I heard from two friends over the weekend that they had downloaded two songs from my old band, The Palindromes: “You Lose” and “Here We Go Again.” I wonder what possessed someone to take the time to make mp3s of those songs available?
Oh well, I never made any money off of anything musical, and apparently never will, now. Whoopee.
Well, no one has them at this time.
While I’m aware of your feelings on the matter, Phil, I think it’s cool that someone liked your music enough to turn it into MP3 files and put it out there.
I mean, how else is anyone going to know you ever made some music that was worth listening to? (Which it is, IMO.)
That just sucks beyond description, pl. I’m sorry.
I know it probably isn’t worth the hassle, but if you decide to go after Napster or whoever uploaded it (or whatever), I’ll happily make a contribution to help with your legal costs.
It’s important for people to know that the people from whom they are stealing are not exclusively faceless record companies or multi-millionaire nihilists.
Ah, but don’t you feel really flattered in a backhanded way?
I was flipping channels once and was stunned (STUNNED!!!) to hear a song I’d recorded in high school playing on the community cable-access channel over the local school cafeteria menu for the week.
Pointless yes, but needless to say, within days I’d told everybody I knew.
I had the same experience a month or two ago. Someone posted to the Marillion mailing list that I’m on that they found a cover of “The Release” done by Chance of Rain (my band).
It was a nice ego boost, especially since they liked the cover!
TOTAL hijack -
I can see why they’d say that, Montfort…I listened to that cover, and it ROCKED. 
pl:
I am not a napster-advocate, but I’m wondering:
What is the difference between the situation you are in and the one I am in if I decide to submit a piece of writing to Teemings?
And, before you bring up the fact that one was volunteered and the other taken without permission, let me say that I don’t think that applies - Whether permission is given or not, what tangible difference is there?
Montfort, where can I get a sampling of your band’s music?
What is Teemings? A lit mag of some sort? If you voluntarily send your stuff into it, what does that have to do with whether someone else takes my copyrighted material and puts it on the 'net for all takers?
How on Earth does it not apply? I would say that it is the most important distinction. As a copyright holder, do I or do I not reserve the right to control distribution of my intellectual property?
Um, someone made my intellectual property available to anyone who wants it for free without my permission? I mean, sure, if we’re going to ignore the whole inconvenient “permission” question, what’s the tangible difference between me selling my CDs in the record store, and you standing on the street corner duping them for people for free?
Gosh phil, you’d think that some one had taken stolen something from you and given it away withou… oh, wait, yea, that’s what they did.
Seriously
I agree with Manny - it’s too easy for some folks to think “well, I’m only taking from some one who won’t even notice…” well, phil noticed.
The line blurs when you consider that, if it had played on the radio, and somebody had taped it, and then given copies to all his friends (which was exactly the way it was done in the 70s and 80s) nobody would bat an eyelid.
Of course, Napster is millions of potential people, and not just thirty or so, but still…
For the last time: That’s . . . because . . . songwriters . . . get . . . PAID . . . for . . . radio . . . airplay. Radio station pays performing rights organization (BMI, ASCAP, SESAC), performing rights organization pays artist, and the payment formula is based in part on audience size. Nobody gets paid for Napster downloads.
Phil, that sucks.
I’ll soon be doing a demo with my band I am Spartacus, (which, for anyone interested, I will be happy to send out a few files when they are done). And, although its a demo, I wouldnt like to see it abused.
I sent e-mails to the other three former band members asking if any of them had given permission for making those songs available. If they did, well, I suppose that’s that. If not, I’m going to find out if they want it to continue, and if they don’t, I’ll find out who has them and ask them to remove them from their directory. After that, we’ll see.
What really ticks me off is that the label that pressed them for us has sound samples available at their website. The CD that those two songs are off of has 5 songs and is selling for $2.50. $2.50!! It’s not like we’re Tower Records, charging $18.99. If someone wanted to “share” our music with friends, they could have e-mailed them and told them about it. Someone who is willing to sit and download a 3 minute song, but not to pay $2.50 for five of them, is, IMNSHO, a jerk.