Ears Fears
All over the gaff, from all angles, there’s a lot of chit chat (veering into shit chat) on the topic of illegal downloading, or piracy for those of us who like to paint it as a glamorous past-time. Arr! I be sticking it to The Man!
And, obviously, there are differing schools of thought to the whole malarkey. There are those of us that call it a victimless crime. There are others who think it natural progression, and still others who call it Proper Order. There are poor souls who frown and furrow, and claim to appreciate both bubbling elements of the turgid stew of this particular debate – mostly pleasant, hand-wringing types who know that stealing is wrong, but also, deep within their bones, that free stuff is good. And obviously there are those of us who vehemently believe that illegal downloading and file-sharing is wrong – morally, ethically, and judicially – and these people tend to be members of that minuscule smidge who’ve made money out of the Music Business. Morally, ethically, judicially, and financially; piracy is A Crime.
Which is something I’d normally agree with. Taking things that don’t belong to you is Bold. Taking things that other people have created without rewarding them is Very Bold. But being forced into sourcing decent music from shady online places because you’re not all that into Girls Aloud and you’re sick of being expected to put up with their bland, soulless warbling because the alternatives don’t have careers in Heat Magazine is … well, surely not all that fucking remarkable, is it?
I hate radio playlists. I fucking hate them. Coldplay do nothing for me. Glen Hansard will always be Outspan Foster. Beyonce sounds like a burglar alarm. The Black Eyed Peas are monstrous, monstrous cunts. I get my music recommendations through friends, blogs and LastFM, and that’s a minefield enough, thank ye very kindly – constantly terrified of being aurally shat-upon by some fucking emo twat with more eyeliner than mortal fear of my particular brand of vengeance.
“That’s all well and good,” you might venture from behind a makeshift corrugated iron shield, “but can you not, when you find something pleasing to your lugs, legally and safely procure same from a licensed merchant such as HMV or Play.com, whose warehouses are spacious and whose stockpiles are varied?” And to you I say, codswallop! Some of my favourite artists are banjaxed by being big in obscure places like Canada, and are unavailable from Play, or iTunes, or my local record shop which only sells Sonny Knowles boxsets and T-shirts with Iron Maiden on. LastFM, from where I may have dragged these artists, is suffocated by record label rules and absurdities, and does not usually have full catalogues uploaded, and cannot play the same artist more than once every twelve fucking years. Or something. So, if you don’t care for the warblings of the last X-Factor winner, or Cascada’s torturous approximations of electronica, can you really go a whole, saintly lifetime without nibbling a little on this slightly-poisoned apple?
The choice of music that is easily available to us, that doesn’t require an open mind and a laid back attitude to sifting through shite, is fucking atrocious. The artists being promoted are those who don’t need promotion, who’ve been primed and pimped well before they lay a hand on a microphone. They tend towards lyrics delivered by mallet blow, catchiness pre-set by market research. No fucking thanks, mate. Promising bands are dropped by record labels because the front man hadn’t shagged anyone interesting enough for a press release. Useless cunts are favoured because they have hairless knees and glossy, fake teeth. Songs are fiercely guarded for fear anyone would listen to them without crossing the greasy palm with silver. The Music Industry (and how I loathe that term) needs obliteration like I need a strong cuppa and a tayto sandwich.
See, now we’ve got new genres popping up faster than Calum Best in a room full of roofied models. Anything left unattended for longer than Jordan’s attention span is re-imagined, remixed and re-packaged for anyone who’ll listen. In the information age, people no longer rely on Dave Fanning to tell them what their favourite Radiohead song is. The album is dead. The CD is dead. Michael Jackson is dead. What good can possibly come of moaning about how easily sound is stolen, how close to their knees the amalgamated record labels? The rest of us don’t give a fuck. Surely people would rather see bands out their playing and performing, than in L’Oreal ads barking about mineral foundation?
There is excitement in finding a new artist, and texting your mates about them. There is delight when noticing that a band has made their album free to download from their website. There is something close to a party-in-your-pants when you see your favourite oddball minstrels are booked to play in your local venue. There is genuine goodwill out there towards the musicians …
… and none, absolutely fucking none, for the people who keep dragging Britney “Decrepit” Spears back into the limelight.
Yeah, share the wealth. Tell your mates. Go to gigs! Burn playlists for your girlfriend. Copy your favourite alt-country album for yer mam to see if she can be swayed from the arms of Johnny McAvoy. Share, share, share … isn’t music for loving?
Libraries didn’t do literature any harm, did they (certainly less harm than J.K. Rowling did, anyway)?
So, er, yeah. Proper Order.
(So’s this, though.)
I wondered, Sweary, how you were going to wade into this one when you used the foreshadowing technique (one of those real writer three quarter inch wrenches) awhile back to let us know the subject was on the docket. As a composer, my timing is bad. Composers were some of the few that made a nickel back in the record industry heyday. With the industry on its knees as you say (I might add while being lost with a bad case of amnesia), most of the bread-winning is accomplished via live performances. My live performance days are diminished while I like to think I may still channel some memorable sounds–so I am not excited about folks ripping off the results. It will be interesting what the “industry” looks like in a few years. Your analogy of the public library is insightful. I’m hoping someone come us with a reasonable (and realistic) compromise that both enables sharing–and compensates the musician. (I often listen to Britney while I’m reading Harry Potter!)
