Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 12:18:23 -0500 From: "Michael Bennett" <> To: audities@smoe.org Subject: Message-ID: So, do you buy your milk directly from the farmer who complains that he can't make a profit either? Mike Bennett Reply: I see your point. In the old days, of course, you could do just that. And that, really, is what I'm espousing, a return to the old person to person way of selling music (or milk or any other commodity) by using the best of todays technology. I'd commiserate with the struggling farmer, but it's really not my job to see that he makes a profit. He doesn't have to sell to me, I don't have to buy. And he damn sure has no right to tell me what KIND of milk customer I should be, nor where or how I should buy my milk. There's also this: how good is his milk? It's the complaining part, here on this list, that gets me *almost* as much as the arrogance of some of the label folks and musicians who presume to tell me how and where to spend my money and how much responsibility we have towards each other. And to assume that I don't appreciate how hard it is to both make and sell music is also arrogant (and kinda sad). Blaming the consumer is NOT the way to go. It's been happening now for a long time, and I just don't see it ending. We aren't the enemy. We don't need lessons (!) on how to be music fans in this new generation. Point taken though, thank you for making me think. jeff t.