Could RIAA Disappear?

Is the RIAA as we know it about to disappear? As rumors continue to swirl that EMI will pull its funding from music trade groups like the RIAA and IFPI, an IFPI spokesman tells Ars Technica that the group is in the middle of a major internal review of its operations.

That review will include a look at the "structure and operation of the organisation and its relationship with the national groups, with a view to finding greater efficiencies and cutting costs," Ars is told. That leaves open the possibility that the review could lead to a merger of the IFPI and RIAA, which is the largest (and most expensive) of the "national groups." If that happens, the "RIAA" might disappear even as its work continues.

The comments from the IFPI fit with a new story in Variety which claims that EMI will pull funding from the trade groups by March 31 unless major changes are made. Consolidating the two groups appears to be one of the options on the table.

Losing one of its four pillars would come as a huge blow to both the IFPI and the RIAA, and the review now in progress is an attempt to retool the trade groups' missions to better serve the record labels that fund most of their operations.

Major label music has had a hard time of it the last few years; even as the labels have moved plenty of music (due in large part to the growth of digital downloads), more lucrative CD sales have plummeted. The IFPI admits that its internal review is prompted in large part "by falling industry revenues resulting from the decline in global music sales."

Read more at this location.

Comments

[Thin-Lizzy]

My only answer to that title is hopefully, yet I doubt it.

[dieloony2]

hope so

[Comeback Kiddd]

Give Me Free Music or give me death

[sleepwalker16]

if the RIAA falls music piracy will go REALLY wild. Although I don't like RIAA, their existence is necessary.

[JRowe3388]

^^ Its not like they did much about it in the first place.

[Spay]

Piracy = Bad for everyone

RIAA = Bad ideas for solutions to the problem above and their a bunch of money hungry capitolists as well

I'm not sure how this will work out. I really hate the RIAA, but we need some sort of control, like the artists themselves dictating how their music is treated legally or something

[smalRaptor]

Hey, I still by CDs. I just don't buy terrible CDs. Find me an artist that's worth my money, and stop suing people for download music from the Artists that aren't.

[Absent Mind]

Comeback Kiddd wrote:

Give Me Free Music or give me death

Every one prefers free stuff but thats just retarded.

[minichibi]

sleepwalker16 wrote:

if the RIAA falls music piracy will go REALLY wild. Although I don't like RIAA, their existence is necessary.

+1

[omarrodrigez]

For a working teenager like myself who cannot afford to buy even a quarter of the albums they want, piracy is unfortunately the only way to get the music you want. It doesn't really hurt the artist though, they get their money from touring and merch sales.

[i_am_metalhead]

The problem that the RIAA doesnt see about the whole piracy issue is that a majority of the people downloading music are young people who are working minimum wage jobs (if they are even old enough to work at all) and can't afford to pay the $20 that a store wants for a cd!!

Personally, I use iTunes. Most cd's are only $10 - that way I can purchase the music ans show my support for the artist and not get totally ripped off!

[James_Het_Rules]

I do believe one very wise musician said that change to the music world was coming. This could be it. But regardless of fame and fortune to bands and what not, i myself would stick an album out for free anyways, i just love making and playing music, and the problem that comes with this is that SOME musicians NOT ALL of them do it for money... and besides... like the guy above me said... most people make their money touring. and id rather see a band live than buy an album any day.

[Chinfrim]

Musicians play to live, so I guess it's fair to pay, a small ammount for a CD, say.. Ten Bucks, but 20? I was amazed when the alst Velvet Revolver album was 22.50 at a Store, and Led Zeppelin IV was only 5.99 at the very same place..

True that, bands get most of the money from Touring and Merch sale, still making all music free, is in my opinion, a theft.. I buy all the songs I listen to.

[Quantonyne]

piracy will never end.....no matter what they do people will still pirate...hell i pirate cd's all the time....i just dont think that targeting little kids and old people is the way to go.

[zayG]

Spay wrote:

Piracy = Bad for everyone

RIAA = Bad ideas for solutions to the problem above and their a bunch of money hungry capitolists as well

I'm not sure how this will work out. I really hate the RIAA, but we need some sort of control, like the artists themselves dictating how their music is treated legally or something

Exactly. Piracy will go insane if they go away, but the solution isn't to basically end a persons life in the financial sector for downloading one song.

[Johnny Trash]

Personally, I think the music industry as a whole is pretty ****ed up.
Or just totally ****ed up.

I say bring back Vinyls (Y)

[ZeRoGuY]

People won't let their favorite artists die. Support will exist for those who deserve it in others eyes.

The RIAA doesn't need to force people to support things you don't like.

[deansouthpaw]

when will people learn. Music doesn't need an industry! Art and capitalism don't mix.

[LewisMasonx]

deansouthpaw wrote:

when will people learn. Music doesn't need an industry! Art and capitalism don't mix.

So true. A crackpot idea would be just to not allow digital music. No digital music, no music on computer system, no downloading.

Of course that's not an option in modern day and age, but if music didn't exist digitally, problem gone. People would still be living in a vinyl age.

