downloading rant - warning it's large!

[AngelBoy]

And what if your not putting the music you have up for downloading? How does that equal 750$?

[Eric Cartman]

Another thing to note is that this is the same argument the music industry used against FM radio. That it would "destroy" the industry and must be stopped.

Yes and the same was said about blank cassettes. Downloading is very different though as there is usaully a much better quality of recording available. Anything taped from the radio or those cassettes that you used to "high speed dub" back in the day sounded pretty much like crap. You also had to know someone who had the original to make a copy from it. If you copied from a copy, it just got worse with each generation. Digital files offer much better quality and the internet makes them available to anyone anywhere as long as they have an internet connection, so that makes it much more of a threat.

And what if your not putting the music you have up for downloading? How does that equal 750$?

As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't. But people know that this is what's happening. If they still go ahead and take the risk, they shouldn't complain when they get busted.

People haven't had too much to say about legitimate legal downloading. If Legitimate download services get up and running, will any of you consider using them?

I know people are ticked off at RIAA, but how would you feel about having your computer screwed up by a virus that you downlaoded from Kazaa etc.? I doubt that any of the big record companies would go this route, but would you be outraged, or would you say "well that sucks, but I knew the risk."

Just curious.

[AngelBoy]

Then what would they do to someone who just downloads them and doesnt share them?

And I would use a legal way of downloading songs, as long as it is just as easy to get them as it is to get them off Kazaa. Im not gonna spend an hour just to download one song.

[ShooterJM]

Originally posted by Eric Cartman
People haven't had too much to say about legitimate legal downloading. If Legitimate download services get up and running, will any of you consider using them?

I know people are ticked off at RIAA, but how would you feel about having your computer screwed up by a virus that you downlaoded from Kazaa etc.? I doubt that any of the big record companies would go this route, but would yoyu be outrged, or would you say "well that sucks, but I knew the risk."

Just curious.

Well, actually I don't download illegal MP3's. But if there were a reasonably priced, legit service, I'd check it out. But it'd have to be user friendly. I'd have to be able to download it quickly, pay quickly and be able to transfer the purchased mp3 to any of my computers or mp3 devices without any issues.

If I download a song it's because I have purchased the use of it on CD. If a company destroyed my computer I would press a civil suit and probably try to arrange it as a class action.

In fact the RIAA already owes me money. I've had at LEAST 50 cds that have become too scratched or broken to work properly. So figure 50 cds, 12 songs each, 750 per song....
the RIAA owes me around 450K for loss of use.

[Eric Cartman]

Then what would they do to someone who just downloads them and doesnt share them?

Good question. I'm not sure about this, but I think they're going after the people who do make the copyrighted material available for download, not so much the people who downlaod it. Don't quote me on that though. As I said before, we here in Canada have nothng to do with the RIAA suits. We've got CRIA up here and I doubt they've got the resources to start the kind of legal campaign that RIAA has.

But if there were a reasonably priced, legit service, I'd check it out. But it'd have to be user friendly. I'd have to be able to download it quickly, pay quickly and be able to transfer the purchased mp3 to any of my computers or mp3 devices without any issues

I completely agree. That is most definitely what the industry is aiming for. I haven't spoken with anyone who has used the new apple service, but I understand it's pretty good. The industry understands very well that they have to do this right or people will just ignore it and continue the piracy.

In fact the RIAA already owes me money. I've had at LEAST 50 cds that have become too scratched or broken to work properly. So figure 50 cds, 12 songs each, 750 per song....

Stop using them as beer coasters bud! LOL. Good luck with your lawsuit! I'm sure we'll all be interested to hear how it turns out
As far as destroying your computer goes, it would be just as challenging to track down where the virus came from as it is to track down everyone who downloads. It would probably not even be from anyone in the industry, as I'm sure that they know they would be leaving themselves open to way too much legal action, but what about people who are just general **** disturbers planting viruses just for the fun of it?

