subscribeBest articles on piracy I’ve ever seen
April 3rd, 2008Andrew Dubber has just written the best article on piracy for musicians, called “Should I be worried about piracy?”
The other best article about piracy in general is “Piracy is Progressive Taxation, and Other Thoughts on the Evolution of Online Distribution” by Tim O’Reilly, which is the origin of the idea that the real enemy is obscurity, not piracy.
Actually, the New Music Strategies blog is really on a roll, lately. Check out these new articles:
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Wow! thanks. I had not heard of this blog page yet. I just added it to favorites.
I read Andrews article. The part about: The overwhelming cry from the independent musician twenty years ago was ‘How can I just get my music out there?’ Problem solved. Now what are you going to do?
Pretty much sums it up.
My answer: Turn people into fans who WANT to buy my music.
I also liked the distinction made between Piracy and Unauthorized copying.
April 5th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Derek;
Tim O’Reilly’s article is great! New insights.
Thank you for posting the link!
Peter
April 6th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Good thoughts.
I put up something called “Pirates Are Future Customers” a few months ago after seeing some thoughts on the subject. Got some interesting comments…
http://www.musicmarketing.com/2007/05/pirates_are_fut.html for that.
I’ve run into some funny opinions on this from music industry people. Had a major label guy on Music Business Radio come in with a new artist to plug, but he didn’t want to play the record, which was going to be released in a couple of weeks. Maybe there was something to the promotion plan, but he told me he didn’t want it getting leaked.
That was funny to me, since he’s going to come back to radio in a couple of weeks with a lot of payola and promotion money, trying to get spins.
April 8th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Derek - cool article! You should check out a book called “A Pirate’s Dilemma” by Matt Mason. He does a GREAT job of talking about not just the history of piracy but how we as business people should deal with it. You’d love it!
April 10th, 2008 at 1:51 am
Andrew Dubber’s blog is really awesome, he is so on the ball when it comes to the new environment of music. He even gives out a free e-book with 20 tips which is very highly recommended for any musicians, go get it now!
April 27th, 2008 at 1:40 am
Hey, Derek.
Again I agree with you. Case and point: Prior to reading anything regarding piracy I had to make a decision regarding “additional distribution” on CDBaby. I gave it some thought, because some of that distribution might include my music being given away for free. I came to the conclusion that it would be okay. 2 reasons: 1st, I figure the free distribution and/or piracy would only represent a small percentage of “lost revenue”, and 2nd, I secretly hope that at least one song gets substantial recognition in some form or fashion. The more exposure, the better chance of a lucky break. I want my music to mean something to someone. I don’t care how that happens.
Reading the info you provide affirms my thought process.
April 27th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Thanks for such an informative blog.
You’ve been thinking, reaaaaaaally thinking : )
April 27th, 2008 at 6:03 am
I will perfom the same !!!
Marco Rosadoni
April 27th, 2008 at 7:10 am
Most folks in their mid fifties (like me) are busy 8-10 hours daily for 5 days with a job. That leaves sleep time and some lesser time for songwriting and performing and attending to car repairs, paying bills, etc. .
So most folks are not willing to risk their child’s welfare and their marriage to be a musician or songwriter. But doing it part time is possible and that is what I do. And it revealed that I have something unusual: An ability to create ‘radio length’ songs in different genres that grab attention form an audience and are lyrically well crafted as well as melodically comfortable yet fresh. To my knowledge, I am the only person creating ‘Dog Songs’ that celebrate the unique relationship between humans and dogs. That is my niche market and the existence of PetSmart and PetCo and the thousands of dog trainers and authors bears out that it is a BIG market. So I took what I love and revere (dogs) and what I dig (short songs that are catchy, but sophisticated) and combined them.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:25 am
That initial comment about the marathon runner reminds me of the well-worn phrase ‘that which does not kill me makes me stronger…’.
It’s not true but it sounds so good! A crippling disease does not make us stronger: it leaves us crippled.
A marathon runner who pushed himself to near exhaustion makes his choice. If he pushes too far he either collapses and is rescued …or he dies. My view is that athletic performance is a great thrill for the rock climber, stunt driver, etc. but very painful for those left behind when a family member has died because he would not moderate his life and devote his energy and influence toward something outside his own performance and athleticism.
April 27th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I think you should work towards creating an on-line community of musicians who can communicate with each other and support each other. I have found Vox.com to be of real benefit.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
hi derek, i am sorry that don,t quite understand all those difficult english written by you fully. but i do got an idea what you have done and what you try to do are amazing and no anybody can follow. its interesting to learn something from you.
thank you for sending me all these articles. —wing
April 28th, 2008 at 2:42 am
Hands down the enemy is OBSCURITY. PERIOD. How can anyone have an interest in something that they’re not even aware of? In my day job of the last 15 years up until 2001 I represented a TON of artists at the retail level (Tower,Virgin, Wherehouse, mom & pop stores, all R.I.P.) many, many of them unable to achieve the success the desired because of their obscurity to the public. In many cases if the public were exposed to these artists their careers would have benefited greatly and the public would have benefited by enjoying a wider spectrum of popular music. There’s SO much great music out there that traditionally never stood a chance of success from the old business model that the Music Business operated on. I have great hope for the internet and it’s possibilities. It a brave new world out there my fellow musicians and we’re all explorers out there charting new routes for our work.
Things can only get better the more we move forward.