Music in the 21st century: framing the debate
p2pnet news view | P2P | Music:- The debate around P2P is clouded by misconception and propaganda. Artists believe what they hear from managers and label bosses about the ‘menace’ of file-sharing.
There can be only be one winner in this situation – the major record labels.
By telling their contracted artists they’re the victims of the evil downloaders, the labels have been able to blur the line between online sharing, and criminal counterfeiting, duplicating and illicit underground sales.
At the same time, they’re using file sharing as an excuse to demand that governments everywhere give them blanket laws that threaten everyone’s individual liberty, artists and fans alike, and which will be paid for not by the labels, who initiated them for purely business purposes, but by customers and taxpayers.
The labels dominate the debate because they have bottomless pockets, legions of lawyers, paid lobbyists and PR machines at their disposal. Fans who share files have had no voice in this discussion. That must change.
To overcome record industry domination, artists need to talk to the P2P communities, and and vice versa.
Our artist-to-fan-to-artist forum aims to facilitate the debate, hammering out a clear definition of:
- What the p2p communities do, and how their behaviour is beneficial, or harmful, to the artist community; and,
- What artists can do to overcome the artificial barriers set up over the past 100 years to keep us part.
The pro and cons of copyright must be discussed. Is it fit for use in this digital age? What are its limits? Should it exist at all?
We need to thrash out and agree a model for fair use that enables us to be creative without fearing repercussions from record industry lawyers
Artists rightfully expect to be paid for their work, no question. So what’s the best, and most efficient, way to make this happen?
What can musicians and music lovers do together to help those ordinary music fans who are being threatened by the recording industry?
How can artists and fans help emerging independent businesses and innovators create platforms for the efficient and equitable sales, marketing and distribution of digital music online?
Print and electronic mainstream media outlets, online and off, have been guilty of acting as vehicles for disinformation and outright lies, often because the traditional media have no other sources of information. What can we do to help them get it right?
Our goals at a2f2a will be to:
- Help each community better understand the other;
- Find a practical and workable system which offers artists fair remuneration in exchange for access to material by fans; and
- Set the agenda for discussions about the role P2P can play within the emergent digital record industry.
Together, we can do it – artist to fan to artist.
Billy Bragg, artist | Jon Newton, fan
[PS - the logo at the top is just a temp. Ideas appreciated. 
- Thanks, B&J ]
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- ‘Just some stuff to think about, Billy’
- Walruses and sock puppets
- Dear music lovers …
- Dear Dick Huey …
- Artists to Fans to Artists: a2f2a
- The last of the dinosaurs
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi
October, 2009
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