[gamarada717]

I download to see if the cd is any good. There are only about 10 cds that I care for really. I have those cds, because I can listen to them nonstop. There isn't a single system of a down song that I don't enjoy. Same with AFI, All American Rejects, and Presidents of the USA. These are what I call perfect cds. Bands and singers are the ones who started this problem. They think that, "If I make one awesome song, they'll buy my cd. The rest of the songs just fill up the cd." Eventually, people learned that they are doing this. I only stay faithful to bands that I enjoy. I download the hit songs because I dont want to have to waste my time with other songs. The RIAA are insane. These charges are crazy. They're are ruining peoples lives probably. It's pointless anyways...you can't stop things on the internet. No matter what, there will always be music sharing.

[FutureMagOwner]

meh thats why i like tool i could listen to any of their cds in their entirety if the average song wasnt 10 minutes long lol. o and manyard is scary sometimes lol(like their music videos..... the some songs make sense and a couple only sorta then i watch the music video and im like what on earth.....)


i could see myself using a service like that my brother however i dont think he would because hes a preppy turd burglar and likes rap and rock and country and all these stupid non-sensible neo-moronic artists and downloads like 500 songs.

the only time i use kazaa lite is for a song like liam lynch's song united states of whatever and a pay per song download service would rock. i would like to see it like this... you make an account with your credit card or mothers or whatever and everytime you download a song you have to input a password(for people like my brother so my mom can stop him from downloading 80000000000000000 songs) and keep a record of what you download so you can download it again in case you delete it or something(which i do alot i listen to a song for a week get tired of it delete it then redownload it again a month later or so). also over time as you download songs you get free downloads or if they noticed you download alot of x bands CD they will mail you a free copy of their newest cd or let you download it for free.

the thing is you cant charge too much for per a song like a dollar is too much in my opinion(which on a cd now is about $2 a song or so on average)

[Duke Henry]

I can't sit here and argue why sales are down across the country, or across the continent since there have been no sociological/economic studies that have been done that explore WHY, instead of just chalking it up to file sharing. However, I can say why I rarely purchase CD's, and it is mighty simple: most albums that are released aren't worth buying.

Now, I will admit that I did recently (in the past 5 months) buy 4 CD's. 1 was from Finger Eleven, whom I really enjoy listening to and so I didn't NEED to download their songs to convince myself to buy their album. I bought it because of their previous track record and was reinforced when I was able to get the album a week before release, and I enjoyed listening to it.

Another CD that I purchased was the new 3 Doors Down CD. Now, I wasn't going to buy this album since I am not a huge 3DD fan. However, after downloading the album - I grew to like it and went out and bought it.

The 3rd CD was by Hoobastank, a band that I only heard one song from (you know, the Mountain Dew song - Crawling in the Dark) - and it was awesome! Went out and bought it within days.

The 4th CD, well - I really can't remember what CD it was but again I downloaded it and then purchased it after. It enabled me to get 4 good buys.

Now, previous albums I bought (years ago before filesharing was popular, i.e. pre-Napster): over 80% were terrible buys. Why? Because the album had 1 good song, and the rest was crap. I remember buying an album from Better than Ezra (yes, this was a long time ago), and it was TERRIBLE. I ended up selling it to a friend for a slurpee.

If the record industry wants to cut costs, they should consider cutting back on the MILLIONS they spend on promoting bands that are already OVER-THE-TOP popular, and spend a little more on the bands that get no coverage. Of course, this is a upper management decision, and I doubt will ever change, unless the record industry continues to take huge hits.

Anyway, my point is this: if you can get the record industry to allow for people to sample songs BEFORE paying the buck to have a copy on their own machine, I believe they could succeed. I know I would gladly pay a buck to get a song without having to drive and pick up a CD. However, if you can download the song for a buck, what is stopping you from sharing this downloaded file with others?

[AngelBoy]

Originally posted by Duke Henry
I ended up selling it to a friend for a slurpee.

Thats funny, lol.


But thanks for sharing with us Eric Cartman, its nice to hear the other point of view on this.

[RRfireblade]

That's all way to much to read....

My feeling,
Sorry but that's the future of ALL info so get ready.Eventually all data,music,info and what ever will be a direct download(PC or other), either way people in the "record business" are on a short rope.How short? I don't know,but shorter than I'm on at my job.

Jay.