[hellraiser1133]

if bands don't make money, widespread music will cease to exist...instead, the next great zeppelins or beatles will be working at your local kmart, and will have sold their instruments to pay the rent...support your favorite bands and buy their cds

[Hells_Bell]

sleepwalker16 wrote:

if the RIAA falls music piracy will go REALLY wild. Although I don't like RIAA, their existence is necessary.

Uhm, not really.

[gothikchile13]

I've seen this on Ars Technica many times and I believe it's the best explanation:

The rest of the world is expected to adapt to technological changes why not the music industry?

And DRM is not a viable option.

-g13

[PLOP]

DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE

[PhantomNote]

I don't think they actually do something serious. It's too random, and too small things they do against it.
I think we need someone who's more in favor of the musicians rather than big companys or themselves.

[[x]Huffy[x]]

sleepwalker16 wrote:

if the RIAA falls music piracy will go REALLY wild. Although I don't like RIAA, their existence is necessary.

Necessary?

Wasn't it just the other week we heard them trying to sue a man for copying music from CDs HE bought to his computer?

We don't need the RIAA.

[Metalology]

Hmmm.

[crazynickman]

Good riddance. Their "control" isn't as widespread as they would like us to think. Independent labels are the way to go, IMO.

[kryptonite22]

i am 100% behind the artists here, if you download a record illegally and you like it, then go buy it and in doing so, make it possible for the artist to make another one. the problem is not that people endlessly download everything they can necessarily, its that people used to waste their money on music they didnt like, whereas now they can have a choice before they buy. people in general do not have the money to buy every single release they are remotely interested in either.

dont get me wrong, i really think musicians deserve our support through buying it when you can, but for me, the huge fact that stands in the way of anything else anyone counterargues with is that when the RIAA sees an album, it doesnt see a work of art, it sees dollar signs. i dont support that at all. the RIAA has no relevance to me.

[kryptonite22]

deansouthpaw wrote:

Music doesn't need an industry! Art and capitalism don't mix.

apologies for double posting but i just read this and i agree entirely. music is not an industry to me, i refuse to accept it as being just that.

[IMABBALLPLAYER]

crazynickman wrote:

Good riddance. Their "control" isn't as widespread as they would like us to think. Independent labels are the way to go, IMO.

+1. All these great musicians like Sufjan Stevens and others are on these incredibly small labels that are still putting out great music. It's time for the independent labels to take over the music industry.

[deadlyMETAL]

Sorry for asking, but what's the RIAA? I take it it has to do with the legalities of digitally downloaded music?

[Jastul]

Spay wrote:

Piracy = Bad for everyone

RIAA = Bad ideas for solutions to the problem above and their a bunch of money hungry capitolists as well

I'm not sure how this will work out. I really hate the RIAA, but we need some sort of control, like the artists themselves dictating how their music is treated legally or something

+1

[Music.is.Life]

Only time I've posted anything, but the music industry needs to take an economics class or something. The price they are charging for CDs is higher than the price people are willing to pay for them and they end up with a surplus. Normal solution is to drop the price eating up the surplus to the point where it reaches equilibrium. The RIAA's solution: sue the shit out of people

[protestthehero8]

JRowe3388 wrote:

^^ Its not like they did much about it in the first place.

+1. i agree 100%. the only thing i wouldn't miss with the abolishment of the RIAA is the rebirth of all the guitar tablature websites across the internet. as much as i love ultimate-guitar.com, there were a lot of sites that had tabs that this site doesn't.

[LewisMasonx]

Taborama, we miss you

[ss311]

If so, we should declare it a UG commemorative day.

[Twiggy81R]

smalRaptor :
Hey, I still by CDs. I just don't buy terrible CDs. Find me an artist that's worth my money, and stop suing people for download music from the Artists that aren't.

Agreed 100%

[H, Omitted]

to deadlyMETAL, the RIAA is the Recording Industry Association of America and yes it has to do with the "legalities" of downloading. They are a ridiculous corporation who are not really looking out for the interests of the artists, but for the interests of the parent company.

Their methods, as I'm sure countless people have quoted on here are ridiculous: shutting down perfectly good tab websites and suing people who download and rip music to their computers until they're wearing rags on the streets.

If the merger takes place, what is to say that what the RIAA started won't continue?

[guitarman47]

if this happens then the world will be a much better place

[Joey JoJo]

The days of extravagance and 'rock superstardom' in the music industry are definitely coming to an end. Thank god. The industry needs a swift shakeup and quickly.

[freedoms_stain]

the institution known s th RIAA will no longer exist, but the things it does will continue as it merges with the IFPI, so I don't know what you're all talkingabout.

[emr_steelmech]

smalRaptor wrote:

Hey, I still by CDs. I just don't buy terrible CDs. Find me an artist that's worth my money, and stop suing people for downloading music from the Artists that aren't.

well said, +1

[garrett5]

I still buy cd's at stores.... I just won't buy them for over 20 bucks...


I mean, my band sells our Demo cd for 3 bucks! and we need the money!

Professionals should sell their cd's for 10-15 dollars.

[CobenBlack]

kryptonite22 wrote:

music is not an industry to me, i refuse to accept it as being just that.

i may have missed the meaning of what your saying, so sorry if i have, but regardless, it is an industry, as people make money from it. people say its not important, but if you want to be the best musician you can and you want to practice lots of hours a day, then how are you going to do it with no money? you still need food and shelter.

