Dear Music Lover............I Have to Ask
Thursday, August 5, 2010
I have thought many times about this and have always put it back in the “blog about it later” category. Today I’m pulling it out and I want to know what and how you feel about it.
Several weeks ago I participated in a blogfest where I was to include songs that best describe my life, a soundtrack. I had the utmost fun participating and had no problem with the songs I chose, basically because I own every song I included. Now pulling from the “blog about it later” category I have to ask, “Is music really free?”
When we download from a free music site are we really stealing? Do artist’s get a cut for the musical download or just getting free air time? I’m not sure I agree with free music sites because they do not disclose (or I cannot find it) how the artist is compensated.
I remember watching a PBS special on the blues and how many, many blues artist died in poverty. Some due to bad habits, some because they could not manage money but mostly because they were never really compensated for their creativity. It just did not seem right to me.
I think about all our words out there and how we hate the fact anyone can steal our thoughts, is it not the same with music? I guess this is why when I made my song selection I was very conscious to select songs I actually owned. I could just have easily uploaded the songs but the fact remained I had purchased them.
Just a pet peeve of mine but I feel all artists’ should be given credit or compensated in some fashion. So I ask you, have I missed something? Is music really free or are the artists' the one paying the price?
I mean no harm by asking these questions and I do not mean to upset anyone. I’m just curious as to how creativity is rewarded when we throw it out in cyberspace.
Chime in and let me know what I have missed or do not understand. Educate me.
Sincerely,
One Music Lover to Another
(Photo Courtesy of: ARTSGAL12 on Photobucket)
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10 comments:
I think rtists are entitles to compensation for their work. I'd be really upset if someone was receiving free downloads of my book. I worked too hard to give it away for free. And c'mon you eFreeloaders out there ... $4.99 isn't that much money to part with.
Stephen Tremp
I think that paying for music is important. you'd pay to go to an event to hear it live so why wouldn't you pay to own it. I have been guilty of steeling music, but that was way back at the beginning. I've learned a lot since then. besides music sales to musicians are log comments to bloggers - it tells them they're music is appreciated
As one who owns thousands of recordings in various formats--recordings that I have purchased--I definitely lean toward paying for music. I have used the "playlist" sites and YouTube for some of my blog posts, but I don't really know much about how those work. I don't download any music otherwise because I don't know that works either and I don't have anything like an Ipod and I don't like downloading things like that onto my computer.
I have made "mixtapes" for friends, but I don't feel badly about that as I have merely tried to introduce music that I really appreciated, but knew they were unlikely to buy on their own. It has sometimes resulted in a friend going on to purchase an artists album. But if somebody wasn't going to buy an album anyway, giving them a free song sample is me trying to promote an artist.
We should all respect the creations of artists and give them their rightful financial due if we are going to enjoy their works and want them to continue to be able to create.
Lee
Tossing It Out
That's why Napster was shut down- free downloads meant no income for the artists. Sometimes an artist will ofer a free download on their site. I'm careful where Iget my music.
Yes, free is not really free. Having said that, I have a playlist at myspace.com that I listen to online. Do the artists get compensated by myspace? Probably not. That kinda sucks.
I also listen to tunes on aolradio.com. Or other online radio stations. If their tunes are played on a regular radio station and the artist is registered with BMI or hmm, what was the other one?, they get paid. Don't know how that works with online radio.
If I download, I pay. But I do put youtube clips on my blog with a link back to youtube. Hopefully they're taking care of the $$ on their end.
~ that rebel, Olivia
I am so happy to learn we all think a like. I was worried about upsetting someone but it seems we all feel the same way.
Thank you for all the input :D
I am so glad to know that there are people who still have integrity. That we still are good honest people with morals and want everyone to get what is due him because that is how we want to be treated. Praise God, The Golden Rule is still going on.
It is funny you bring this up. My students had suggested I download my music from one of these "free" sites.
However, the artist is not compensated for the music and by downloading, you agree to "share" files. I had to have someone explain this to me. So "sharing" is essentially allowing others access to your music files so that they can download the music for free. This made me very uncomfortable.
I really don't recommend getting music this way. Buy the CD or a reputable music website.
They deserve to be compensated, for their creativity. Great point; I think boundaries are being crossed.
As I contunually have music on my blog, I only play music and records I have bought over the years. Most artistes are aware of these sites otherwise they wouldn't exist.
I wrote a particular poem a few weeks ago only to find most of it on facebook so I sent a private message saying that on my blog there is a copyright notice and not to be copied unless it had my permission.
I can see where you're going to but as for the music I know of one artist who enjoys their songs being played the way I do.
Yvonne.
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