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A great start would be for the debate to include the voices of ordinary workers in the industry – average working musicians, small bands, studio personnel, independent producers and independent labels.
The loudest voices putting forward the view of content creators so far have been ‘rock legends’ and industry bodies such as RIAA. Both are routinely and quickly discredited (rightly or wrongly) by the anti-copyright contingent online.
I originally wrote my article in response to a blog by a technology journalist. These are the people who are blithely accepted as ‘speaking the truth’.
After reading your Emily White letter, I felt I had to reply. My daughters, now 15 and 19, once thought I was the meanest mother on the planet because I wouldn’t allow them to download music illegally. The majority if their friends pirate music (have done so for years) and think absolutely nothing of it. They feel that it’s out there, so why not take advantage of it. Every few weeks my daughter hands me a $10 or $20 bill and asks me to put money on her iTunes account. I usually roll my eyes and think, “Not again?” Well, from now on when one of them hands me money I’m going to feel proud that I raised them right. (And being the meanest mom is sometimes the best thing to do.)
In response to David Lowery, Professor at the University of Georgia
I would have to say that you almost lost me at the beginning of your article by not wanting to shame or embarrass Emily White at NPR who has admitted to stealing upward of 11,000 songs off of the internet but, after reading the whole article I can see you were trying to bring her conscience out of the closet and compel her to do the right thing, of her own will.
It was a noble & selfless attempt to cause someone to do what they should. I hope it works. Unfortunately we may never really know.
In the mean time, I’ll make sure that Emily White at NPR becomes a household name with the attorneys at corporations like Itunes & CD Baby not to mention all of my Indie Artist friends and music industry professionals. NPR has deep pockets, lets see what the lawyers have to say about that, see if we can’t get get some compensation going for the family’s of people like Vic Chessnut and Mark Linkous and all the other recording artists she bent over.
I was planning to release a CD through CD Baby. I think I’ll hold off now.
I wonder if Emily White at NPR is starting to feel the heat now?
Does anybody have a photo of Emily White at NPR. I would love to help her make her star shine.
Sincerely, Eric Andrew
SixGunRoad@gmail.com
Also moved by the letter. David, I’d like to talk to you about a project I’m working on. Please drop me a line.