[ColonyVice]

are records even going platinum these days?

[shenanigans]

hellraiser1133 wrote:

if bands don't make money, widespread music will cease to exist...instead, the next great zeppelins or beatles will be working at your local kmart, and will have sold their instruments to pay the rent...support your favorite bands and buy their cds

+10000

[Flesh N' Blood]

As a great singer once said, "where do we go now?"

[heavyprog]

omarrodrigez wrote:

For a working teenager like myself who cannot afford to buy even a quarter of the albums they want, piracy is unfortunately the only way to get the music you want. It doesn't really hurt the artist though, they get their money from touring and merch sales.

I don't think you're aware that artists get ripped off big time by the venues they play at and probably by the merch vendors too. I've heard that some venues have two sets of books (one for the band, and one for themselves). Musicians have it hard enough without people taking their music for free. I'm not saying I don't have any downloaded stuff on my iPod, but I make an effort to buy as much as I can. My general rule of thumb is that it's okay to download from a band if you already own like 70% of their catalogue.

[Confused2316]

garrett5 wrote:

I still buy cd's at stores.... I just won't buy them for over 20 bucks...


I mean, my band sells our Demo cd for 3 bucks! and we need the money!

Professionals should sell their cd's for 10-15 dollars.

Some of them do, but I don't think it's low enough. If CD prices were to go down to around 7 dollars, I think there would be a lot more people willing to buy them.

[utahotc]

I still buy CD's, and avoid downloading anything I can find with a little effort. In fact, none of my stuff is actually downloaded, but I used to. Owning the hard copy of the music is the best part about it! There are few things as awesome as going to your local music store with your friends to support the latest release.

Internet streaming is absolutely a great tool to assist artists. For example, Roadrunner released Dream Theater's Constant Motion track from Systematic Chaos for FREE before the release of the CD. This got me even more excited about the release.

[742627000017]

I live in Lithuania wich isnt a very great country if you like alternative music...and i live in a small city which sells only this shit http://www.blogas.lt/uploads/g/Grafkeiveta/37403.bmp
So somebodys are expecting that i will get albums like Deathcrush,Fecal Matter tapes and rare albums???

p.s.: does playng a youtube video and recording sound counts as piracy???

[TheAngryMob875]

Without the music industry, music will fall apart. a lot of people dont think it will, but think about it. if every band in the world is selling albums like radiohead, then .1) the band wont make any money at all .2) there will be too much music floating around thei nternet to get ur hands on and .3) america will lose some great british bands and vice versa. although they do some stupid shit, with out them, piracy will be overwhelming and uncontrollable.

[EndOfNothing656]

omarrodrigez wrote:

For a working teenager like myself who cannot afford to buy even a quarter of the albums they want, piracy is unfortunately the only way to get the music you want. It doesn't really hurt the artist though, they get their money from touring and merch sales.

Exactly thank you, they charge $17-$20 for a CD with only like 9-11 songs on it and no words? Its a rip off for 1 and secondly, young teenagers and young adults who are really into the music scene cant afford to pay for every album they want, otherwise i would buy every damn album

[GeoffJ]

TheAngryMob875 wrote:

Without the music industry, music will fall apart.

Music will never fall apart. People like to play it and people want to hear it. It's as simple as that.

[Decembero]

GeoffJ wrote:

TheAngryMob875 wrote:

Without the music industry, music will fall apart.


Music will never fall apart. People like to play it and people want to hear it. It's as simple as that.

THANKYOU! The RIAA is trying to protect artists and bands but is going about it the entirely wrong way, i.e sueing everyone they find with illegal music on their computers. I seriously hope they rethink all their strategies.

[aliceinnirvana]

Comeback Kiddd wrote:

Give Me Free Music or give me death

Don't disgrace Patrick Henry like that.
I don't know how to feel about this though.

[Decembero]

kryptonite22 wrote:

i am 100% behind the artists here, if you download a record illegally and you like it, then go buy it and in doing so, make it possible for the artist to make another one. the problem is not that people endlessly download everything they can necessarily, its that people used to waste their money on music they didnt like, whereas now they can have a choice before they buy. people in general do not have the money to buy every single release they are remotely interested in either.

dont get me wrong, i really think musicians deserve our support through buying it when you can, but for me, the huge fact that stands in the way of anything else anyone counterargues with is that when the RIAA sees an album, it doesnt see a work of art, it sees dollar signs. i dont support that at all. the RIAA has no relevance to me.

+1 They sued the family of a dead woman who had downloaded some music, 6 months after her death. Dollar signs. What THEY are doing is criminal.

[RedAsterix]

Download digital (cds)
Pay for analog (vinyls)

[OffspringPhreak]

smalRaptor wrote:

Hey, I still by CDs. I just don't buy terrible CDs. Find me an artist that's worth my money, and stop suing people for download music from the Artists that aren't.

I agree. Everything that I download I *always* end up buying anyways(Even if I have to search Ebay or the pawn shops around here.). If they'd lower the price of CDs, more people would be inclined to buy them. I love buying cds, flipping through the booklets, *having* the music.

