General Discussion

GReedDiamond

(5,521 posts)

48. Back when cassette tapes were popular...

Mon Jun 18, 2012, 09:23 PM

Jun 2012

...as a format for selling albums, cassette playback equipment often also had the ability to record onto blank cassettes, so the Record Industry attempted to force the manufacturers of blank cassettes to add an additional amount of money to the retail price of their products, which the cassette manufacturers were supposed to pass on to the Record Companies as a "royalty payment" that would supposedly go to the Labels/Artists as compensation for people recording stuff off of the radio or from other sources, such as vinyl or prerecorded cassette, onto blank cassette. That, fortunately, never happened.

So, yeah, The Record Industry had a big problem with people recording stuff off of the radio or whatever.

FWIW, I am an indie recording artist dating back to 1978 - when we still released stuff on 7" and 12" vinyl - and I still record and release stuff myself (or get it released sometimes by other indie labels), and it is a very difficult biz to make any money in - although part of that is because we often times give our music away as free mp3 downloads, just to get the material out there.

Personally, I do not care for the quality of the audio from an mp3 as compared to a properly recorded and mastered, commercially produced CD. To my ears, mp3s have noticeably inferior sound quality, due to the compression. Plus, you usually don't get the album artwork/graphics when you download a digital audio file.

I am now working with a Canadian based company which is attempting to find other revenue streams for our catalog of tunes, by looking for mechanical licensing deals, movie/tv show music placement, sub-publishing (re-registering our already registered tunes - registered with BMI through my pub co, with altered titles through 2nd party publishing companies), etc etc.

The latest CD we have produced should be out in July, only about a year or so behind the original schedule, and we are already working on the followup to it.

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Everyone who listens to music needs to READ THIS! [View all] Bennyboy Jun 2012 OP

Maybe each CD has 734 songs... ( n/t ) Make7 Jun 2012 #1

When I start seeing a widespread movement to force the labels to stop Egalitarian Thug Jun 2012 #2

What about the self produced albums? Bennyboy Jun 2012 #4

And are they no longer making their music? Have their fan bases shrunk? This is not about artists, Egalitarian Thug Jun 2012 #20

Funny but why have indy musicians all sent this to me today? Bennyboy Jun 2012 #27

thieves say and do anything to justify their behavior lol nt msongs Jun 2012 #30

Thieves need no justification. What is, is, and your options are to deal with it or pretend that it Egalitarian Thug Jun 2012 #57

What the labels do doesn't excuse her stealing 1,000 albums. That's moral relativism. kysrsoze Jun 2012 #5

No it doesn't, but it certainly does demonstrate the disingenuousness of the argument Egalitarian Thug Jun 2012 #16

As a copyright holder, I find your attitude to be... GReedDiamond Jun 2012 #56

I was referring to the terminology Ron Obvious Jun 2012 #59

Making a digital copy of an existing recording, which may have taken literally... GReedDiamond Jun 2012 #60

I'll try once more... Ron Obvious Jun 2012 #65

You are using false analogies to try and pathetically cover up your... GReedDiamond Jun 2012 #69

This is a fascinating issue. JDPriestly Jun 2012 #77

I have no argument with what you say here... GReedDiamond Jun 2012 #78

thanks for all your posts on this matter. zappaman Jun 2012 #81

Thanks, I appreciate that... GReedDiamond Jun 2012 #83

In response to your mention of the record companies' loss of profits... GReedDiamond Jun 2012 #62

I'm not saying I'm against copyright protection! Ron Obvious Jun 2012 #66

The problem is technology is making it hard to enforce copyright. Zalatix Jun 2012 #74

Good point, Zalatix... GReedDiamond Jun 2012 #80

She no doubt gets a lot of courtesy albums and tracks. JDPriestly Jun 2012 #76

Read the article again taterguy Jun 2012 #8

No, it wasn't. It reprinted the same argument that they've been putting forth for years. Egalitarian Thug Jun 2012 #21

Not all musicians have the ability to self produce albums the way Trent Reznor and Radiohead do. Initech Jun 2012 #9

And something in excess of 98% of all artists are never produced at all. Egalitarian Thug Jun 2012 #23

Maybe she got them all from iTunes? GarroHorus Jun 2012 #3

That was my first thought too Poiuyt Jun 2012 #54

if she's a GM at a college radio station, those songs are likely promos. nashville_brook Jun 2012 #6

