January 20, 2012
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"I’m all for file sharing. That’s great— as long as people are prepared for the significant consequences. One is that music will become completely couched in advertising. That’s already happened. And another is that people should be prepared to have fun with the past because the only music that can possibly be free is the music that’s from the past. It costs money to make music. And if people are prepared to only have the past to listen to, then let it be free. But if they want new music then they are going to have to figure out a way to be patrons of the arts. And they will."
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- Ian MacKaye (Pitchfork Interview)
Lisa over at Kind of Like Records just posted this about file sharing and all this SOPA business going around over the last few weeks. I like that this subject is creating such a passionate discussion. It reminded me that I’ve had this Ian MacKaye quote sitting in my draft folder for weeks now. And it perfectly expresses my thoughts on file sharing. I have no problem with people downloading our records. In all honestly I think it promotes the bands and the label in a way that we’re probably not capable of ourselves. In many ways, file sharing is the “word of mouth” of 10-15 years ago. And people who want the physical product aren’t going to be phased on an album leak one way or the other in my opinion. In the end it’s a question of whether you find value in the art you enjoy. If you do, then give back to it. Go to a show, buy a record, buy a tee shirt…because that’s what gives it continuance for yourself and for all the people that will follow us. And if you don’t think that’s important you’re not paying much attention to the environment we’re living in these days.
(via tinyengines)
