Metallica vs Napster debate
5ap...@my-deja.com
entertaining reading, I think it had more of a tendency to stray from
the theme of the original post. The point is whether Napster is right
or if Metallica is right. It's been mentioned countless times that the
music industry is a business. Consider the following story about a
music group and the business (from VH1's "Behind the Music" and from
http://wallofsound.go.com/artists/tlc/home.html among other sites):
Everyone has heard of the group TLC, but not everyone knows that they
had to file chapter 11 bankrupcy in the midst of platinum record
sales. In the business, every record is worth 100 points, each point
valued at 8 cents. According to the contract TLC signed, the three
band members themselves collectively only got 7 points per album sold.
This means that each time someone bought one of their albums, they got
a meager 56 cents. They sold about 10 million copies of their then-
current album, earning a revenue of $5.6 million. The tax bracket that
placed them in is something like 49%, bringing their totals to a little
better than $2M. Next their recording company and managers and
promoters, etc each took their respective cuts.
Bottom Line: TLC's album grossed $5.6 million, but the three ladies
each only took home about $50,000 (that's less than 1% of total sales
for each of them!!!). The band owed a total of some $3.5M to various
people and companies and was only earning about $50K, hence Ch.11.
Now consider this... suppose I dodn't like the Big Business recording
industry and the prices they charge per cd. I decide to download TLC's
songs (album versions, not bootlegs) on mp3 from Napster because it's
free. Yeah it's illegal, but who's gonna stop me, right? Well whether
you consider it moral or not is not going to change the fact that I
took it upon myself to deprive the three musicians themselves of their
collective 56 cents to be split among themselves. In this case TLC got
taken advantage of in a huge way by their managers and label, but
regardless of the terms of their contract, my downloading their songs
is not justifiable or excusable. I may have only stolen 56 cents, but
it was their 56 cents, not mine.
Metallica is obviously quite well off financially, but that's only
because they insisted on always keeping control of their music.
Regardless of who the artist is, they spend not just a lot of time and
money in studios recording, editing, mixing and producing their albums,
they spend time CREATING something from within themselves; their songs
are a form of self-expression. It is their art, it is their life, it
is their CAREER.
A particular band's financial situation is completely irrelevant to the
morality, legality, or lack of either of downloading the studio master
versions of their songs. I might not like the prices that record
companies charge, but to steal from any artist does not solve the
problem, it only makes me a common criminal. Until individual artists
and bands find a way of DIRECTLY SELLING their music to their fans
WITHOUT the labels and producers, if we want to have the opportunity to
hear their songs whenever we want, we still have to PAY what the price
tag demands. Yes today's cd prices are outrageous, yes most record
companies are greedy, power-hungry bastards, yes I agree with all of
those assertions, but I still have a choice. If I don't want to pay
their prices, I can still listen to their songs on the radio and on MTV
and on any other public forum. I don't have to buy them. However, I
CHOOSE to spend my money (yes, even $17.99+) on Metallica's music
because I am one of their truly LOYAL fans. I love Metallica's music,
I respect their position on the Napster issue and I think all four band
members have some major BALLZ OF STEEL to stand up for what they
believe and know is right even when they knew they would get some shit
for it. The recording industry may be guilty of raping artists, but I
refuse to do the same.
Incidently, the list of names Metallica submitted was done so at
NAPSTER'S request, AND, Metallica intentionally withheld some 35,000
names of those who only downloaded live recordings and bootlegs. The
only names submitted were of those people who downloaded the master
recording (studio) versions. To those people who agree with me, rock
on and keep supporting Metallica! To those who disagree, a hearty FUCK
YOU!!!!!!
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
care...@my-deja.com
Hardly anyone downloading mp3's is downloading the entire albums
dickwad, just one or two songs, so your 56 cents is down to 4 cents,
and if TLC can't better manage a contract and know what they are
signing before they sign it, Waaah! Waaah! And your woosy over the hill
crybaby band, (formerly my favorite before Napster wars,) Metallica,
can blow me. No I take that back, Lars can blow me. He is the only one
who is crying about this stuff.
Personally, If I like an mp3 that I download and don't already have the
cd, I will many times go out and buy it, because I was able to hear it
first on my PC and on my own stereo system at home and was able to
determine whether it was good or not. Many mp3 downloads result in a cd
purchase, and that is based on fact, biotch!
If you don't agree with this....that is fine. I won't immaturely spout
out any bad words at you, because we all are entitled to our opinions.
Later 5Apples!
-Swoop-
<8huukj$n65$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
Fat Monkey
If the record industry does not continue to make a profit they will go and
do some other business and we the listeners will suffer the loss of hearing
great music. $20 is not alot of money. If you think what it cost to make a
recrod or see a live concert $20 a CD is a cool deal.
Napster is a cool idea but artist making music for the people is way
cooler!!!!
peds
<5ap...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:8huukj$n65$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
Furor
On Sun, 11 Jun 2000 02:47:49 GMT, 5ap...@my-deja.com wrote:
>While the thread of almost 140 messages about this subject is
>entertaining reading, I think it had more of a tendency to stray from
>the theme of the original post. The point is whether Napster is right
>or if Metallica is right. It's been mentioned countless times that the
>music industry is a business. Consider the following story about a
>music group and the business (from VH1's "Behind the Music" and from
>http://wallofsound.go.com/artists/tlc/home.html among other sites):
>
>Everyone has heard of the group TLC, but not everyone knows that they
>had to file chapter 11 bankrupcy in the midst of platinum record
>sales. In the business, every record is worth 100 points, each point
>valued at 8 cents. According to the contract TLC signed, the three
>band members themselves collectively only got 7 points per album sold.
>This means that each time someone bought one of their albums, they got
>a meager 56 cents. They sold about 10 million copies of their then-
>current album, earning a revenue of $5.6 million. The tax bracket that
>placed them in is something like 49%, bringing their totals to a little
Furor