Comments on: Who protects the fans? http://blog.nixternal.com/2007.10.03/who-protects-the-fans/ Free Software Chicago Style: letting proprietary solutions sleep with the fishes Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:01:36 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Simon Scullion » links for 2007-10-05 http://blog.nixternal.com/2007.10.03/who-protects-the-fans/comment-page-1/#comment-2991 Simon Scullion » links for 2007-10-05 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 22:20:46 +0000 http://blog.nixternal.com/2007.10.03/who-protects-the-fans/#comment-2991 [...] nixternal » Who protects the fans? An interesting take on the mess the music industry finds itself. Makes some good points. (tags: music RIAA protection) [...] [...] nixternal » Who protects the fans? An interesting take on the mess the music industry finds itself. Makes some good points. (tags: music RIAA protection) [...]

]]> By: nixternal http://blog.nixternal.com/2007.10.03/who-protects-the-fans/comment-page-1/#comment-2990 nixternal Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:42:35 +0000 http://blog.nixternal.com/2007.10.03/who-protects-the-fans/#comment-2990 @Brad: I have no problem with ticket scalping at all, when it is done reasonably. Plus sports ticket scalping only really pays off during post season play. Plus you have a ton of season ticket holders that really put a kink in a ticket scalpers plans anyways, and most scalped tickets are garbage seats nowadays. For instance, being a Cubs fan, if you purchase scalped tickets, you are usually so far away, you can't hear the play of the game, the people with beer don't come anywhere near you, and if you have to use the bathroom, you have to walk a floor down. With music venues there is no such thing as season ticket holders, plus with music venues, scalpers actually get dibs on tickets before the common consumer does. Say tickets go on sale this Saturday for Jono's band, starting today, ticket scalpers or brokers have access to this tickets before we do. Where as all major sports leagues open up ticket sales to the general public first, and whatever is left goes to the brokers, unless of course the brokers are standing in line. Why should I put venom towards those that allegedly steal the music? I know a lot of people who share their music that they legally purchased. If I buy something, it is mine. I can't reproduce it as my work, at least that is what the copyright laws state. I am tired of the "all it takes is one person to ruin it for the rest" theories. So if all these people have allegedly stolen music, why should I have to pay for their alleged ignorance? The RIAA and the music industry is evil, and they know it. The only thing worse then them is a majority of the morons we have put into office here in the US. @Mo: I do purchase from Magnatune, and will setup an account here eventually for Jamendo as manchicken keeps bugging me about it :) And Dave Mathews rocks, I remember when he said on TV that he would never download another Metallica song. Granted he was probably toasted, but still a great say by him :) @Jim: Damn you were dead on. You know, I never even once sat back and said "why is a CD more than a damn DVD?" A blank DVD costs more than a blank CD to reproduce to begin with, and with a CD, you typically get around an hours worth of music if you are lucky, whereas with a DVD you typically get around 2 hours of a movie, plus the outtakes, commentary, music, and so on. Thanks for opening my eyes to that one. ---- OK, the reason I brought up the whole ticket scalping/brokerage is because interestingly enough, the music industry wants to protect itself by using the RIAA. Actually it wants to protects its assets. Yet the music industry doesn't care about the ticket scalping that goes on, they turn an eye to it, why? because they are making their money, who cares about the fans. Whereas with sports, the pro leagues have all stepped up to prevent their fans from taking it in the ass from a scalper. I purchase a lot of tickets through a broker for some sports games, and most of the time, I can get them cheaper through the broker than I can through the ticket booth at the game. Recently I purchased an entire week pass for the Nascar races at Chicagoland Motor Speedway, which allowed me to watch a Bush race, a Cup race, and an Arca race, plus I got to watch the IRL testing. I paid $75 less through the broker than I would have directly through Nascar. So, it is hard for me to compare sports ticket scalpers/brokers to those who are blood thirsty when it comes to music venues. @Brad: I have no problem with ticket scalping at all, when it is done reasonably. Plus sports ticket scalping only really pays off during post season play. Plus you have a ton of season ticket holders that really put a kink in a ticket scalpers plans anyways, and most scalped tickets are garbage seats nowadays. For instance, being a Cubs fan, if you purchase scalped tickets, you are usually so far away, you can’t hear the play of the game, the people with beer don’t come anywhere near you, and if you have to use the bathroom, you have to walk a floor down. With music venues there is no such thing as season ticket holders, plus with music venues, scalpers actually get dibs on tickets before the common consumer does. Say tickets go on sale this Saturday for Jono’s band, starting today, ticket scalpers or brokers have access to this tickets before we do. Where as all major sports leagues open up ticket sales to the general public first, and whatever is left goes to the brokers, unless of course the brokers are standing in line.

