Filesharing.... illegal downloads etc..

[Sunil]

People need to figure out whether they love/sell music or whether they love/sell vinyl.

Ok, we're losing track here. This isn't really meant to be about digital vs vinyl actually, but somehow we've got there again!
Anyway, I think Soulseek, Limewire etc. is ****in bollocks and predominantly for scrounging cunts who want to screw the artist, who don't consider labels or artists in any way... and many of them people who'll then turn around and say how little good music gets released today... I wonder why?. Ok, filesharing might be here to stay, but that doesn't mean there can't be opposition to it. I wish they were ALL closed down and outlawed.

but not everyone could put out a record 10 years ago. Now everyone with a broadband connection, a few mates and some cracked software can start up a new label featuring new artists and distribute their work through an online record shop. All at very little to no cost.

You think this is really positive?? It's just opening the floodgates to half assed 'labels'. Granted I can understand existing labels moving to become digital only, but as a new label starting out I think going straight into digital format displays a bit of a lack of ambition, either that or they just aren't ready to be a proper record label yet.
Anyway, a record is an actual physical record, not a few mp3s.

And with so much more media and content about consumers are increasingly more reliant on someone to cherry pick the good stuff for them.

Basically translated = People are now lazier bastards than ever.

Good news for labels, djs etc - they are becoming more important because there is more content about now than there has ever been before. And as about a thousand people have complained before - 90% of it is all shite.

Man, you speak so factually and I don't know where you're getting half of this from?? Good news for labels and DJs? Hmmm, I don't follow, I really don't.

[Jay Pace]

Its part of my job to know about this stuff. I can give you more information if you are interested. The digital filesharing issue isn't dissimilar to whats happening with TV, films and even the changes happening in print - people reading websites for free rather than buy the paper/magazine.

The filesharing debate is valid for vinyl because prior to filesharing the only way to get techno records was to buy them in vinyl format. You would buy them from a record shop, who would buy them from a distributor, who would have them pressed in a plant, etc etc all at a pretty high cost to the consumer.
Record shops wholly controlled access to music. If you didn't buy it in a record shop, you wouldn't get it at all. What digital is doing, starting with filesharing, evolving into services like napster or mp3 shops like beatport, is increasing the access points to music. Record shops no longer have a monopoly. Consumer's aren't dependent on vinyl, and huge swathes are turning their backs on it. Paying £8 a record doesn't have as much appeal when you can download tracks for a pound.

DJs and labels can become more important because instead of merely being access to points to music (i.e. the only way you can get to hear it) they can become trusted content providers. There is more content about now than ever before. This doesn’t make consumers lazy – it just that there are thousands of producers and artists out there, in addition to some 4000 magazines, 400 tv channels, hundreds of radio stations and millions of websites.

People need recommendation more than ever. They need labels to provide consistently good records, and djs to filter through the dross and play them the best music about. They need record shops to be more selective about the records that they stock. Its all part of a general movement from mass to niche.
Its not enough just to sell techno, or play techno, you need filter it out for a certain audience, who will grow to trust you and become loyal to you.

Not sure I’m explaining this well.
Sorry if you’re getting burned by all this as well – don’t you work in a record shop? I think filesharing is pretty shitty and would rather pay, but if I can’t get hold of records I want it’s a last resort option.

[Sunil]

Some good points man, I still think the 'good news' for DJs and labels is a little far fetched, but it does fit into the scheme of the points you are making I guess.

Re: Record shop... I do work at one, and my boss has certainly felt a bit of a pinch over the last few years. Downloading etc. is across the board, not just dance music so overall there has been a drop in business. If we were just dealing in techno, electro and house or something we probably wouldn't have stood much of a chance; but because we do other styles of non dance music and spread it all out, we can survive.

Other than filesharing, I think one of record shops main problems are online record shops like Juno etc. but that's just our own tough shit :)

I agree with shops having to filter the crap, it's something we all try our best to do, and it is ultimately what creates the identity of a shop. Being specialist enough, but also putting other people's tastes ahead of your own sometimes is important. There is the bread and butter stuff that has to be ordered in too.

I do have strong opinions on filesharing, sure, but it's not just because I work at a shop, but because I hate seeing how much filesharing is taking out of the scene, and how many talented producers or interesting labels have had to basically call it a day.

Personally I don't buy into the digital file so much myself, but that's personal preference, I know it's now a fact of life and that it suits some people better. If money does make its way back to the artist then great, I'm just not sure that this way of distribution and direction for labels is going to be as effective and rewarding as the previous model we had. Sure, it's the consumer that wins out most this time around, there just needs to be a fairer balance somehow... a cutback in filesharing and tougher legislation would, I hope, improve this situation.

[djshiva]

online stores have cut out the smarmy know-it-all record store guy behind the counter experience. not to say all record store employees are like that, but boy have i dealt with some jerks in my time. especially walking into an out-of-town store as a woman and getting the "who the **** are you and why are you here?" attitude (it happens to everybody, but the attitudes get really weird when you are female; no kidding).

that said, i have met some fabulous record shop workers who helped me find great stuff too. gramaphone in chicago, 611 in philly and planet x (when it was a physical store) being some of the best ones! :)

[Col]

i dont really give a :****, i ll download everything. if its really worth it i ll buy it.

my thoughts exactly.

but i dont really download techno anymore. i really cant be arsed with 1. the wait. 2. the strain on my CPU and 3. the more often than not dissapointing end product.

[module]

i use Azureus every f**kin day. and ya knwo what for ? tv. Family Guy & American Dad & IT Crowd & My Name Is Earl.

the only music i EVER d'loaded was Coldplay, Eminem & Ice Cube.

^^^ i dont think these artists are gonna miss the few £££

[TechMouse]

Record shops wholly controlled access to music.

Bingo.

Now the whole digital thing (whatever the format) has totally undermined the stranglehold the labels / shops had over the music industry, and they're mourning the loss of their monopoly.

Suddenly people aren't so keen to pay £7 a ****ing throw for a tune. I don't blame 'em. £7 for a piece of plastic is obscene.

Don't get me wrong, I buy loads of vinyl each month - and I'd never dream of playing out a CD-R of anything unless it's: A) my tune, B) a tune that I cannot get hold of any other way, or C) a joke of some description.

All this dedication to the scene is raping my bank balance though, that's for sure.

Perhaps if labels had a 3 tier structure: £1 download, £3 CD, £5 vinyl... then maybe people might not feel so utterly abused and end up downloading tunes illegally.