From david turgeon Sent Fri, Jul 2nd 1999, 18:34
> Call me a Luddite, but I'm not exactly thrilled by the prospect of MP3s > destroying the music industry and making everyone except Alanis > Morrissette and Tori Amos broke. > > My opinion is artists deserve to get paid for what they do, since it is > work. it should probably be obvious that i'm on the pro-mp3 side of the fence (get on no type if you need proof) but i have to agree that a certain amount of weeding out must be done. a healthy dose of free mp3 releases is good, but it isn't the final solution. paying for downloadable mp3s seems like a sensible solution to me, but here again, the problem lies more in shelling a certain amount from your pocket (or credit card) for _every song_ (or maybe every album). but then, the subscription idea could save the day here too, so you could buy "credits" which would allow you to download x songs. it would likely be cheaper for the customer, & bring more money to the label (& by extension, hopefully, the artist). but i don't see a problem with releasing free mp3s here & there. it's a safe move, doesn't make you lose (or make) money, & it gets a minimal amount of talk going. as for mp3 killing the music industry -- i think if anything, it makes some realize how ultimately easy it is to make & release music -- & if anything, it helps destroying the mythical godhoodness of the industry, its permanent "can do no wrong" attitude, & the almost unconscious idea that someone who isn't signed must not be worth hearing (this would be akin to the common thinking that if the press doesn't talk about something, it's probably false or inexistant.) i guess we just have to be responsible. <laughs> -- david turgeon at http://www.notype.com