Here is a diary that may act as a brief respite from all the campaign news.
When is it not only reasonable but indeed ethically necessary to actively work against a government or industry? From the Civil Rights movement to the boycott of South Africa under Apartheid that has been and, given the ever growing power of companies, will continue to be a significant issue. In the case of the music industry, I think it is well past the time when anyone should have the slightest qualm about using their products without paying and, in fact, are obligated to avoid paying the companies by any means available. I lay out the argument both as a specific response to the RIAA and as an outline to the issue for other industries. It is important to remember that for many decades Apartheid and Jim Crow laws were "legal" and that attempts to have them changed were fiercely resisted by vested interests who had, of course, the law on their side.
One should feel an obligation to do something when an industry or government can be shown to be systematically causing some kind of harm. While the venal acts of the major labels are well known, it is important to be clear on a few key parts of their overall behaivour. In the case of the major labels the harm comes in a number of forms. The purchasing public has endured the following for over two decades:
- Consumers have been systematically overcharged through collusion in setting retail prices. http://www.news.com/... This collusion cost consumes hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars, and, despite the suit, little or no change occurred in the pricing of music.
- Consumers have had their access to music systematically limited by the pay to play schemes on radio stations, http://archive.salon.com/...
- Labels have repressed back catalogue releases and new artists consistently reducing the number of artists carriedhttp://www.musicdish.com/mag/index.html
Raising prices, reducing access, and eliminating artists has been the well known mode of operation for the majors. Of course, when you are overcharging consumers for less and less, you have to restrict access or your marketing program will fail.
The labels, of course, claim they are doing this all in the name of helping to develop artists. However, a few caveats are in order.
- The standard contracts for major signings are, in essence, bonded servitude or share cropping. In Courtney Love does the Math – she details how a million dollar signing for a band that goes platinum ends up making the studio millions and the band about $50,000 each. That is for a band that goes platinum. The number of significant acts who have ditched the studios speaks volumes about the nature of the current contracting environment.
- Huge amounts of revenue are withheld from artists through record club deals, surcharges that are never paid to the artists from licensing fees, and other revenue streams. Sites like boycott-riaa.com and others have extensive details on the extent of abuse built into the current system
If artists are hurt by the current system, and consumers are hurt by the current system, then the question becomes does one simply boycott major label products, more or less the Apartheid model, or does one actively work against it, the Civil Rights model.
Under the boycott model, the artists receive not even the small share they receive now and loses exposure and possible fan support. The consumer also suffers from loss of opportunities to hear music. The labels lose all revenue.
Under the "pirate" model, the artists suffers less, the consumer suffers not at all, and the labels suffer the same ill effects. Indeed, many artists leave major labels because it is more profitable to make money from concerts and online promotions that include much free music, than they do under the old model.
In sum, then, I argue that the harm the major labels are doing requires one to resist their system by refusing to pay for any major label music they use. Save the money to support independent artists, attend concerts, and promote activities that benefit artists and the listening community.
Final note: While the political season is in full force, it is well to remember that voting and supporting candidates is only one way of participating as a citizen. Attempting to make ethical decisions in all aspects of our lives – from music to voting – creates the structure of our community and, in the end, the quality of our democracy.
UPDATE- I refer only to music produced by the RIAA group of companies - not independents - by all means please, please, please, by from ethical independent labels.