I was thinking about my blog post from yesterday and brainstorming my own field (the music industry - more specifically, the Christian music industry) for paradigms. The first one I thought of...
1. 1. Music Piracy
(Before I begin, let it be known that I’ve had my share of illegal downloads, TRUST me. I’m speaking to myself here too).
People steal music. It’s a pattern. It happens. It’s the norm. Even people who spend their lives making a living off of music accept it. This is a problem.
We’re raising a generation of people who think they have entitlement to anything and everything, whether it belongs to them or not. For the youtube-iPod generation (my generation), everything is at our fingertips. A lot of people simply don’t or won’t pay for music anymore. Even Christians. And why should they? It’s as easy as a click of a button the music is stored safely in their music library. Why take the time to type in a password, and have your credit/debit card charged?
Well…obviously it’s ethically wrong….but for some reason, most people don’t think that way. Then again, it’s ethically wrong to drive five miles over the speed limit, but we do that anyway, don’t we?
It seems like laws are much tougher on stealing book texts and films. I realize that music files are easier to post...but something’s gotta give. Somebody’s gonna figure this thing out, or the music industry will continue to decline. Am I wrong on this?
i totally agree with you...it seems that a lot of musicians are being driven to do more concerts to make up for the decline in cd sales. if you're truly a fan, then don't you realize that's how they make a living and you're hurting them more than helping? how hard is it to just buy the cd or the song? eventually, something is going to go wrong...and everyone's gonna suffer...either that or someone's going to figure out a way to digitally prevent people from pirating music :) one day...
ReplyDeleteGood points,Caleb -- coming from the older generation when I held the microphone of my tape deck closer to the speaker so I could get the full song off the Top 20 Countdown.... But I really feel that the Copyright legislation is out of date and too well rooted into censorship and monopolism -- neither is congruent with nor takes into consideration the dynamics of the current digital age.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't see copyrights, in their current form, surviving. Sad for the performers and those trying to make a living in this "Deliver to your doorstep" society.
Good luck with finding a resolution with this one -- and when you do, can you take a look at saving the Whales and the Ozone layer --- Thanks! ;-P
I agree with both posts. (In response to kyada) Thanks for your comment :) I couldn't agree more. I'm scared to admit that it might take our politicians to solve this problem. As for whales and the ozone layer... they don't pay my bills :)
ReplyDeleteCaleb, it boils down to a little 9 letter word - INTEGRITY (and I can hear your Dad shouting a loud AMEN!) I once heard it said that "Character" is what you have when people are watching. "Integrity is what you have when NO ONE IS WATCHING. Thing is, Someone is ALWAYS watching and you and I both know Who that Someone is. Piracy is wrong - plain and simple. We live in a culture where everyone wants immediate gratification - at any cost. In regard to music piracy, I wonder how those folks who pirate would feel if it were THEIR music someone was copying. Bet that shoe feels a little different! Luv ya kiddo. Pam
ReplyDelete(donning Surfer accent) - HEY!!! Yo DUDE!! Post another Blog so I can comment and feel like I have made the world a better place to hang today!!!
ReplyDeleteWaves are High and I am too.... smart for that!
O my goodness!!! I am so sorry, I have done this to two songs of Anthem Lights and now I realize that it was a jerk move. I feel bad and I regret cheating you guys out of well earned money when you didn't deserve that. I apologize
ReplyDelete