Distributors going bankrupt

[Proof]

[hr]

[font=Tahoma]A sad week for the music industry

After hearing about the distribution company Neuton going bankrupt earlier this week, today has seen Pinnacle, another major distributor going under. The knock-on effect of this will be massive for the hundreds of labels working with these distributors whose stock and revenue will be lost. This in turn will affect all the artists on those labels. Labels on Pinnacle include Bedrock, Audio Therapy, Marine Parade, Distinctive Records... full list here

http://www.pinnacle-entertainment.co.uk/labels_list.php

One of the main reasons for this downfall is the illegal file sharing and downloading of music. It would be a much needed boost to the whole music industry if people stopped file sharing and illegal downloads. It will be a sorry day when all your favorite artists can't afford to make music and all your favorite labels are gone.

Enjoy the music, support your artists.

Nick[/font] (Nick Warren)



[hr]

I'll admit that I've been a part of illegal sharing for a while, but since last year ... i've been buying all the tracks I support. I haven't played out a single track (while DJ'ing out live) that I haven't payed for. I grab the scene releases because the download stores just don't give you a proper preview, but if i really enjoyed the track ... I jump straight to beatport/audiojelly and add it to the cart and end up checking out at the end of every month/week.

Its a sense of satisfaction & respect that I, as an artist, get because I'm supporting another artists' work. I'm sure Gen & Fawzi know what I mean. I don't make much money anyway ... almost nothing because i'm still a student, but I do know that the money I paid for made someone happy with his work and i'd want to be in the same place if I were the artist.

I hope you do the same.

[TranceFusion]

Respect to Nick.

[A-Cube]

Yes I also download illegally (except albums and compilations and I rent my movies...nothing beats the feeling of a fresh album in your hands)...but the fact is nowadays illegal sharing is becoming so easy you simply google the song and you automatically get a link to an HQ version of the track you desire...I blame the servers such as RapidShare who are the home of those activities...if there was some filtering going on it would be controlled much better and we'd witness less illegal sharing...

I think bankruptcies are a dangerous alarm call...but I do not think things will be improving anytime soon...let's face it everyday the internet is getting bigger and bigger and no matter how much you control things there will always be some slip-ups...

[Raneem]

[[IN]Head-Kay]

[Nicktalopia]

[Proof]

I wouldn't directly blame the servers. The servers are there just to provide 'space', its the users that use it to their advantage. What if I just wanted to send a label/DJ a track of mine ... but I dont have a webspace myself, I would use a server like Rapid/speedy/etc.

Sure, its 'easier'. One legal download makes a whole difference. Why do you have to be just like the others? "They're doing it ... they didn't stop, so why should I?" .... that kind of mentality is exactly where you go wrong.

It takes almost 1000 LEGAL downloads just to reach Beatport's Top 10. Some Rapidshare/Speedyshare links receive almost double that. Imagine if it were legal downloads, the artist AND label would actually be breaking even, if not getting any profits.

Imagine you're running a business but all your products are being stolen from your warehouse and distributed freely amongst the mass. Good luck to you.

My solution? Watermarking. Its probably the only way to go. Vonyc used to do that (don't know if they still do), but people slowly stopped using it because users started saying "the actual file is being tampered with additional information". FFS ... its just a type of ID-3 tagging. Or even better, each copy of a track has an ID number (like a serial number). If a DJ plays it out, they have to note the ID number next to it on a track-list. That way, the label can hunt down the ID number and cross-reference it. If an ID number is seen in two different hands, the user that downloaded it originally can be questioned or even better ... get blacklisted.

Too much work? I say that its worth it.

As for the pricing of Beatport, you're right ... it is quite high for a single track. But tell me, if the prices were 0.99cents (just like iTunes), would that actually make you turn into a Legal downloader?

Like I said earlier, you don't have to buy EVERY track. Just buy the tracks you really support (not just your top 10 list). If you buy artist albums ... eg: Andy Duguid - Believe, which is around 17 dollars and has 13 tracks ... you're still paying for each track's worth, which is MORE than 0.99cents. Think about it, you may not even like every single track too, but imagine you spent your money on the tracks you actually really like.

[TRANCED]

I seriously believe that if they are ever able to find a way to prohibit illegal downloads, artists would go bankrupt even faster... Because illegal download might take away some of the profit... But the return does show in ticket sales in events and concerts...

Now for distributors it's a tough one.. I agree...
I hope people do start to buy more (not everything of course).. and take an approach similar to Proof's..

Yet i still believe that illegal downloading of the majority is what's boosting the clubbing scene, believe it or not.

Don't jump on me now, it's just what i think!

[Proof]

[[IN]Head-Kay]

could very well prove to be the solution to illegal dowloading!

[silver_edge]

im one of the guys that download about 2 gbs of music everyday and im still a student,i dont have an income,i stll take an allowance from my old folks and honestly the last thng i need 2 pay for is music...2$ a track on beatport is seriously A LOT!although i still buy some of the albums i really adore but not that frequently...lets face it,when there is **************,sharin every single release,album,and 0 days singles b4 they even hit the market,wholl think of buyn them?

[[IN]Head-Kay]

^ your post is going to be deleted mate, you cant share these links here! Thats the second time you do it!

[A-Cube]

A little editing will do for now...silver_edge for the last time please do not share anymore sites that encourage illegal sharing thank you...

And people do not need to download EVERY single track out there...I mean if you cannot stop leeching at least be picky...no need to exhaust your bandwidth with extensive downloads...

[Proof]

I understand the "If you're getting it for free ... then why pay for it" thought. I can't really say anything if you're just another spaz fan of the scene. But if you use the tracks to your personal advantage (airing on internet radio via mixes/guest mixes or using them in your gigs) ... then I've lost quite a bit of respect for you. Why should anyone support your skill when you're not supporting anyone elses? Why should anyone PAY to see you perform when they should be let in for free?

There are those that are on the promo list of some labels/pools, those are REAL promos and you have every legal right to use them as well.


p.s: [IN]Head-Kay, DUDE!! That MPX4 technology is exactly what I was thinking of 2 years ago! F*CK! I was telling my mate in switzerland, while I was broadcasting a live set to him ... "Hey, wouldn't it be sweet if we could just split the audio file into seperate individual instrument tracks and use those? It'd be crazily creative!". Damn ... I should have thrown in the idea to someone back then, lol. Can't wait for this technology to really kick in. =]

(lets keep the reply to this on P.M. =D ... or create another topic Kay.)

[[IN]Head-Kay]