They just gotta get realistic. I don't like paying 20 bucks for a new cd, just to have some sort of Special Edition with bonus DVD come out a few months, or a year later. That's insane.

Hopefully this changes things; but who knows.

[jane_says]

yea, even wen someone downloads something illegally, alot of people go out and buy the whole album because they like the song so much. i say let music b music and dont let money control it, thats y radiohead is awesomme, releasing an album for nothing, letting fans decide on wat to pay, could be free, could be 45 bucks, watever u make it

[pootoob]

It's bullshit. If they were intent on stopping internet piracy, they would sue companies, such as limewire, bearshare, ares and all those p2p shit like metallica did.
I live in New Zealand, and here a whole chain of cd stores closed because of lack of profit, when they were selling cds for $35-45, and they blamed piracy for their loss of money. I buy all the music I love, and the other stuff, where I like 1 or 2 songs by the band off different cds, why the **** would I want to buy said albums?

[The Spoon]

I hope so...i pirate my music but i still buy alot.

[vanceboy]

A lot of restructuring needs to go on...for too long have the wrong people made all the money. Even though digital downloads are cheaper, they still have your music by the balls. Definitely don't make music free, but rather restructure and get your sh1t together.

[Oldmonkeys]

Comeback Kiddd wrote:

Give Me Free Music or give me death

that can be aranged

[Sevenfoldizm]

The Record Labels give the band hardly any of the profit anyways. Take for instance, if they make 22 million on the cd the band is lucky to get 50k

[seek_&_destroy]

Would demonoid be reborn?

[hot-pyro]

Music doesn't need an industry! Art and capitalism don't mix.

That's a beautiful line, completely true.

They sued the family of a dead woman who had downloaded some music, 6 months after her death. Dollar signs. What THEY are doing is criminal.

That is just wrong... my God, i knew the RIAA was bs, but thats just taking it too far. Greedy @$$holes. They're getting what they deserve.

[Wakisazhi]

Hmmm am I missing something? Seriously it sounds like its just a merger (and its only a possibility, nothing set in stone). Also the article said operations would still remain just less funding if things work out, as far as I can see it it's just making one bigger monster instead of 2 seperate ones. So can someone explain it a bit better?

[AnoKid09]

Johnny Trash wrote:

Personally, I think the music industry as a whole is pretty ****ed up.
Or just totally ****ed up.

+1

I say bring back Vinyls (Y)

[Vornik]

The RIAA is an absurd organization. Music piracy has existed for decades and it will never go away. People like music. The RIAA exists in order to extort money from ordinary people in backhanded, illegal and preposterous ways, and is a blight on society. Modern day highwaymen.

[shabutie86]

omarrodrigez wrote:

For a working teenager like myself who cannot afford to buy even a quarter of the albums they want, piracy is unfortunately the only way to get the music you want. It doesn't really hurt the artist though, they get their money from touring and merch sales.

Thats such a bullsh*t statement. Touring and merch isn't worth anything. You have to get T-shirts made and pay back the money, plus you have to get CD's made and you can't sell them at regular CD prices especially if your a small time band. Now bands like Metallica, **** em, they got millions of dollars. If you can't afford something too ****ing bad, welcome to the rest of the working class. I was a new marshall amp but I havn't got it yet. If you want to steal music at least be a man about it walk into a store and try to take it ,if you need it that bad you'll get away with it.

[Wayward_Son]

[quote=TFA]If that happens, the "RIAA" might disappear even as its work continues.[/quote]
Gahh. I had my hopes up.

[perilouspete]

I think in this day and age, the bottom line is that bands are going to have to tour and sell other stuff to make money. At least that would get rid of all the shitty bands who can't even put on good live acts. It probably won't work because you need to tour a lot to start making money, but if they want to make money on their music they're going to have to change the whole way people buy music. They'll have to somehow secure the digital files so that people can't get them without paying, which will take lots of thinking. There's always going to be someone who will crack new technology. You put on a lock, someone finds out how to break it, and you're right back where you started.

[bloodwire2004]

omarrodrigez wrote:

For a working teenager like myself who cannot afford to buy even a quarter of the albums they want, piracy is unfortunately the only way to get the music you want. It doesn't really hurt the artist though, they get their money from touring and merch sales.

Dumbest shit ever. How much do you think they can make? Some bands have to tour without some members of the band solely due to how much it costs to make the merch! Take it into account, but I'd definitely say that CD's should be lowered to a max of $10, unless it's a dual-disc, etc. However, that leads to many problems in terms of record companies bitching and moaning that they can't drive their BMW's anymore, but hey, we don't give a shit about the integrity of music anymore, right? Let's allow shit music on our radios and give them every bit of praise we should be giving to people that, well, actually play their instruments and aren't only musicians based on their appearance. IE. FALL OUT BOY & Britney Spears.

[tetsuma]

To the quoted person above me,
you are retarded.

If stealing something is the only way to get something you want, you probably shouldn't have it in the first place.

People work damn hard to produce albums, and because you can't get off your arse and mow some lawns you think you're entitled to it for free?

Go **** yourself.

