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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | AdamGhost@aol.com |
| Subject | Re: eMusic |
| Date | Sun, 13 May 2007 04:49:21 EDT |
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Jeff (and anybody else) --
I don't get the repeated use of words like "complaining" and "arrogance."
If you're talking about me, you're projecting and I resent it, frankly. I've
repeatedly said I accept with the way things are; if you want to project a
whole whiny bitter musician thing onto me or others here, that's totally your
trip. To state the realities of one's experience and supporting others'
experience is not complaining. Nor have I heard anybody else complaining or being
arrogant, nor telling you what to pay or what not to pay; just expressing their
business experience and explaining choices they've made when they were called
into question.
If you want to call that "blaming the consumer," and that it's arrogant or
whiny that we dare to say how things are on the other side of the coin, well,
that to me is a sign of disrespect, and that's kind of the attitude I have a
problem with. Certainly, I've considered some parts of posts directed at Jaimie
and others to be pretty arrogant, myself. It's possible that I am
interpreting this wrong, as it's obvious at least one or two people have misconstrued
what I and others written, and if so, I apologize.
The reality is what it is. No one's asked anyone to "do" anything.
Consumers don't have to pay more than what they want to; musicians and labels don't
have to put out the product if they don't think it's worth it to them, and
both positions are EQUALLY VALID. It's really that simple and I don't
understand what's so controversial about simply saying there is a cause and effect
relationship between how much general support there is for indie music and how
much it's going to remain available in the future, or how good it's going to be.
That's not "blame," it's merely stating facts.
It may surprise some people to know that I've argued in favor of lower CD
prices for years, and as I've said, I'm putting out a 20-track comp this year for
$5.99. Some musicians have argued with me that this is undervaluing my
music; I think it's adjusting to the market. I personally don't judge anybody
for making whatever decisions they need to make (nor have I in any of my posts,
though some my have taken it that way), and I don't think anyone else should
either. But that said, the artist-audience relationship IS a two way street,
more so now than ever, and if I had something I wanted to highlight, it's a
lack of awareness of that two way street. Our choices as consumers do have a
direct impact. I read about somebody going to England and seeing someone they
really hoped would make some money. See, that's great. And if you buy
their CD or a T-shirt or clap real loud, you've helped keep them in business.
Awesome.
Music may indeed now have little value, and maybe it can't be helped. But
it will affect how many people choose it, how dedicated they are, and how many
entrepreneurs decide to go into the business and help create scenes where new
music can flourish. Again, that's not a complaint or a whine. I think it's
pretty much a fact. It is what it is.
OK, thing I've said the same thing about 3 times now, I'm getting tired of it
as I'm sure everyone else is. If someone wants to read more into that than
I've put down there, well, have fun. Like I said, your trip, not mine.
best,
adam
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