music is not ( supposed to be) free!!!!

[webassassin]

and in regard to mix tapes/Cds, I would say this market has been affected 10 times more by Mp3 downloads, and the reason you don't see so many mix or Live cds, or CD album releases is because it's not so viable in the current climate when it's going to end up on soulseek straight away anyway.. This is why only really big artists are releasing Mix comps, as they're going to have to sell a fair few to cover the licencing costs to all the labels that have trax on the mix.. Still feel ok about downloading sets off SS?

What about sets that are not previously available on CD and its just a promoter/punter who recorded it from a event? I've only downloaded sets for which there is no retail copy of and they're found mostly from this website.

Vinyl sales have decreased for a number of reasons in my opinion, Mp3 downloads have had an effect for sure, but there are other considerations that have to be made, there are many more people having a crack at producing and running the labels, and techno is no-where near as popular as it was 10 years ago, and this is a reality that has to be faced, no matter how much faith you have in the scene.. And legal action is not an option, there is simply not enough money in this scene to make it viable, Lawyers and going to court costs money, probably a damnsite more money that you are going to be awarded if you did win a case....

Yeah, way more people are producing therefore they're busy buying gear and computers, which effects their budget for buying records, and going out to events, etc. Its actually frivolous to think of involving the law in this case.

And in regard to the old chestnut "Djs earn in a night more than I earn all week", this is very easily said when you're sat in front of your computer bored at work, but stop to think for a minute for all the other weekends a DJ/Live act might not have a gig.. that might be their only gig of the month... which means that might just about only cover their rent for that month.. Because I'll tell you now from personal experience, there are very, very few artists that are booked every night, every weekend, and the ones that are probably don't even stop to think about Mp3 downloads as they are most probably earning enough for it not to bother them too much..This is what makes the difference between selling 1000 records and selling 1200, those 200 records could well be the profit that you are going to miss out on...

Excellent point, I know one artist who you'd think would be getting gigs because he's seems to be pretty hot right now but even he's told me that he may have to get a part time job to pay the bills. (Chalk it up to promoters acting funny with the bookings, making empty promises and p & d's going bad or none at all.) And really, why should he? He put his whole body into make this his career, do or die but reality is a b*tch. Same with another artist whom I've literally seen the number of gigs dwindled to zilch this past 7 years and now has to work full time after being able to support himself through this for almost 15 years; just basically having to start all over. Yeah I know, who wants to hear a sob story, "Boo-hoo" but its f'ed up nonetheless.

And anyone out there who thinks it's their idea of a "Dream job" really has no idea what it entails to live this thing 24/7, and whilst for myself, I would never moan about it, (and count my blessings I don't work a shitty factory job) I would love to see them live their life as a touring Producer/DJ and then come back to me and say the same thing, being away from friends and family, having times when you don't know how you will pay your rent next month, having to travel long distances whilst REALLY tired, not being able to do what YOU want on a weekend, can really be a drag sometimes, and it's only pure love for the music and being lucky enough to do what you do that gets you through it, it ain't all living it up, private jets, fast cars and fast women, I can tell you that now.....

Amen. OR have your luggage temporarily lost, or crazy sh*t happening to the promoter and you don't get paid...there's horror stories. You might be in some exotic locale but the gig may not turn out right. But when its good its quite rewarding when you work hard, like any other job.

Anyway, Henry, sorry to hear someone pushed this under your nose so much, I had a similar experience once in Leipzig when someone showed me a white label they had pressed themselves of a very rare record of mine, although I was kind of impressed at the dedication that had driven someone to do that, and the original was nigh on impossible to get hold of....

Wow. And plus you didn't have to pay for the pressing of it. It may help keep your name out there. Should've hit them up for pressing your new stuff. JK. ;)