Hello, and welcome, readers. This month we'll be looking at someone else's philosophy about the music industry. We'll examine it, turn it over topsy-turvy, and see if there is actually something valid in it. (There's always something valid in everything)
Last month we were looking at the music industry (i.e. commercial music) and basically seeing how it works. We were also seeing how the people who create music (the artists) don't really get a fair shake, and how they can be, or are, exploited.
To exploit someone, for any reason, for the sake of making a buck is really cheesy. So what can we do about it? Aren't the record companies holding all the cards?
Well, not exactly, according to the Free Music Philosophy, as prescribed to by a Mr. Ram Samudrala.
So what is this "Free Music Philosophy" ? Put simply, in Mr. Samudrala's own words:
"It is an anarchistic grass-roots, but high tech, system of distributing music; The idea is that creating, copying and distributing music must be as unrestricted as breathing air...""Free Music means that any individual has the freedom of copying pre-recorded music for personal, noncommercial use."
Well, that sounds pretty neat, I would personally like to see my music reach many, (and the right) people, but how can that happen? Three words: Technology, technology, technology.
In this wonderful age of the digital man, music can just be bits and bytes for a while, so that it can be stored, transferred, copied, and transmitted, digitally. Because the digital medium is one that can be decently handy, and is easily used by all computers, it is an ideal way for the distribution of music. Not only is it easy to send digital information anywhere, but the quality of the recording doesn't diminish!! (Anyone who's ever tried to dupe a cassette from a friend knows what I'm talking about: generation loss)
Now that we have a way to do get music around, lets look at a few of the pros and cons in this philosophy. First off, what are the legal issues to this philosophy? Isn't the copying of music illegal?
Well, no...first off, to make it illegal, (copying music, that is) music needs to be copywritten, and even then, according to the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992, if it's for noncommercial use, only, it doesn't matter.
Okay, what about the artists, the musicians who write the music? Will they not make any money if their music is spread around freely? Will people want to create music anymore, if they can't make any money off of it?
This is a bit more difficult to answer, we have to take this a step at a time. According to Mr. Samudrala, record sales, royalties, and concert ticket sales won't be affected, he says, in fact:
"If anything it will improve sales since people will continue supporting artists buy going to their concerts, and buying their music."
Well, there are a few problems with that statement. First of all, people this day and age won't shell out extra cash for something they can obtain for free, especially if it's easy. Do you ever remember a friend of yours asking you to let them tape an album that you just bought? Do you remember saying yes, and feeling annoyed about it, because your friend got the album for free, and you had to pay for it, cause you wanted it? I know I did..
Secondly, if I remember correctly, in order to put on a concert, you need a few things; 1) a place to perform...which is never free, if you're looking to make a profit from ticket sales. 2) a sound reinforcement system, which you need in order to let everyone hear you (hopefully it's a big place, so *a lot* of people come, but then you need a bigger system) this can also cost a slew of dough. 3) an audience! How could we forget that? In order to have an audience, you need to tell them when to be at the show...any way you look at it, that's gonna cost something too...
So, already, there's an overhead to your show, and there's also more costs, if you'd like to include transportation, etc, etc..Most local bands that I know of can't afford half of these, because either a) They don't have the money to pay for it all, or b) they aren't going to make enough that night to pay for it all...and that's assuming that the band doesn't want to make a profit...
Finally, when's the last time you heard of your favorite local band selling t-shirts at a gig, or a store? Admittedly, there are some, but those bands seem to be doing quite well in the land of profit. Also, bands sell their tapes/CD's etc, at shows, or, at least they *try* to. Do you know anyone, who pays for the price of admission, and then maybe a few drinks, and *then* buys a band's album, that night? Not really...it's hard enough to get people to sign their name to a mailing list.....The bottom line is, if you want to make a living as a musician, you need to make a few initial investments into your business...as always, it takes money, to make money.
Before we go, let's get a little philosophical about this. (after all, this is about the philosophy of music, right?) Music is about creativity, and creativity is something that should be natural, that is, it should come from a person's heart and mind...a heart and mind, untainted by the nonsense of material wealth. According to a psychological study, as reported on by The Boston Globe (Issue from Jan 19, 1987) creativity diminishes, if done for gain. Alfie Kohn writes;
"If a reward-money, awards, praise, or winning a contest- comes to be seen as the reason one is engaging in an activity, that activity will be viewed less enjoyable in its own right."
As we discussed in the last issue, this follows a view I referred to as the "Music Purist" view, which, in its own right, is no less valid than any other serious view. Music for the sake of music, would be nice, absolutely. Unfortunately, music, for the sake of making money, is the reality.
Does that mean that the artists today aren't giving us their full creative skills, simply because they don't enjoy it as much as they used to?
Well, it follows that people will be more likely to change their views on something, if their reasons for doing it are not totally pure. As Benjamin Franklin believed, public servants, such as politicians would be more likely to serve the people, if their own self interest (i.e. making money) was not an issue. If a person was financially wealthy, he had no need to be corrupting his thoughts with his own self-promotion, since he had already obtained it. Something similar goes for musicians; those artists, who have made a fortune in album sales, etc., seem to become more creative in their music, as it sometimes seems that some artists become so popular, that people will buy anything they do, even if it is no longer in the public view as "pop" music. Usually music, that is not pop music (since pop music seems to have a certain basic structure that needs to be followed, for it to ever become popular) seems to be more and more creative, and original. On the other hand, music that becomes overly "creative" is not always accepted by the masses. I suppose it is all a matter of why you are writing music, in the first place; for profit, or for creative expression.
Well, there you have it.....my opinion on the subject, of course it is my opinion, and nobody else's...if you believe you want to know more about this interesting subject, click below.
Free Music Philosophy Web Page
Next month, we will take a closer look at the process of the creation of music, and how, or why it's done...
Pax perem musicum.
Ok y'all...this is your chance, tell it like it is...you have a band you're just dying to tell everyone about? (if it's your own, that's ok too). You just heard an album by someone new, or someone dead that's driving you bonkers every hour that you play it? Tell us!! We want to know!! This is a place to share good stuff that you think others might just enjoy. No negative reviews, please...we don't do that here. You think someone sucks? Tell them to their face, and see how well everyone takes constructive criticism...Oh..by the way...tell us when and where a band/solo artist/ensemble is performing, or where we can find the album/single/soundbyte, some of us just might want to check it out. Also, if anyone has music they want to share via the Net, send it here...we'll give it a listen...but we make no promises..
I want to send you my Music Reviews! I know that all responses will be considered, and those selected for the article will be duly credited to the author.