The RIAA and Illegal Downloading

Good points.  Further, just how many times are we supposed to purchase an album? The technology has gone from LP (vinyl) to 8-track tapes to cassette tapes to CDs.  And each required a new purchase of the very same material.

So, at what point do you say, "ENOUGH! I have bought this album five times already!"?

Great point NA! Many libraries even have CD's you can check out FOR FREE and copy at home at your own leisure. Why no outcry?

I used to work in this place across the street from a record store. We played our favorite CD's all day, despite this being technically illegal (you're supposed to license the rights from BMI to play recorded music in a public place). Anyway, I can't count how many times our customers said, "wow what band is this? I like it!" and then they'd go straight across the street and buy that very album. They never would have heard of it if we weren't playing it "illegally" and the record companies would have never had those sales.

The fools only see the loss for that one pirated CD, and never realize that maybe 10 people had a chance to hear it and went out to get the album (or download it or whatever) that NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED if it weren't for file sharing or what have you.

I think they call it "not seeing the forest for the trees" or "throwing out the baby with the bathwater" or "UNMITIGATED STUPIDITY!"

My stance is strong and well known here.
Friggin POS vultures

Originally posted by MrTim Illegal downloading is nothing compared to the batsh*t craziness going on in the UK over "illegal listening". (It's a long read, but worth it.)  Don't think it won't eventually happen here.... http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=599&PN=1&SID=a2feecf5b9d2df13z424b5fdd96db8b4

Unbelievable.

Screw those SOBs.  They make millions a year, & yet they have the nerve to push around the "little people" for downloading??  They can take that viewpoint, roll it into the shape of their choice, and firmly plug it up theirs.  Bastards.

Originally posted by Jimbo How unbelievably greedy can they get?????

Don't forget that the besieged record executives have to pay out, like, a whole two cents on every dollar to the musicians and artists who actually write and perform the music. I mean, we all have a civic duty to make the rich super-rich, don't we?

Originally posted by mutebuttoner The fools only see the loss for that one pirated CD, and never realize that maybe 10 people had a chance to hear it and went out to get the album (or download it or whatever) that NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED if it weren't for file sharing or what have you.

True.  They do not look at the big picture. 

Yay! I use BitTorrent! SUCK IT RIAA

It was the music industry's choice to hold on to the 20th century, and never let go with their outdated practices. As boneheaded as the music industry is, at least they don't put 'anti piracy' audio propaganda at the beginning of music CD's.

I still don't see what's wrong with DLing a CD. No one really uses money, it's just propaganda used to make people feel guilty...

I do blame Metallica for most of this.
It was a main reason to cut them loose years ago.

Originally posted by MorganFreeman Metallica pffffffffffffffff. Where the Angel of Overdue Band Breakups when you need him? Also, I agree with any and all sentiments that Lars Ulrich is an overrated piece of crybaby trash who's quite lucky people like me have chosen not to hunt him for sport. Or at least force him to listen to his own drumming on the St. Anger album repeatedly. "Oh god stop! I'm sorry! You can download anything you want, just turn this nightmare off!!! Was this mixed in a trash can?!?! Oh the humanity!!!"

And the most insulting part is their product is crap.   Many artists are crap due to the "loudness war".   Somewhere along the line it was decided that LOUDER = BETTER.   So the artists respond by mastering the hell out of it until it sounds like ass.   So that DOUCHE wants us to buy his crappy, loud, over-mastered album?  I think not!!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/sep/17/metallica.guitar.hero.loudness.war

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122228767729272339.html#project%3DMETALLICA0809