The old "evil record company" versus "poor little artist just trying to scrape by" fairy tale is soooo tired. This sort of black and white story seldom holds up under closer inspection. Take Negativland, for example; did U2 sue them out of spite? No, they sued them because Negativland took their property without permission and sold it in an attempt to make a profit, plain and simple. Is U2 a multi-platinum band full of self-important rich white men? Of course they are, but that doesn't mean that their property rights shouldn't be respected. Besides, the vast majority of those struggling artists you're so worried about would sell out their own mothers in a second to trade places with a band like U2.
Don't want your hard-earned dollars going to evil record companies? That's fine, just avoid buying songs from the major labels, whether on CD, vinyl, or from iTunes. There are lots of indie labels selling on iTunes as well, and many of them treat their artists just fine. Apple's cut of the take is remarkably slim, believe it or not. Apple's iPod players are the best and coolest available. And most importantly, you're gonna need iTunes to buy my next album (coming in November 2005)...
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Don't want your hard-earned dollars going to evil record companies? That's fine, just avoid buying songs from the major labels, whether on CD, vinyl, or from iTunes. There are lots of indie labels selling on iTunes as well, and many of them treat their artists just fine. Apple's cut of the take is remarkably slim, believe it or not. Apple's iPod players are the best and coolest available. And most importantly, you're gonna need iTunes to buy my next album (coming in November 2005)...
- G.K. Wicker 9-12-2005 5:17 am