The bottom line is that every single stupid idea that has been tried to prevent copying of commercial music has failed. I also believe that the customer-hostile posture of the music companies has trained a generation of people to feel zero concern or guilt commiting what amounts to mass stealing. I predict DRM will die off in the next year or two, and the barn door is already wide open about music being a commodity. The next business shoe to drop will probably be companies like Vivendi taking huge write-downs on what they overpaid for their music assets. Then it's a matter of time before the music holdings get sold off for pennies on the dollar. It's not inconceivable that some sampling library company -- or Microsoft, or Apple, or Google -- could end up owning a megaglomerate's vaults one day. -- Tom Fine ----- Original Message ----- From: "Miss Q" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 10:36 PM Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] SACD fans -- some discounts > There was a tax on minidiscs for that purpose. I remember reading about it > in Bootleg: The Secret History of the Other Recording Industry by Clinton > Heylin. > http://www.amazon.com/Bootleg-Secret-History-Recording-Industry/dp/0312142897/ref=sr_1_1/103-7962881-0934252?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178159599&sr=8-1 > That was published in 96, apparently there is a 2004 version I haven't read > but now will have to. > I should revist the book, but it completely informed my arguments about when > taping/copying hurts artists and when it helps (ie bootlegging shows vs > pirating recordings, the fact that they can't lose money on a person who > would have never bought the music anyway) There is a Wikipedia article on > the Private Copying Levy but I don't know what aspects of that have changed > with the DMCA/new media. > > Courtney B > www.nycpopfest.com > > > On 5/2/07, Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> >> Also, am I mis-remembering or wasn't there a tax on blank tape that went >> directly into music >> industry coffers to make up for missed sales? Blank C-90's were $3+ when I >> got my first cassette >> deck. By the time I was making my last cassettes in the early 90's, >> C-100's were down to $1 or so. >> We're talking Maxell and TDK CRO2 tapes here, not junk. >> >> -- Tom Fine >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Bob Olhsson" <[log in to unmask]> >> To: <[log in to unmask]> >> Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 5:09 PM >> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] SACD fans -- some discounts >> >> >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From Rod Stephens: "...I vaguely remember in "the good 'ole days", >> > making copies and sharing music with my reel to reel machines and later >> > with my cassette recorders. We then would buy the original LPs/45s of >> > the best of the best with good album notes and pictures. Somehow the >> > recording industry seemed to prosper in those less restrictive and >> > creative days." >> > >> > This is comparing apples to oranges. People needed to meet up, make >> their >> > copies in real time, pay good money for blank media and a copy of the >> copy >> > was pretty raunchy sounding. We also didn't have investment bankers >> creating >> > new corporations having a "business model" of profiteering from >> facilitating >> > copyright infringement. >> > >> > Piracy is far from the only or even the biggest problem professional >> music >> > faces today but make no mistake about the fact that it has cost at least >> a >> > generation of youngsters any opportunity to have a career creating and >> > performing music. They and the music fans are the real losers. >> > >> > Bob Olhsson Audio Mastery, Nashville TN >> > Mastering, Audio for Picture, Mix Evaluation and Quality Control >> > Over 40 years making people sound better than they ever imagined! >> > 615.385.8051 http://www.hyperback.com >> > >> > > > > -- > http://www.axisoftweevil.blogspot.com http:://www.librariness.blogspot.com > http://www.nkotbarestillkickinass.blogspot.com > http://www.tweevil.etsy.com >