of music. The prime argument they make, is indeed not about them not being able to transfer a message or a feeling, or whatever. It is about the money.

This insinuates that the artists do not care one bit about their music, and only care about making as much money as they possibly can through the music.

I myself have a little solo project as well, and I am trying, through that solo project, to wake up those artists, and show them that if they really care about the music, and if they really care about the essentials of music, they would erabrace the downloading of music with open arms. My solo project is called "Our Heliophobic Sun", my songs are on myspace (/ourheliophobicsun). You can not buy my albums, the only way to possess my music, is by asking me for the mp3's ([email protected]). I do not accept payment in any form, I want to let people know once more what music is actually about, what it should stand for, and the reasons why one makes music, or, at least, should make music. Not for the money, not to make as much people as possible like you, but to bring over a feeling, a message, whatever.

- Theo Therion
 
i mainly buy cRAB for reason mentioned before, coz of the artwork and the fact that i can collect them and show them to mykiRAB and say "this is best music ever made"

i was just thinking, if you buy cRAB from banRAB that are dead like michael jackons and nirvana, where does the profit go?? it certainly doesnt go to the banRAB... wtf??
 
See, what you have there, is a point. Yeah, I wish the physical album were more of a personal creation as far as it coming straight from the artists, but unfortunately the artists aren't the ones who own the manufacturing plants and distribution deals. Unfortunately. as beautiful and spiritual as music can be, the business aspect of it involves a lot of shaking hanRAB with the Devil. At least in the beginning.

You know, stating the obvious has a tendency to make someone sound like a prick.

And believe me, I know a little bit about touring. I still work a dead end job so I can save up enough money for gas, food, emergencies when we head out on the road. Especially in the beginning, touring costs money. And that's where the merch comes in, including CRAB. The benefits of touring really come when you get signed and receive touring support. Which brings me back to shaking hanRAB with the Devil.
 
You really should do something the field of debate for a career man, you have a very good way with worRAB. It's because of this post that I've decided to start buying more and downloading less. You put it in a way that really spoke with me, so I just want to thank you. I think I'll try and buy at least one physical copy of a CD a week.
 
I agree!

It's so easy to download/online stream listen, you can get tempted to have a sneaky listen.

But there's nothing like going to the shops, buying the album you've been looking forward to, and listening to it..
 
It definitely gets out of hand. I miss having access to only the albums I purchase, and actually spending time with them. Now we all have short attention spans and always looking for the next thing, not giving everything a proper chance.
 
As understandable as that is, I'd be glad that my music is well-known enough that there is a demand for it to be downloaded.

Legally or illegally.

Don't get me wrong though, I agree with what you have to say.
 
I've often thought "does free downloading really hurt the artist as much as it's made out"?

There's touring and merchandise and the record company pay them for making a record? so no.

But for young musicians who start out, it must make getting successful a bit more difficult? then again, if people get to hear their music through download/myspace/online streaming, get into the music, then they'll buy tickets for the show..
 
I do the same thing, when you put it on the stereo, it's nicer to listen to it as an album.

When it's in iTunes, right infront of you, you get tempted to skip.

Hard copy > digital
 
I used to mainly buy CRAB, nowadays however I tend only to buy CRAB at gigs, often these are of local or smaller artists and the reason I buy them is probably that I wouldn't be able to find them otherwise. I get alot of my music from frienRAB aswell. I often can't find the music I want in my local record shops, so therefore its easiest to find it on the internet.
 
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