[MTVget0FFtheAIR]

wow. honestly, **** the RIAA. **** digital music and **** cd's. go back to licorice pizzas. can't load them onto a computer, better sound, cooler/more creative artwork on the covers. it's a win for everybody.

[Dvnc]

James_Het_Rules wrote:

I do believe one very wise musician said that change to the music world was coming. This could be it. But regardless of fame and fortune to bands and what not, i myself would stick an album out for free anyways, i just love making and playing music, and the problem that comes with this is that SOME musicians NOT ALL of them do it for money... and besides... like the guy above me said... most people make their money touring. and id rather see a band live than buy an album any day.

Was that wise musician, DAVE MUSTAINE?

[ZepFan109]

smalRaptor wrote:

Hey, I still by CDs. I just don't buy terrible CDs. Find me an artist that's worth my money, and stop suing people for download music from the Artists that aren't.

I cant' agree with you more

[CoolDudeMorgasm]

We can only hope the RIAA really does disappear.

[TK1]

what many of these people dont realize is that if they ever become big and famous, this could possibly cripple their own sales.

[asator]

For a working teenager like myself who cannot afford to buy even a quarter of the albums they want, piracy is unfortunately the only way to get the music you want. It doesn't really hurt the artist though, they get their money from touring and merch sales.

dont be a prick. how would you feel if you spent months and months making the best album you possibly could, put your own money into it, exhausted yourself recording and promoting it, nearly went bankrupt getting discs pressed and packaging made, then had some tosser take it for free off the internet?

[khalilizad]

i remember as a kid listening all night to the radio to try to catch the latest g-n-r, poison, or def leppard song(showin my age) on cassette. that way i could listen over and over to music i loved. i see file sharing as the same thing. i'll be damned if i'm gonna pay 20 bucks for a cd unless i absolutely love every song on it! i know it's how musicians make their money, but i refused to be ripped off like that. in all actuallity, i'd probably spend a lot more money on cd's if they'd make the price reasonable.

[bananahippo]

Art is Priceless

yeah so **** the RIAA

[Insolent]

EMI are my favourite major label at this point.

[Covin]

Comeback Kiddd wrote:

Give Me Free Music or give me death

I hate you. I want to write music for a living.....free music won't do that, no matter how many shows I play.

[JamesCopti]

i'm getting free shit anyway....

[vash_08]

I've talked to quite a few bands on indie labels saying that they barely make enough money to live off of, but still keep playing and making CDs, because its what they love to do. Some of them have even said that they don't care about people pirating their music, they just want people to listen to them, and go their shows, and have fun.

The fall of the RIAA would weed out all of the bands that are just out there to make money, and all we would have are the ones who truly care about the music.

[blasphemy666]

this happened with tape trade if anyone remembers

[z4twenny]

first off i see it like this, i have bought every metallica album several times (yes EVERY, including load, reload and st anger, i love their music and i don't care if you guys don't "get it") and had every cd lost/stolen from me. i know for a fact i've purchased M.O.P. at least 8 times. they owe me copies of those albums i've bought a ton of times.

secondly, cd prices are definately ridiculous, new releases are $18 + tax, unless your cd has 20+ songs on it (ie double disc) and all the songs are good im not gonna pay that much money. i bought christ illusion and lucked out cuz i liked the whole thing. i think digital distribution is the way to go to actually make a profit

lastly, screw record labels. they get 90% of the profit made from music and then have the audacity to push awful f#cking music .... fallout boy, britney spears, panic at the disco.... you may like these bands but you have to question would you still like them if they weren't played on mtv and the media hadn't told you that you were supposed to like them? the record companys control what is popular by what THEY think will sell. i personally would be content to write what i like music wise and distribute it free and know that other people enjoy my creations.

[Ibzman]

They shouldn't have exist in the first place. Nobody would have thought about downloading music if it wouldn't be so costy. Those who really need people to buy their albums can't afford to put them on HMV's racks. I buy a lot of CDs but for an average of 15-20$ per cd for a student, money goes down fast. It's ridiculous, really. I couldn't feel bad about downloading since I only do it if I'm broke but I hardly download more than 30-40 songs a year. It's too bad we're stuck with this problem, not only for the artists who deserve it, but also for the technicians, engineers and management people who are involved too.

[2113]

LewisMasonx wrote:

deansouthpaw wrote:

when will people learn. Music doesn't need an industry! Art and capitalism don't mix.

So true. A crackpot idea would be just to not allow digital music. No digital music, no music on computer system, no downloading.

Of course that's not an option in modern day and age, but if music didn't exist digitally, problem gone. People would still be living in a vinyl age.

WOuldn't work, All I have to do is hook up a line in jack to my turntable and record it. VOILA! Digital music. Sounds badass, too, analog quality, secksy stuff.


Here's what's going to happen: Either the industry is going to find a way to massively adapt, or they keep attacking us until they lose all their money and there is a massive fallout and a massive roots uprising. Anyone can record anything today, anyway. From the ashes of the music industry record labels with the original purpose of distribution will rise again.


it's obvious, it's easy, and it's going to happen.

[perilouspete]

tetsuma wrote:

To the quoted person above me,
you are retarded.

If stealing something is the only way to get something you want, you probably shouldn't have it in the first place.