[Duke Henry]

Originally posted by AngelBoy


Thats funny, lol.

I should note that he originally tried to trade me for a small, crappy slurpee. I haggled him up to an extra large - keep the cup for another refill size!

[Star_Base_CGI]

Well at least you have a nice, job, house, kids, car, wife, and healthcare.

Dont belive everything your employeer tells you. Im sure he gets a nice bonus.

Why do CDs cost more than tapes?

A CD only costs 25 cents?

WHy do they sell for $20. Oh well were not allowed to have music. If we want music we should go buy it.

[FutureMagOwner]

Originally posted by Star_Base_CGI
Why do CDs cost more than tapes?

A CD only costs 25 cents?

WHy do they sell for $20. Oh well were not allowed to have music. If we want music we should go buy it.

cds are harder to produce

the 25 cent or whatever they say is the stupidest thing going around i have ever heard. that cd also has a case you have to pay the muscian, the artist who makes the cover, you have to cover all the costs to get that cd to a store then the store has to make a profit then there are taxes.

yes his boss probably makes more then him..... name ANY business on this size where the boss doesnt make more the the subordinate. fact is you need people to manage the workers and if you cant sell enough stuff you get less workers because it takes the same amount of people to manage.

[Vegeta]

Well I could go on for hours about media sharing and the benifits to humanity and technology that it could behold.... but I wont...

What I will say is.. I have been downloading (not realy sharing, I don't allow uploads on my mahcine becasue of tight bandwidth... I'm greedy) songs for years now... and I do not buy any fewer CD's now than I used to.

I mainly download HARD TO FIND mp3's... things like old jazz songs by artists I like, and comedy sketches, and soundtrack stuff, songs and audio that isn't availible in normal stores.....

I don't think I am really ripping anyone off here. And does the RIAA control all CD media? there are other recording labels.. what If I download only non-RIAA liscensed music? they can't do anything to me then.

I really like the new ideas like Apple's iTunes... problem is they don't have the exotic and hard to find songs like I want. And I'm guessing that those services offer pretty high bitrate files (320kbps ~ CD quality...) but what if I am on 56k and want lower bitrates? do they charge less money for lower bitrate? do they even have lower bitrates? my point exactly. I normally DL 196kbps mp3's. They are usually fitting to my narrowband connection. But I will not signup for a service that only offers a limited number of songs and only at a set bitrate... that will take me hours to DL one song.


And popular artists sell millions of copies per CD. THe CD costs on average 20$. Let's break that 20$ down:

$.30 ~ CD and the image on the CD.
$.80 ~ the jewel case
$1.00 ~ the booklet and all printing in the jewel case
__________

that is only $2.10. estimeted. It could be 3$ even.. but hte fact is there is still $17 for profit....

sure they need money for recording costs, but that will be payed off with the first 50,000 copies sold. The rest is pretty much profit. They could drop the price by 5-8$ and still make plenty of profit.

My favorite group is the Dave Matthews Band. I have BOUGHT all of their albums. I haev also downloaded a few of their hard to find, not on CD recordings. I will pay $20 for one of their CD's. But that is only because I will KNOW that I will like every single song on there.

Crap artists today may release a CD that only has 1 or 2 songs you really even know or like on them. That is why subscribtion download serivces should come in. Download one or two songs from the album you like for 80 cents a peice and there you go.

I would easily pay 80 cents for a good mp3. I would not want the file in some sort of restriced play format though. I bought it, I want to be able to play it on whatever I want. If I DL a DMB song, i want to be able to put it on a DMB CD-R with my other DMB DLed songs.. and I also want to be able to put it on another mix CD.. etc... nrestrictions people will not go for.


That is my thinking.

[Python14]

I buy CDs because I want to support the bands and all the people who make it possible for me to listen to them any time I want.

I used to download music, but once it sunk in, I realized I was doing nothing more than copying someones art, and enjoying it for free, leaving the artist with his original art, and nothing to show for it.

I don't care if I only like one song on a CD, it's worth the $20 to me.

Music industry is just that, industry. Industry runs on money. If you want to use your "they already have money" arguement, go ahead. That arguement holds as much water as a fishing net.