Why should I put venom towards those that allegedly steal the music? I know a lot of people who share their music that they legally purchased. If I buy something, it is mine. I can’t reproduce it as my work, at least that is what the copyright laws state. I am tired of the “all it takes is one person to ruin it for the rest” theories. So if all these people have allegedly stolen music, why should I have to pay for their alleged ignorance? The RIAA and the music industry is evil, and they know it. The only thing worse then them is a majority of the morons we have put into office here in the US.

@Mo: I do purchase from Magnatune, and will setup an account here eventually for Jamendo as manchicken keeps bugging me about it :) And Dave Mathews rocks, I remember when he said on TV that he would never download another Metallica song. Granted he was probably toasted, but still a great say by him :)

@Jim: Damn you were dead on. You know, I never even once sat back and said “why is a CD more than a damn DVD?” A blank DVD costs more than a blank CD to reproduce to begin with, and with a CD, you typically get around an hours worth of music if you are lucky, whereas with a DVD you typically get around 2 hours of a movie, plus the outtakes, commentary, music, and so on. Thanks for opening my eyes to that one.

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OK, the reason I brought up the whole ticket scalping/brokerage is because interestingly enough, the music industry wants to protect itself by using the RIAA. Actually it wants to protects its assets. Yet the music industry doesn’t care about the ticket scalping that goes on, they turn an eye to it, why? because they are making their money, who cares about the fans. Whereas with sports, the pro leagues have all stepped up to prevent their fans from taking it in the ass from a scalper. I purchase a lot of tickets through a broker for some sports games, and most of the time, I can get them cheaper through the broker than I can through the ticket booth at the game. Recently I purchased an entire week pass for the Nascar races at Chicagoland Motor Speedway, which allowed me to watch a Bush race, a Cup race, and an Arca race, plus I got to watch the IRL testing. I paid $75 less through the broker than I would have directly through Nascar. So, it is hard for me to compare sports ticket scalpers/brokers to those who are blood thirsty when it comes to music venues.

]]> By: Mo http://blog.nixternal.com/2007.10.03/who-protects-the-fans/comment-page-1/#comment-2989 Mo Wed, 03 Oct 2007 23:46:58 +0000 http://blog.nixternal.com/2007.10.03/who-protects-the-fans/#comment-2989 I share your vehement hatred for the RIAA as well and agree with you about their tactics. I won't get into the scalping issue which is unrelated and which others have already discussed in their posts. But I want to say that if you are against the RIAA and all the record labels they represent, don't stop buying music altogether. Just buy it from lesser known artists - don't forget artists like those featured on Magnatune or Jamendo, artists who offer their work under Creative Commons licenses. You can pay them directly for their music if you like it, and the sites only take a small cut, much more fair than any major record label. Also don't forget major artists who really do care about the music and their fans, artists such as Trent Reznor (of NIN, who just put out a free CD of remixes from their latest album), and Dave Matthews Band. I share your vehement hatred for the RIAA as well and agree with you about their tactics. I won’t get into the scalping issue which is unrelated and which others have already discussed in their posts. But I want to say that if you are against the RIAA and all the record labels they represent, don’t stop buying music altogether. Just buy it from lesser known artists – don’t forget artists like those featured on Magnatune or Jamendo, artists who offer their work under Creative Commons licenses. You can pay them directly for their music if you like it, and the sites only take a small cut, much more fair than any major record label. Also don’t forget major artists who really do care about the music and their fans, artists such as Trent Reznor (of NIN, who just put out a free CD of remixes from their latest album), and Dave Matthews Band.

