Join RIAA Boycott

[Big Booger]

You have very valid points egghead,
but I ask you this:

What percentage of every CD sold is given to the artist?

What artist produced in the last year is worth a sh!t?

How long should an artist lay claim to a song after it has been used and no longer holds the value that it once did? For example a CD sold today, just like any other commodity (besides jewelry) will lose value over the course of ownership... shouldn't a song, also loose value over the course of 5 years, 10 years, 50 years etc... I paid for a Skid Row CD 10 years ago, 2 years ago I looked at the same CD, and it had actually increased in the price.. from 12 to like 16 dollars....

The same songs, same CD, same album art, etc...

As an artist you of all people should despise the RIAA... they are a corporate entity that steals from the artists to like their own fat pockets...

Downloaders are wrong. I am a downloader of music.. however, most of the music, I have at one time or another purchased (not all but most), and honestly, I don't download much of the crap that is produced today. It is garbage.. when I go to a concert, I'll usually buy a CD. Other than that, I never do.. nor will I ever.

Independent artists need to realize the power of the internet and P2P.. There should be a P2P that allows streaming of independent artists videos, music and so on... cut the RIAA and all the companies it represents out of the equation. They are the major barrier to good bands getting fame and fortune.

These companies sell out artists, back stab them, get them in unfair contracts, and say they are "promoting artists" and "helping" It is a farce.. the biggest load of sheit I have ever seen in my life.

I don't mind paying for a song that I like. The apple Itunes is a damn fine service and I think 99 cents per song is reasonable.. but then how much of that 99 cents goes to the artists who worked to make the music we love?

And then you think about these so called bands that were created just to make money: "NSUCK, Crapstreet Turds, *****ee Speared" etc...

They are not artists, they are reproductions of a band using a formula that sells... Most of their music is synthesized, and is not original works.. They are selected out of thousands of competitors.. like that O-Town band.... It makes me vomit... to think they are created rather than evolving from say a garage band to a kickazz super star rock band like G&R, Metallica, all the Motown singers etc....

You cut out these big time record producers and you put in independent labels, who actually care about musicians and offer them competitive contracts that get the money to who deserves it..

The RIAA and nearly every single company it represents cares about the bottom dollar..

Do you think they really give a rats ass about any artist they represent? Do you really?

I don't and I am sure there are thousands who agree the RIAA is garbage.

But to say this, if you think being an artist is about being a millionaire, you are mistaken. There are thousands of great artists out there that do it as a hobby, they play on the weekends at the local pubs and taverns entertaining hundreds with their covers and original works.. those are the true artists.

Sure it would be great to get paid majorly, but those chances are a dime a dozen especially considering that the companies that promote music, base whether or not you will make it big on a monetary formula.. A+B=C

Goodlooks + Great editing = Big Money

Where does the music, the talent, the desire to perform fit into that equation?

Rappers figured this out a long time ago.. they got into the game of rapping by using the big labels, once they made it big they made their own record companies, "Bad Boy Records" "Death Row" etc...

Just something to ponder.. I am not saying that downloading music is a good thing.. I don't think so. BUt I will say this, 16 bucks or even 12 is just too much for the crap that is released.. And if I love a band enough I will purchase a CD, or buy the songs online.

And who wants to pay for one song from an artist that you like.. if you only want one song, then you should be allowed or have the option to buy that one song, either online, or through a retail outlet....


Last thing for me,

I personally don't pay for music that often.. in fact I would seldom even listen to it, if I couldn't download it for free or hear it for free on the radio. I think the only time an artist should get paid is when they play live. A recording is just that, a recording. Yeah a lot of time and effort when into it, and they should be compensated, but in my opinion, the only time I think it worth paying to see, is a live performance on a stage. At the same time, they can sell their CD, directly. This would encourage more performers to tour.. hell some of them seldom tour because it is tough work... they'd rather make a CD, release it, and sit on their arse and wait for the money train to roll in...

Live is the key! It sounds better, I enjoy it more and I think I get my money's worth. With a CD, I listen to it a couple of times, and bam I am finished with it. A live performance will be in my memory forever...

I agree with ZIpp $5-7 is definitely more in my price range and I would certainly think twice about buying a CD from an artist that I like, than paying 12-16 dollars.

Hell for 5 bucks, if you get the lyrics album art, cd, and all, it is worth it. It takes time to compile a CD, get the names sorted, go through fake and trundicated songs, repeats etc.. I'd pay 5 bucks to have a CD that I know would play in every player, all the songs are perfect, etc...

12 bucks is BS... and the RIAA is over populated with recording companies.. some of them need to fail.. and others need to lower their expectations especially during an economic recession.. what better way to avoid putting blame on their business model, than pawning it off on the consumers who "ROB ARTISTS OF THEIR PAYCHECKS" by downloading music for free.... that is the biggest load of horse sheet that I have ever heard in my life.

Their business model is screwed, they produce garbage music, charge extremely high prices, artists don't tour enough, are too stupid or uneducated to even think of starting their own recording companies to cut the middleman out etc....

I hate the RIAA!