People work damn hard to produce albums, and because you can't get off your arse and mow some lawns you think you're entitled to it for free?

Go **** yourself.

I agree 100%. Good comment.

[Phe4rTheGod]

i think ppl should be allowed to sample an album...LIKE YOU CAN AT FYE! if you dont enjoi it then dont buy it...piracy is stealing...i have copied cds but only to introduce underground bands to ppl...and if i like a band enough then im gonna support them...making music for these guyz is their occupation AND their art...cant make music all day and not get paid for squat...

...AND TO HELL WITH THE RIIA! corporate scum...

[xbry89x]

They aren't losing money off me, that would only be possible if I were going to buy those albums to begin with

[cloudy_skies]

tetsuma wrote:
If stealing something is the only way to get something you want, you probably shouldn't have it in the first place.

People work damn hard to produce albums, and because you can't get off your arse and mow some lawns you think you're entitled to it for free?

Obviously nothing is free in this world. But the sad fact is that the music industry has been ripping people off for years. Albums used to cost $5-10 before the CD technology arrived. After that, people had to pay $17 for a CD even though it only costed $5 to make. Now people have to pay $20 for a CD that costs $1 to make. Some of that money goes to the artist, some to the producers, some to the retailers, but the vast majority of that money goes to the labels who don't write, record, produce, or do anything but market the music. Now they are crying poor because with the advent of digital music and home recording, they aren't as necessary as they used to be. Serves them right.

Who is the bigger criminal here: the person who, although otherwise completely innocent, downloads a few songs without paying for them, or the person who charges ridiculously high prices for a product, treats the manufacturers of that product like commodities instead of people, and uses shady and flat out unfair legal procedures to avoid getting busted?

[Blash]

deansouthpaw wrote:

when will people learn. Music doesn't need an industry! Art and capitalism don't mix.

I completely agree, you practically took the words out of my mouth.

[Comeback Kiddd]

Covin wrote:

Comeback Kiddd wrote:

Give Me Free Music or give me death


I hate you. I want to write music for a living.....free music won't do that, no matter how many shows I play.

Im going to downlaod your music too.

[jshizznit]

well...this may be true, but if musicians dont have enough money from there album to go on tour then music as we know it might just disentegrate

[TOMMYB22]

whatever the truth is that the only thing that will happen is that we will not keep track of album sales so the Billboard 200 chart will disappear but who cares

it doesnt matter if they are around or not because paricy will NEVER stop. their trying to scare people and make it sound like they will sue everyone who downloads music but lets think reasonably out of the possible 100,000,000 people downloading music they have sued maybe 50

no matter what the previous ppl have (no offence) but artists make all their money of touring and merchandise because for albums and digital sale the artist makes next to nothing they might make a few dollars or cents because when they spread out who gets how much cash the artist is at the bottom of the food chain. for example radiohead may not have sold as many albums as justin timberlake but i bet they got more money in the end. besides a blank cd costs 25 cents, that plus the artists work on it, what gives them the right to charge 25 dollars for it

tetsuma wrote:
People work damn hard to produce albums

think about how much they pay to produce it and think about how much we have to pay

[alexjulia]

if riaa disappears, then the whole recording industry will deteriorate. bands as it is make a very small profit off of album sales because of piracy, and if riaa goes out, then it will not be worth it to record because there would be little to no profit. everyone loves to get free music, dont get me wrong, but its seriously harming the recording industry. riaa doesnt really do jack shit compared to what they could do, but they do enough to keep the piracy on a decent level.


think if your band was starting to get big, and you recorded some really awsome songs and put a cd out. alot of people like you, and you think your going to make alot of money off of this record. but around comes the time when all the sales are calculated, and it turns out everyone pirated your stuff and you didnt sell any copys!

sorry if i wrote this so bad, im tired as balls.

[jake_blakeley]

so many acronyms i don;t even know what most of them mean lol

[vIsIbleNoIsE]

TOMMYB22 wrote:
think about how much they pay to produce it and think about how much we have to pay

think about how much a plastic case of much less than an hour of music should cost someone

to me, $15 is almost pushing it.

[sohter]

since when should bands solely rely on merch and shows for cash?!? its called a f***ing part time job. in yer off seasons recording shit take some time out and flip some burgs.

[clincher09]

Comeback Kiddd wrote:

Give Me Free Music or give me death

Free muisc = no music

[CJRocker]

I think the point people are missing is a very important one; EMI is looking to pull funding as they can't afford to fund it. I just read today that they are cutting Two THOUSAND workers. The Change EMI probably wants is a change in how they get the RIAA's money. I am no fan of the RIAA, but I think EMI is doing this for purely business reasons and not political.

[audiorage092]

look dude...i download music..but that's only because everybody else does. this really needs to be stopped. Hopefully some smart, brave, and responsible politician will finally end this madness

[the boogieman]

ill agree that the RIAA is needed as a governning body, however, they way they run their operations needs to be overhauled. they need to change with the times

[Dead_End]

Spay wrote:

Piracy = Bad for everyone

RIAA = Bad ideas for solutions to the problem above and their a bunch of money hungry capitolists as well

I'm not sure how this will work out. I really hate the RIAA, but we need some sort of control, like the artists themselves dictating how their music is treated legally or something

+1 =/

[jthm_guitarist]

I don't download music, and I try to buy music. The problem is that no one sells music, save for rap.

