mp3s

Here's my two cents about the mp3 thing. I think record labels and all that are way overreacting. It sucked when Napster went to shit and it's replacements are that good eaither. Audio Galaxy is probably the best now and I can still get most of what I want, but it's harder now. I don't like hard work.

Anyway, what I wanted to say was that on quite a few occasions I have heard a song by an artist I like, downloaded a few other of his or her songs, even a whole album, liked it, and then ordered the actual CD. It was only because I was able to download it for free that I then paid for it. Just based on one song, I wouldn't go out and buy someone's CD, no matter how much I liked that one song. Now, I know that I'm not talking about your type of music, for the most of you, but consider the Top 40 or whatever. A CD comes out by a new artist and the the radio plays one song from that album over and over again until it makes you want to scratch your eyes out. If I have to hear it that many times, I won't buy the CD just for spite. Example: Creed - With Arms Wide Open. I don't know how many times I heard that song, but I can't stand it now. I liked it when it first came out. But hearing it 3 times every hour on the radio RUINED it and I wouldn't buy the CD because I NEVER want to hear the song again. Anyway, what I'm saying is if I hear a song and before it can be ruined for me by the radio, I can download more songs by that artist from the album, I am MORE LIKELY to purchase the CD.

Probably most people don't operate this way. The more they get for free, the more they want to pay for something. No, maybe it does't make sense. BUT, I know I'm not the only one who does this. Plus, there is a lot of crap mp3s out there -- pops, skips, scratches, whatever. For $10 or $15, it's nice to have a quality reliable recording. I don't so much care about the cover art or whatever.

Yeah, so as far as I'm concerned, mp3s do not hurt the artist. For the people that steal, there are people like me that buy BECAUSE of the mp3s.

Also, it's interesting because artist's reaction to this whole thing has also influenced my buying habits. Metallica, for example, had one of the biggest problems with Napster. I'll never buy another Metallica album. Courtney Love promoted Napster. If I liked Courtney Love, I'd buy her stuff. There are others, those are just a few examples.

1212 Out.