Ding ! KurtNYC Jun 2012 #37

I don't buy CD's Drale Jun 2012 #7

Unfortunately, there's no way to contain information Scootaloo Jun 2012 #10

Nothing wrong with Pandora subscriptions, and there are plenty of iTunes alternatives kysrsoze Jun 2012 #11

Yes, you could be wrong Scootaloo Jun 2012 #17

But you can't fight technology! What are we gonna do, go back to phonographs?? Zalatix Jun 2012 #64

Pretty much; There's a reason the Amish lifestyle is voluntary Scootaloo Jun 2012 #68

I was making fun of the "you can't stop technology" argument. Zalatix Jun 2012 #75

I remember when radio stations would broadcast the time that they were Jumping John Jun 2012 #12

They didn't mind for a few reasons onenote Jun 2012 #15

Actually, they did mind and they went to court and lost. Several times over 30 years. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jun 2012 #24

Back when cassette tapes were popular... GReedDiamond Jun 2012 #48

It amazes me when people n the DU think copying music is ok! But... Logical Jun 2012 #13

As someone who writes, records, produces, publishes on my own musiclawyer Jun 2012 #14

I've noticed a lot of artists uploading "bad" files to protect themselves just1voice Jun 2012 #19

We are on vacation in Hawaii marlakay Jun 2012 #22

Good for her for being frugal. Anything I can download, I do... Comrade_McKenzie Jun 2012 #18

Here are a couple of sites you may like: kentauros Jun 2012 #32

I frickin' LOVE WFMU. =D AverageJoe90 Jun 2012 #35

If I could stream at work, kentauros Jun 2012 #46

Back in the golden age of the demo scene, I downloaded free "mod" songs. Zalatix Jun 2012 #67

I hadn't heard them before, kentauros Jun 2012 #70

My jaw has fallen and it can't get up! Zalatix Jun 2012 #71

I was just saying to myself kentauros Jun 2012 #73

You call stealing being frugal? That's an interesting take, no pun intended. nt Honeycombe8 Jun 2012 #39

I heard today that Metallica can not afford to quit touring sadbear Jun 2012 #25

Those guys have made a skillion dollars over a thirty year career. LeftyMom Jun 2012 #41

Either way sadbear Jun 2012 #43

I don't disagree, but I think that's the problem. LeftyMom Jun 2012 #44

I can appreciate your approach sadbear Jun 2012 #45

I guess that works for pop. LeftyMom Jun 2012 #47

I suppose we are talking apples and oranges then sadbear Jun 2012 #51

Not as much, I don't think. LeftyMom Jun 2012 #55

I spend at least a thousand bucks a year on music high density Jun 2012 #26

Considering her job, i'd say she got a lot of promo copies. hobbit709 Jun 2012 #28

pirating music is cool and fun BOG PERSON Jun 2012 #29

Has anyone ever heard of promos and giveaways? MrScorpio Jun 2012 #31

We both know the truth you speak. kentauros Jun 2012 #33

I forgot to mention Bandcamp MrScorpio Jun 2012 #50

He wrote her at NPR to clarify that. Festivito Jun 2012 #38

I actually thought this article was decently thought out for the most part, but....... AverageJoe90 Jun 2012 #34

What I didn't see or saw little of jp11 Jun 2012 #36

For those who don't know... Bennyboy Jun 2012 #40

If you want to support your favorite band GO SEE THEM LIVE. LeftyMom Jun 2012 #42

This. nt redqueen Jun 2012 #49

That's a nice sentiment BUT, Bennyboy Jun 2012 #61

For 30 Years I Never Paid For A CD or LP... KharmaTrain Jun 2012 #52

And the scumbag RIAA will sue her for eight zillion dollars. MrSlayer Jun 2012 #58

And the RIAA will probably crucify her for umpty billion dollars Prophet 451 Jun 2012 #63

I can remember Go Vols Jun 2012 #72

To speak like a "grumpy old fart" MicaelS Jun 2012 #79

I'd never download songs JonLP24 Jun 2012 #82

Another take.....(great response to the response to the response) Bennyboy Jun 2012 #84

This shows the old business models the MAFIAA are trying to shove down our throats just don't work. backscatter712 Jun 2012 #85