[Kayfan]

sohter wrote:

since when should bands solely rely on merch and shows for cash?!? its called a f***ing part time job. in yer off seasons recording shit take some time out and flip some burgs.

Rome wasn't built in a day, neither are good bands.

You lazy musicians really need to go do some real work; this age is built on instant gratification, and a belief that every band is going to be the next big thing. Most of you need a reality check

[RedNovember]

Did anyone look twice at what that article said?

"the "RIAA" might disappear "even as it's work continues."

Which means that everything the RIAA stands for IS GOING TO STILL BE AROUND. Still putting restrictions on shit. Still suing people for piracy.

as for the whole download or no download thing goes, personally, I'd be elated if our music was stolen. that means people actually LIKE IT enough to steal it. And when it DOESget out, everyone will buy merch, go to shows, and MOST IMPORTANTLY enjoy the music they were supposed to in the first place.

Music was never about "download or not to download". It has ALWAYS been an art form and a form of expression. And no one seems to remember that anymore.

[deterramone]

Good. Kill it. Throw it off a cliff like a deformed Spartan child, then piss on it for good measure. Art is for everyone. There's no reason you should be paying $20 for a CD. It's not like the artist even receives a somewhat profitable portion of the album sales. The bulk of a musician's income comes through merchandising and touring. Record sales merely line the pockets of their corporate fat-cat pimps. Keep music free. Don't fund this festering ulcer of an industry that's responsible for keeping music in a constant limbo of mediocrity.

[deterramone]

Besides, look at Fugazi. $10 for a CD, $5 to get into one of their shows, and they're legends now. Seems like some "artists" need to get their priorities straightened out.

[timster36]

Spay wrote:

Piracy = Bad for everyone

RIAA = Bad ideas for solutions to the problem above and their a bunch of money hungry capitolists as well

I'm not sure how this will work out. I really hate the RIAA, but we need some sort of control, like the artists themselves dictating how their music is treated legally or something

well thats just like, your opinion, man.

haha, i totally agree though.

[Kirenjob]

Its a merger, they arent just gonna disapear. MERGER meaning they're work will continue. Just under a different name and with, as it says, less funding.
It didnt even say if it was DEFINATLY gonna happen or not. I admit what they do sometimes is down right wrong. Im just hoping they will do the right thing and not be greedy. Not going for the small people who download. But the people who offer the downloading online. Such as Limewire. etc. If they do that. I probably would be disappointed that limewire and all got shut down if they did. But its better than them trying to sue whoever downloads it.
I dont like paying $20 for a CD either. But thats how it is. I buy pretty much all the music I have.
Its called the Music INDUSTRY because people earn their livings off music. It is an industry. You may not like it but its true.

[Decembero]

Spay wrote:


Piracy = Bad for everyone

RIAA = Bad ideas for solutions to the problem above and their a bunch of money hungry capitolists as well

I'm not sure how this will work out. I really hate the RIAA, but we need some sort of control, like the artists themselves dictating how their music is treated legally or something

Metallica tried to do that with napster, and they got slammed by most of their fans. Its a f*cked up mess that will never by properly sorted.

The guy who said art and capitalism don't mix... 100% perfect statement.

The record labels get the lion's share of the profits from albums, and that should be changed too. My friend's band has no money cos most of the proceeds go to their record label. They are struggling to pull money together to record their next album, and the label doesnt help them much. And they have toured their asses off.

[ksm271]

the music industry had its chance. screw them. the idea of digital downloading was brought up to them WAYYY before the first napster came out. they blew their chance of getting a hold of it since they became so greedy with record sales. the artist doesn't even receive 50% of cd sales. F*** the riaa.

[LitanY]

If downloading didn't exist, 9 out of 10 artists wouldn't be playing anymore..

[Regression]

If there are quite a few good songs on an album, I'll buy it, if it's only one or 2 songs, as much as I'd still like to buy it, I just don't have the money. In the end, if you're a true fan, you'd buy the bands albums. The album is like the product they spent all there time working on, and downloading it just seems like you are degrading it. I wouldn't buy an album off Itunes ever, as an example, because it isn't the entire product, the packaging is a part of it too.

[hughball]

i think more clarity is needed as to where the money from cd sales goes. At the end of the day the artist is rarely managing to break even because they end up in debt to the record company they work for.

Checked.

[Ch@0s]

I download music only because I can't find any store that sells them all the stores are full of rap!

[HawkaLuigi]

If the RIAA disappears, something else will just take its place. I can't deny that I'm a pirate, so I'm automatically biased to one side. The RIAA has a good cause, but it's just not going to win.

It's like..trying to catch a swarm of bees with a fly swatter. It won't stop the onslaught.

[Cheesepuff]

The music industry will eventually change mediums. From vinyl to casette tapes to CDs was easy because it was all physical but now that it's not physical anymore, some revolution needs to happen.

