| Don't blame the artists. Most times they aren't the ones screaming about lost revenue when it comes to CD sales or online sales. With some notable exceptions (e.g. Metallica until recently), most artists seem to be ambivalent about online trading of their songs. They oppose it in theory, but they also don't vocally support the RIAA suing fans. A few artists even encourage trading to spread the word.
The ones who are really crying foul are the recording executives. This is because CD sales really give pennies on the dollar to the artists. Most of the money goes to the record label. It's even worse with iTunes sales. (Weird Al has come out asking people to buy the CD over buying the songs on iTunes.) So the labels are the ones who are really losing a revenue source when someone downloads a song instead of buying the CD. (Leaving arguments about downloads not equaling "lost sales" aside for the moment.)
Honestly, the artists are caught in a difficult place. Most don't want to support wholesale copying of their songs on P2P groups. Yet, they also don't think suing fans into oblivion is wise. However, not many are willing to speak up against the record companies because the record companies determine their professional life and death. (Sure, they could break off and go independent, but they would lose the rights to play any of their older songs.) |
 pb5kCan't TriforcePremium
join:2005-11-16
Glendale, AZ | Truer words were never spoken. Courtney Love's article on Salon does a great job explaining who the real pirates are. The RIAA labels use accounting practices that would make Enron proud. 
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"When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.'" --
Theodore Roosevelt |