]]> By: Jim http://blog.nixternal.com/2007.10.03/who-protects-the-fans/comment-page-1/#comment-2988 Jim Wed, 03 Oct 2007 23:31:27 +0000 http://blog.nixternal.com/2007.10.03/who-protects-the-fans/#comment-2988 The music industry is no longer about music - it's about marketing. I have not bought CDs in years. Most of the music is pop garbage and if there is anything good you pay $18 for an average recording with no extras. Now look at DVDs. When you buy one you get special features, alternate audio tracks, bonus disks, easter eggs and so on. Sometimes they come with cool books like Batman Returns. AND they often cost less than a CD. If the music industry was smart (big if) they would be looking at unique ways to package CDs to give consumers a reason to buy them - especially when the music is no longer reason enough. I admit I have bought a few DVD-Audio and SACDs but they have something I can't get - better audio and sometimes video extras. I think the whole world should vow to not buy a single CD until the music industry drops all lawsuits, agrees to allow downloading and focuses on selling the "extras" that will interest people. Or maybe the artists should get smart and market their own music directly through iTunes and the like and just bypass the whole industry. The music industry is no longer about music – it’s about marketing. I have not bought CDs in years. Most of the music is pop garbage and if there is anything good you pay $18 for an average recording with no extras. Now look at DVDs. When you buy one you get special features, alternate audio tracks, bonus disks, easter eggs and so on. Sometimes they come with cool books like Batman Returns. AND they often cost less than a CD. If the music industry was smart (big if) they would be looking at unique ways to package CDs to give consumers a reason to buy them – especially when the music is no longer reason enough. I admit I have bought a few DVD-Audio and SACDs but they have something I can’t get – better audio and sometimes video extras. I think the whole world should vow to not buy a single CD until the music industry drops all lawsuits, agrees to allow downloading and focuses on selling the “extras” that will interest people. Or maybe the artists should get smart and market their own music directly through iTunes and the like and just bypass the whole industry.

]]> By: Brad Johnson http://blog.nixternal.com/2007.10.03/who-protects-the-fans/comment-page-1/#comment-2987 Brad Johnson Wed, 03 Oct 2007 21:46:43 +0000 http://blog.nixternal.com/2007.10.03/who-protects-the-fans/#comment-2987 Ticket scalping has gone on for years and years. It's not new, happens for almost any event (NFL, NHL, NBA and yes concerts) and I don't think it's the fault of the event coordinators or Hanna Montanna. Would you rather the ticket vendors ask for a DNA sample when you buy a ticket and draw blood at the gate to make sure your the original purchaser of the ticket? I think not. Why does your post contain NO venom toward those who steal music. It seems to me we'd all be better off (no RIAA) if there were not so many thieves among us. How about a little outrage toward your fellow citizens who have no moral character when that morality will cost them $20. I have no love for the RIAA, similar organizations or their tactics but I do understand the reason they were created. How about some condemnation toward those who facilitated this whole mess. Your friends, your neighbors and possibly even you and I. Ticket scalping has gone on for years and years. It’s not new, happens for almost any event (NFL, NHL, NBA and yes concerts) and I don’t think it’s the fault of the event coordinators or Hanna Montanna. Would you rather the ticket vendors ask for a DNA sample when you buy a ticket and draw blood at the gate to make sure your the original purchaser of the ticket? I think not.

Why does your post contain NO venom toward those who steal music. It seems to me we’d all be better off (no RIAA) if there were not so many thieves among us. How about a little outrage toward your fellow citizens who have no moral character when that morality will cost them $20.

I have no love for the RIAA, similar organizations or their tactics but I do understand the reason they were created. How about some condemnation toward those who facilitated this whole mess. Your friends, your neighbors and possibly even you and I.

]]> By: nixternal http://blog.nixternal.com/2007.10.03/who-protects-the-fans/comment-page-1/#comment-2986 nixternal Wed, 03 Oct 2007 20:07:20 +0000 http://blog.nixternal.com/2007.10.03/who-protects-the-fans/#comment-2986 @CraigM: I never said the RIAA should be responsible for ticket brokers, but seeing that the music industry has the RIAA to supposedly protect them, then who do we have? And as for Hannah Montana and all of them, they all suck in my eyes, and like you said they are "carefully crafted." I am far from deluding myself, I used the Hannah Montana experience to attempt to show my point. @CraigM: I never said the RIAA should be responsible for ticket brokers, but seeing that the music industry has the RIAA to supposedly protect them, then who do we have? And as for Hannah Montana and all of them, they all suck in my eyes, and like you said they are “carefully crafted.” I am far from deluding myself, I used the Hannah Montana experience to attempt to show my point.

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