[Aziraphale]

Comeback Kiddd wrote:

Give Me Free Music or give me death

*smacks forehead*

Ugh, anyway, a lot of people justify downloading by saying they support the artists and not the "capitalists". Well, touring is expensive as hell. And the longer your tours get, the bigger your venues get and the bigger your staff gets, the more money it'll cost you. Most people I know who tour make microscopic profits. What record companies do is they support the artists by paying for tours, staff, promotion, webdesign, proffessional recording studios and producers and whatnot. By dissing the record companies as greedy capitalists, you're doing the exact opposite of supporting the artists, forcing them to make smaller tours, crappier recordings and maybe even getting other jobs that keep them from making music in the first place. And you also kill the possibilities of seeing bands play that are from other continents and so on cause they can't afford to travel so far. It's a vicious circle.

[kdcisgod]

ColonyVice wrote:

are records even going platinum these days?

no, they get more seeds than the other records

[kryptonite22]

CobenBlack wrote:
i may have missed the meaning of what your saying, so sorry if i have, but regardless, it is an industry, as people make money from it. people say its not important, but if you want to be the best musician you can and you want to practice lots of hours a day, then how are you going to do it with no money? you still need food and shelter.

of course you do, i wouldnt dispute that. and its a way for people to make a living, but i equally dont like it when bands like 30 seconds to mars openly talk about how they see their band as a vehicle for ripping kids off. play music because you love music. listen to music because you love music. money comes if you are good at what you do and if you take certain chances when they come. you cant do certain things with no money but money shouldnt be the ultimate goal, and it shouldnt be a reason for people to play music. maybe thats just me.

[njroc26]

hellraiser1133 wrote:

if bands don't make money, widespread music will cease to exist...instead, the next great zeppelins or beatles will be working at your local kmart, and will have sold their instruments to pay the rent...support your favorite bands and buy their cds

some people on here have a brain

[dantallica]

2 b honest it will b brilliant if the riaa stops, but like many people hav said we need some power ther to control things from goin out of hand. artists wont make money any1 if they stop!!

[Scorge]

wow, EMI are talkin serious business.
well that's how you get some action. don't f---ing pay 'em.

[Masonpwiley]

hellraiser1133 wrote:

if bands don't make money, widespread music will cease to exist...instead, the next great zeppelins or beatles will be working at your local kmart, and will have sold their instruments to pay the rent...support your favorite bands and buy their cds

Indie labels ftw.

[Ali-b912]

hellraiser1133 wrote:

if bands don't make money, widespread music will cease to exist...instead, the next great zeppelins or beatles will be working at your local kmart, and will have sold their instruments to pay the rent...support your favorite bands and buy their cds

the next zeppelin will probably end up like that anyway. the musical world is getting smarter, but then general public is getting stupider. the top rock bands are pretty rubbish and hardly rock. punks are making a mockery of their style, metal has gone out of control, hard rock is like jelly. its sad but true. plus bands get most of their money from touring and alot of album and single sales goes to record labels..

[ZeroYuy]

In my opinion, if a band isn't playing just to play, they should stop calling themselves a band and hang it up.

If ALL that matters to them is not the music they make, but the money that it makes them, they should just hang their instruments up, and burn their instrument. (This is the common practice in martial arts to show that you have disgraced your belt by either doing something insane, or mistreating it).

People will probably fight me on this, but I honestly don't care. My opinion will ALWAYS be that in an artist can't play their instrument because they love it, they should just give it up.

Of course I know they work hard to make this but the point still stands that it doesn't make sense to sue the crap out of their fans. It just shows how money hungry they are.

Final words;
Music IS NOT something to be used solely for making money. If you're not playing it to contribute to the vast world of music, to just PLAY it and have people enjoy it because you ARE playing it..Well..You should stop calling yourself an artist and start calling yourself an ass.

Also, is there an actual update on this situation? I'm curious if they've come to their descision yet.

[identityxcrysis]

In my personal opinion(which no one usually cares about) we should keep the RIAA around.

I mean, I hate them as much as the next bittorrent user, but we do need them, even if they just sit on their asses and do nothing all day..or..less then usual.
Because piracy is costing the industries lots of money, but hey, I don't care!
Now if the RIAA is gone, some people will a little less morals, will start downloading when they didn't before, because theres then absolutely no risk. If people THINK theres a risk (being caught by the RIAA) then it'll, if even, a few hundred people from downloading, which is a few hundred dollars worth of people the industry is still making.
So why not keep them around, we all know the secret, the RIAA can't do a damn thing, so let the people who think they can keep thinking that. It's not affecting us then who cares, ya know?

[identityxcrysis]

wow....I need to wake up, I murdered my last post.

Lets retry this

In my personal opinion(which no one usually cares about) we should keep the RIAA around.

I mean, I hate them as much as the next bittorrent user, but we do need them, even if they just sit on their asses and do nothing all day..or..less then usual.
Piracy is costing the industries lots of money, but hey, I don't care!
Now if the RIAA is gone, some people with a little less morals, will start downloading when they didn't before, because theres then absolutely no risk. If people THINK theres a risk (being caught by the RIAA) then it'll stop, if even, a few hundred people from downloading, which is a few hundred dollars worth of people the industry is still making.
So why not keep them around, we all know the secret, the RIAA can't do a damn thing, so let the people who think they can keep thinking that. It's not affecting us then who cares, ya know?