RE: <nettime> Terror in Tune Town

[Eric Miller <eric@OAKTREE.com>]

hi all:

re: the ongoing debate about MP3.com, Napster, and the decentralization of
distribution and freedom of intellectual property... 

Everyone likes the idea of stiffing the fat cats at the top of the
distribution pyramid.  To wit, from this article: "Whats at issue in this
case is whether the people in collective control of the American
infotainment industry will continue to wallow in the King Farouk lifestyle
to which their oligopolistic control over the medias distribution systems
have accustomed them."  Sure, agreed.  No one disputes the inequities
inherent in the present system. 

But what about the artists? 

Who, after all, really gets screwed when no one is able to make a living
from their art?  The lawyers and MBAs who run the record companies won't
have a problem getting another job.  But the musicians and performing
artists will see a hard living become even harder when a primary source of
support is removed via widespread theft. 

Indirectly, the celebration over the liberation of artistic intellectual
property functions to legitimize theft.  Because what Napster does is
theft.  You are taking an artist's commodity/product and not compensating
them for it.  And the argument that Napster represents an alternative
distribution channel is weak at best.  First, you don't earn money from
it.  Second, you have to spend money to promote your work so that it
doesn't get lost in the tens of thousands of other works out there. 
Third, everyone is refusing to accept any format/plan that involves
payment.  So it's a lose/lose/lose prospect for the artist in the long
run.  Even if you get artistic exposure or publicity from the Web, you
still don't have any viable way to support yourself. 

Fine, screw the record companies.  They've force-fed us banality and dreck
for way too long, while making a killing doing it.  But we have to stop
pretending that every artist is like Metallica and already making
millions.  The vast majority are struggling to make their voices heard,
and we aren't doing them any favors by removing their ability to make a
living doing it. 

Eric

| Eric Miller 
| Senior Designer/New Media 
| OakTree.com Web Technology and Development
| 503.517.3800

-----Original Message-----
From: McKenzie Wark [mailto:mwark@laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au]
Terror in Tune-Town: Music Giants Flail Before Download Upstarts

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