How do YOU feel about your music being pirated?

[Quaternion]

Hi,

there's much fuzz going on at KvR about cracked software and how unethical it is to use it.

What about pirated music?

I have encountered some of my tracks for illegal download on the net, and I have mixed feelings about it.

On one hand, those illegal tracks from me that have been recorded from vinyl have poor quality. Furthermore I think that the target buyers for vinyl are DJs, and they can't substitute the real thing with mp3 (unless they use final scratch ), so I have no problem with that. Actually I think spreading those tracks could maybe help reach new people.

On the other hand, I also found illegal tracks that originate from CD compilations that licensed tracks from my vinyl releases, and these exhibit good quality as they are directly ripped from CD. Also the target audience in this case is not DJs, but "normal" consumers, and it bothers me that they can just get it for free.

I am making very little money with music, and I don't think this would change even if illegal mp3s were no longer available all of a sudden. Nevertheless I think it's unethical.

How do you feel about YOUR music being pirated?

[Peel]

I encourage it.

[shamann]

I think making money from recordings is a tough slog these days. Even if p2p song sharing didn't exist, there's so much recorded music available that those aiming at small markets are shut out of 95% of all distribution routes. The only folk I see making a reasonable amount of money from recordings outside of the major label contract game are those acts with loyal followings, the ones whose fans pay even when they could easily steal. Everybody else makes their money from gigs and merchandise.

Sure stealing sucks, but ethics shmethics. In the past five years look at how the major labels have used illegal downloads as a marketing gambit, hell they talk about it more than anybody else in sight, what with their guilt trips and excuses and blaming and finger wagging. Why do you think that is? Couldn't possibly be a way for them to make more money by convincing you how the law should work, rather than how it does in most places? Nah, couldn't be that.

I take a different view altogether. You can't steal a gift. If you want to make money from music, follow a path that is likely to make you money, use recordings as free promotional material, and give the finger to the "industry".

But that's just me, I generally have issues with everything being reduced to its role in commerce.

[Quaternion]

I encourage it.

Could you also elaborate why?

[Karma_tba]

If someone finds a way to put my music out there...even through piracy...it would be better than the obscurity it enjoys right now!!! If they are profiting from my music ....well they did the work of distributing it...I'm much too lazy to promote myself.

[bleebsen]

I'm actually not too worried about it. Here's why:

1. I think freedom of information is a great thing.
2. Music IS information.
3. Records-labels make money by controlling information-flow ("copyright").
4. Information flow cannot be controlled nowadays, unless you want a big-brother/know-all-see-all/data-worldpolice.

So unless we WANT that bigbrother scenario we have to give up the old concept of copyright.
I want to earn some money from my music, and I do, but freedom is the bigger good.

bleeb's 2 Eurocent

[lalo]

to me...more people who listen to my music...
is better..i don't care about it...i'm not madonna

yeah bleebsen....completely agree..exactly what i think

[Guckli]

To me the true pirates are the industry people. I'm happy my tracks are out there, I make my money doing shows anyway, since I flatly refuse to sign over rights to a company. Period.

[Innominandum]

My ultimate goal as a musician is: having people enjoy & understand my music as I do. As long as I eventually get rid of all my discs and make back my promotion expenses I am happy.

[Quaternion]

1. I think freedom of information is a great thing.
2. Music IS information.

Software IS information, too.
Can I use warez now without a bad conscience?

to me...more people who listen to my music...
is better..i don't care about it...i'm not madonna

That's your personal decision about your music and that has to be respected of course.

But hasn't pirating music in general to be considered as an unethical action?

[SynDrone]

I;m just currently going through this exact scenario. One of my tunes was pirated and used for a tv commercial. It appears that company has no knowledge and it's entirely the fault of the advertising agency.

Funny thing is I really wouldn't have wanted any money for them to use it but it would have been to have been asked. I've learned quite a bit about the current industry stance on copyright law and such. I'll legally pursue the problem as long as it remains financially viable. However, I'm prepared to let it go if I just get an apology

[dusted william]

I;m just currently going through this exact scenario. One of my tunes was pirated and used for a tv commercia

now that would piss me off!!

dw

[fjell_strom]

I am of the opinion that mp3 and software sharing is nothing more than a revolution of the people on an absolutely massive level. If you want to call it unethical - go ahead. Drinking booze was illegal in the U.S. eighty years ago.

Oh, and, I would be honored to have my music "pirated". So long as people remained aware of its origin.

[TVD]

I'm actually not too worried about it. Here's why:

1. I think freedom of information is a great thing.
2. Music IS information.
3. Records-labels make money by controlling information-flow ("copyright").
4. Information flow cannot be controlled nowadays, unless you want a big-brother/know-all-see-all/data-worldpolice.

So unless we WANT that bigbrother scenario we have to give up the old concept of copyright.
I want to earn some money from my music, and I do, but freedom is the bigger good.

bleeb's 2 Eurocent

[snooky]

meh, who cares...get 'em while they're hot!