Some of the best ‘toons’ are the ones you hear when they are performed live before you on a Sunday lunchtime in your local bar, or at your cousins wedding / wake / barmitzvah… So to hell with the playlists and the pretentious arses crying about piracy and the like.
I’ve been known to sing a song masel when the pipes are wet fae a wee drink or two, and if some bastid wants to rip me arf then so be it.
… and yes I’ll have another pint.
Pay for music? What kind of fantasy is that!
I used to buy albums, albeit slowly, especially with no part time job under my belt ever in my 21 years of life.
Then we got broadband, and i haven’t really looked back since.
Okay so i “sometimes” buy new albums in their hard copy form if i can’t pirate them, but that’s rare if it’s popular or well known enough to be in stores in the first place.
But i love music. Music is an essential part of my life. Hell A LOT of people are constantly jacked in to their music collection. We wouldn’t have it any other way!
If i want to stroll down the street mouthing along to some rare b-side of a unsigned now defunct band who i had to pirate of their myspace just to enjoy then i will!
If i want to bounce around joyously to some obscure “big in canada” band who i would happily pay for if they ever visited europe i would.
Feck the industry. If i want to enjoy music i will do it with or without a monitary process.
If i hear of an artist i will check youtube, if they’re smaller than that, their myspace, if even still i can’t find them i will look for them on a bit torrent.
Either way if i want an artist i will download their music. It’s so much easier. It has a more personal taste feel to it.
To find what you like and not be dictated by popularity or trends.
Well that part is slightly wrong, several currently popular artists are in my playlist, but i had them first! Or earlier than everyone else, and for the most part no-one knew about them until they were popular.
It’s funny to see people catching up with music you’ve loved for ages, always a good larf indeed.
MUSIC FOR THE MASES!
I do wonder how one is supposed to legally obtain obscure remixes, for example, if one is a DJ. Not that I am one.
Thing is, Hugo, I’d be happy enough to be given a choice on which choons to legally obtain … problem is, the only readily available ones are those sure-fire, pointlessly bland “hits” that give my ears the measles.
I find myself paying for songs from up-and-coming Irish bands, more than anything else. And of course they’re the ones I’m most likely to see live, too. How the hell do I support obscure or up-and-coming artists from outside Ireland if I can’t buy their music legally and can’t see them in concert? Promote them by copying their music for friends who I think will enjoy them too? Spread the word? “Spreading the word” isn’t something that immediately clinks in an artist’s pocket.
“I’m hoping someone come us with a reasonable (and realistic) compromise that both enables sharing–and compensates the musician.”
This is the ideal, isn’t it? I’m not bright enough to figure out what it is, though. And Songwraith raises a good point; if the future is in live performances, where does that leave the composer, or those tech geniuses who work behind the scenes?
And no more pints for you, Mr. Bastard, at least not until we hear another of your impromptu cover versions of Doncha Wish Yer Ould Doll Was Hawt Like Me?
How did you get Nero to pose in Minimee’s pirate costume?
I find most of my obscure DJ stuff at Beatport.com – although you won’t find many commercial remixes, ala Britney’s latest vomit-inducing tripe, remixed by Bob ‘I love money’ Sinclar.
It’s a steeper price in comparison to iTunes though.
Dan
Holy Christ how did you know about me singing away to that particular ditty? Can a man have no secrets for feck sake?
I remember when Bob Sinclair was cool.
And Jimmy, no. I spend most of my time clasping my binoculars up that tree outside your house.
I skipped everyone else’comments on the assumption that my opinion is much more important. Listen to Babylon Circus, French Reggae Ska madness.
Now, back to crushing the downtrodden. Tra la la, la la…..
“I’m hoping someone come us with a reasonable (and realistic) compromise that both enables sharing–and compensates the musician.”
Don’t worry, Trent Reznor’s on the case.
Now then: Black Eyed Peas. They do that one about how it’s allegedly going to be a Good, Good Night, yeah? I guarantee that no one who taps their foot to that atrocity has ever managed to be even slightly remotely close to nearly being fun to be around. Not even accidentally.
Here!! Here!!… or considering the topic hear! hear!
I agree with all of you!!! damn commercial music wasteland
Living in SoCal it’s all top 40 and hip-hop. Even the “alternative” stations are owned by Clear Channel and have a limited playlist. There is ONE decent show, “Big Sonic Chill” late nights on 94.5 FM that plays what is considered edgy here but is old hat in UK and Europe, i.e Massive Attack, Faithless, Sigur Ros. Instead I listen to various Euro-based channels and download shite from the internet.
You once mentioned Yoav in a blog post and I damn near fell over… only because NO-one I know here has heard of him. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “Wow you’ve got such DIFFERENT music!” because I’m 45 and don’t listen to smooth jazz or Top 40.
Yea.. different as in good!!
Faithless is considered edgy?! God help us all!
I know, sad isn’t it?? They’ve only been around ages and a day but what else to expect in the land of Kelly Clarkson and Black Eyed Peas?
Leaving Sunday for a birthday trip London and Amsterdam where I plan to spend a fortnight dancing my arse off to some proper club music instead of that hip-hop shite that’s played here. I cannot wait!! Any leads where to go would be most welcome.