napster, hawkwind and mp3's

[ANDREW GARIBALDI]

I think that if the artist signs to a label, and then his release gets
deleted, no-one else is there to pick it up and the artist doesn't want to
or can't afford to do it themselves, then there is justification for a
napster style download without the worry of depriving the artist of a
royalty that, let's face it, in this situation he wouldn't be getting
anyway.
Yes, napster may well alllow you to hear music that yuo would otherwise not
get to hear, leading to you wanting to purchase that CD, and for a track per
album, that seems fair as long as it's representative and not misleading
(ie, the only instrumental track on a vocal album, etc). But the idea of
being able to download a full album that is still in print without anyone
other than Napster (or whoever) getting the money is not something I'd
endorse.
In case yuo think I am anti this whole thing, far from it. The Dead Earnest
label is currently in negotiation with a company who shall be nameless right
now to allow current and future Dead Earnest label releases to be downloaded
completely via the internet, but where label and artist will receive
payment. Sound too good to be true....well, we'll just have to see.
Andy Garibaldi.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Clark" <tclark at PETRONET.NET>
To: <BOC-L at LISTSERV.SPC.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 4:51 AM
Subject: Re: napster, hawkwind and mp3's


> Napster is a really sticky situation.   There is alot of obscure music out
there
> that Napster has enabled those of us who may not otherwise obtain such
music,
> due to perhaps availability in local record shops or via internet or
perhaps not
> due to the fact that some recordings are not available in the latest
format.
>
> Therefore, Napster has been a  great avenue for discovering perhaps
otherwise
> unavailable music for those of us who have perhaps been deprived of
availability
> or the means to play it, and subsequently seek out and purchase other
recordings
> which allow for the reimbursement of royalties.  The idea of it being
free, I
> think, in that sense, is insignicant in that it allows for the
introduction and
> discovery of obscure material for those of us who may not have other means
of
> obtaining it, and subsequently decide to purchase recordings that are
easily
> available via normal channels.   That is what was cool about the idea of
> Napster.
>
> I think the evolution of Napster whereby they intend to charge fees for
usage is
> a great idea if, in fact, it can be enforced that the artists who's music
is
> downloaded will be paid royalties.  I would definitely not be opposed to
it, if
> this was the case, and would happily pay a monthly fee for the service.
>
> At this time, however, for example, where in the hell can I buy the
Hawkwind
> album Alien 4?  I found some songs via Napster, but have not been able to
find a
> place to purchase the album (CD)?  I would purchase it if I could find it,
but
> in the meantime, due to my psychotic pursuit of All Things Hawkwind, I
managed
> to download a couple of songs, darnit, and am quite happy do discover yet
other
> New To Me Hawkwind Material, and was quite happy to hear it.  (If
royalties are
> required as a result of this, then how much, and who do I pay?...that is
the
> sticky part.)
>
> On another hand, an extreme example is David Allen Coe, who  has a couple
of
> hilarious country albums  out (XXX rated) that are not available in
stores,
> never were, and the albums are probably out of print.  Some real gems
there, but
> if he expects  on receiving royalties, how does he intend on collecting?
Then
> again, he made the music to be heard, and if Napster can come up with a
way to
> pay him royalties, then great, but in the meantime, what can we do, except
for
> appreciate his music and pass it on to others who may decide to buy
legitimate
> recordings.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On the other hand,
>
> Bill & Cynthia wrote:
>
> > Andy said:
> > > errrrr........yes, all very well and good, and I'm not getting into
the
> > > Napster argument again, but Sonic Attack and Choose Your Masques and
the
> > > Chaos Delight are readily available on CD and so that's another set of
> > > royalties for the band and members that they'll never see.........
> >
> > Napster has its uses. It's great for downloading music from bands never
> > heard of before. Pegasi 51 is an example. I bet their CD sales have
improved
> > since!
> > And it wont stop me from buying HW and related CD's once they're
released.
> > I have been collecting their albums/cd's since 1976 and having mp3's
just
> > wouldn't feel right. :-)
> > Although I must admit I have been trying to download some of Robert
Calvert
> > stuff. Gremlins 1 and 2 for example.
> >
> > Cheers
> > Bill