sharing music = viral marketing

says some band: http://techdirt.com/articles/20080826/2227062107.shtml

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could look up somewhere how each band/artist feels about it?  Back to the feelings wiki.  someone should get on that.

I think this position makes sense, and its true that I share music with my friends to give them access to something I’m excited about and hope they’ll respond as enthusiastically… but that isn’t why i copy whole cds of bands i already know i like.   I still think honest mixtapes (not entire records, songs and order chosen purposely for a particular person, etc.) should be considered fair use.  But I think I have to work on that one some more.  I know the RIAA is against it, and that the new argument is that since sales are available for a single song, the argument that it doesn’t use a substantial portion of the work is no longer valid – BUT in the case of tapes the ruling was in favor and I’m not aware of any ruling since on CDs.  So I think it’s still up in the air.  plus, if it’s legal enough for the president’s daughters it must be legal enough for me, right?  low bar maybe.  anyway, send me links if you have concrete info/a theory on mix tapes.

For today, I worked what all i have on the computer:

66% songs that i only have on mp3 and I didn’t pay for.  All of these are questionable…
13% songs that I got from my own CDs or I own on CD
7% songs that i own on lps/singles/tapes
6% i’m not sure about.  i might have these songs on records or cds somewhere in the garage
4% songs i got or can get legitimately.  i’m talking demos from the old days, bands i know personally who would happily give the music to me, lectures/free downloads, music i could get on a physical cd if i asked someone i know
3% purchased mp3s
<1% songs that aren’t available to buy.  I don’t know whether every artist would care if they were recorded at a club or whatever.  I think most of these fall into the 4% category.  i doubt anyone is concerned.

today’s stats:

• still have the font
• 4145 songs, 2595 in the “obviously questionable” category.

Today on the way to work i had a really good illicit time listening to future sex/love sounds.  maybei have to buy it… by the way – what about dead people?  i’m undecided.  and i have thoughts on the trash/consumerism side of it that brendan raised… another day.