Should Music Be Free?

Music should not be free. The artists need to be supported, but I don't think I would pay in advance for an artist to write and record their music as is suggested in the above referenced article.

Today it ISN'T like we're commissioning Verdi to write Aida where we would know the music would be any good. Most of what's written today is absolute crap.
 
Nothing is free. If artists get a % of their record sales then they have incentive to keep making them, and even to be prolific. If music is freely downloaded and consumed then artists are going to stop pushing themselves to record with any frequency, and that will cost us as music lovers and consumers. Concert tickets used to be $10-15 now they are $75 and up. That's where groups make money now - touring and merch.

I can't say that I don't take advantage of the used market and inexpensive sources or even my library system to find and rip music I want to hear but don't know much about beforehoand. I do. But I am definitely willing to pay for music and artists I really like and really want. Would I pay up-front - probably not.
 
GaryProtein said:
Music should not be free. The artists need to be supported, but I don't think I would pay in advance for an artist to write and record their music as is suggested in the above referenced article.

Today it ISN'T like we're commissioning Verdi to write Aida where we would know the music would be any good. Most of what's written today is absolute crap.
Click to expand...

+1000
 
MtnHam said:
If you were to pour your soul into writing the worlds greatest novel, would you support the public's right (demand?) to read it without any compensation to you?
Click to expand...

Interesting. I wonder about Libraries...
 
The question shouldn't even surface in the first place. ...Music is what it is, all around the globe, and the most beautiful music is played on the streets by real musicians, in the homes of normal people everywhere by them musicians and singers living in them, visiting their friend's homes, poor people who have something real to say, sing and play, and it is free.
 
The whole article is disgusting to me. There should always be some form of free access to music for every being on the planet. Music is as important as air! I also think that artists should be compensated fairly for providing music. Sadly the industry does NOT compensate artists fairly. The artists are left with mere pennies after the label big wigs take their cut.

That whole bit about not blaming this generation for feeling they have no obligation to support their favorite artist is utter bullshit! They do have an obligation and they better honor it just like the rest of us.

I also do not agree with the article about Hi-rez files and having that as the only format soon and having to pay for it. To me Hi-rez files are just glorified MP3s. I've tried them and they sound no different than what MOG provides. They sound just as thin. I imagine they could sound great with $30k worth of gear to process them, but that puts music out of reach to 98% of the planet's population.
I will always purchase physical music. I will NEVER purchase downloaded music! I even got into a scuffle with Amazon for trying to give me free downloaded music. I like my music to be error free and I like to own it. I also like the tactile feel of a vinyl album or CD. I am the kind that does read all the printing and liner notes etc.
Sure MOG, Pandora, etc are free and I think it's good that they are. They also offer subscriptions to those who want that. I subscribe to MOG myself because I find value in it worthy of the cost. However, if I want an album by some artist I prefer it on CD or vinyl and I will purchase said format. I like to try to buy direct from the artists as much as possible, but sadly it's hard to do in most cases because of the grip of the record companies on the market.

That article almost makes me think of giving up and going without. If it comes to pass that the only thing available is downloaded music I will go without!
~Eric
PS- I won't be reading Stereophile anymore. Trash rag just like the rest of them. Sorry, but that article pissed me off.
 
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