Should you give your music away ?

[The_Laughing_Man]

Entertainment/art is a MASSIVELY important part of culture.
It takes us away from the drudgery of toil, the horro of exchanging your time for money. It is the pleasure we have when we are not working.
I don`t like the way it is becoming devalued, it does seem very wrong.
But at the same time, I don`t like the fact it is commodified.

****ing planet sucks.

Well, struggling artists traditionally, in the uk anyway, went on the dole and got by that way.
haha, I`m not saying it`s the best way, but it is is what it is, and many great bands began that way.
I think people are less patient now, they want everything yesterday, so this is another part of the problem, and so is consumer culture, but blah

[SlavikSvensk]

money is a fact of life. people who labor for our enjoyment deserve to be compensated for it, so they can continue to do so. otherwise they starve, or cut back their time doing those things.

okay, fine...so electronic music's business model has always been more based upon gigs than record sales. but record sales, through established labels, is a tried and true way of getting said gigs. so i just see it as a slippery slope, and one that would likely produce greater and greater concentrated power in the hands of los superstars. too much democratization, too quickly, likely fuels oligarchy.

[crime]

the replies that most people are putting here are the same answers that get posted time and time again on forums broaching this subject.. yawn..

Nobody has answered my 2 main questions here - I'm not saying people shouldn't be paid for their hard work or that all music should be free -
but what are your opinions on:

1. The fact I feel the need to give material away for free as it's the only way it will be heard.

and

2. how different is giving say an EP away for free once in a blue moon different to putting a promotional live set recording online..

[SlavikSvensk]

is anyone saying you shouldn't give EPs away for free from time to time, though? i think most people are just against the general tendency to give everything away for free and totally bypass the existing consumer-label-distributor-artist system.

[crime]

I guess I just feel that the existing model stinks, just seems to me that there are a whole lot of middle men not really doing much but have got themselves in a position where they are scraping off the cream on the back of the musicians' hard work - maybe I should bite the bullet, start a paid for mp3 label, give it 6 months and actually see where the land lies... I just don't like the idea of lining others' pockets whilst getting ripped yet again...

[BloodStar]

i guess if you feel you dont need to sell your music, but give it free away, then do it. why should you think about other people and what your decision makes to them?? Do they ask you, if you agree with their decisions and their model? would better stick with what you think works best for you.

Old model of selling music doesnt work anymore, those who are smart find new ways, those who are scared of the future trying to keep the old, problem is the old is not working anymore,.

Greeed killed techno.

[rhythmtech]

i guess if you feel you dont need to sell your music, but give it free away, then do it. why should you think about other people and what your decision makes to them?? Do they ask you, if you agree with their decisions and their model? would better stick with what you think works best for you.

+1

its your music and your decision what to do with it.

if i make a sandwich and i want to give it to someone must i wait for others opinions on whether its ok to do it? fcuk that, its my sandwich and ill do whatever i please with it.

mmm.. sandwich... on second thoughts ill eat it myself :lol:

[Microdot]

+1

its your music and your decision what to do with it.

if i make a sandwich and i want to give it to someone must i wait for others opinions on whether its ok to do it? fcuk that, its my sandwich and ill do whatever i please with it.

mmm.. sandwich... on second thoughts ill eat it myself :lol:

fcuk giving your sandwiches away dude.
If you give your shitty butties away for free, people might be less inclined to pay money for my gourmet sandwiches.

[rhythmtech]

fcuk giving your sandwiches away dude.
If you give your shitty butties away for free, people might be less inclined to pay money for my gourmet sandwiches.

i stopped making sandwiches a long time ago jon. now i just do the presentation for other people who've already made them.

and if you cant sell your gourmet sandwiches then maybe your cooking style is out of fashion... :lol:

im hungry now.

[Microdot]

i stopped making sandwiches a long time ago jon. now i just do the presentation for other people who've already made them.

and if you cant sell your gourmet sandwiches then maybe your cooking style is out of fashion... :lol:

im hungry now.

yeah, maybe my tuna's a bit dated these days.

[Winds]

+1

if i make a sandwich and i want to give it to someone must i wait for others opinions on whether its ok to do it? fcuk that, its my sandwich and ill do whatever i please with it.

mmm.. sandwich... on second thoughts ill eat it myself :lol:

:lol:

[clubsynthetic]

Why make music for anyone else apart form yourself? Sharing it is just a bonus. Gratitude is an even bigger bonus.

[DarkYoung]

Why make music for anyone else apart form yourself? Sharing it is just a bonus. Gratitude is an even bigger bonus.

well of course i agree.

a lot of music i do get is shared for nothing from people i know on here, force, scott grey etc on here or on msn etc, i'm sure other people have similar arrangements.
a lot of stuff is on youtube/myspace etc

if you want to share or 'give away for nothing' as is being argued here, i'm not sure that this will still meet what it is you are are wanting.

more bookings or publicity or customers or whatever.

[The_Laughing_Man]

no

[vegim]

20 % selled
80% shared.
(torrents, rapidshare, soulseek)

Of course I am giving my music for free to that 80%.

[DannyBlack]

Why not send them an email. "Dear sirs, I can has musicz plz?"

[scott_robinson]

I think no one has answered because there are not many 'singers' writing techno.

You can feel free to download this live set of mine King Aaron scottrobinson - Scott Robinson - Ugly Funk 05-03-99 - SoundCloud but I am sorry I
am not a singer.

[clubsynthetic]

You can feel free to download this live set of mine King Aaron scottrobinson - Scott Robinson - Ugly Funk 05-03-99 - SoundCloud but I am sorry I
am not a singer.

Liking this lots!

[MITA]

give it away give ti away give it away now!

[The_Laughing_Man]

EMI records 1 billion in debt!!!!!