Feelings on Napster?

The following is the quote that started this thread. "My opinion is that Napster is really opening up accessibility to music for alot of people, allowing them to try new things that before they wouldn't have access to or simply wouldn't be prepared to invest in." The LA riots in it's own way also opened up accessibility for a lot of people, allowing them to "steal" new things that before they wouldn't have had access to or simply wouldn't be prepared to invest in. I feel that the majority of the people that are using Napster use it's downloads as an end product, and do not "purchase" the licensed and copyrighted material. This could be the start of the end of music (writers, composers and performers)as we know it. Sure Elmo Witherspoon Jr. may still be performing on a corner somewhere but in general, no gain, no music.

Eldragon - I agree with your ideals. But, there are not that many talented individuals that are willing to sacrifice livelyhood for their art. Some may sacrifice for a while only to be eventualy worn down by the financial responsibilities that govern most of us. Many artists stop producing in order to find a more productive way of making a living for themselves and their families. There are of course artists that meet your requirements, but not a lot of them. I collect art. Nothing mainstream just basicaly anything that my wife and myself enjoy and can afford. One of the artists that I collect is your "kind" of artist. She refused a contract to "art up" the largest coffee house chain in the US (we all know their name) because she felt that the committment would somehow change what she did. She is still producing art as always, though without a great deal of financial success. She will be featured in Mary Randolph-Carter's ,author of "American Junk", new book that should be out soon. This will help expose her work, but she will never "sell out". I also collect Haitian art, much of which is motivated/inspired by extreme poverty and by dreams that will never be realized in the artist's lifetime. If you are not familiar with Haitian art, you should check it out, you will enjoy it. On the subject of music. A good friend of mine produced, composed and played on his own jazz/R&b album in the late 80's. He used his life's savings of aprox. $50,000.00 to pay for the musicians and production costs. He ran out of money at the point where final mixing and a few more solos were still needed. Alan Holdsworth donated the use of his home digital studio and even played on one or two of the cuts. We all know where Alan got the money to own his own studio and to afford the leisure time that helped complete the project. The album was "Silent Will" which ended up being one of the top ten jazz albums of the year. To my surprise I received a non-musical credit for donating the use of my car and apartment for three months while I walked to and from work. Without the money/donations the project would have never been completed. I am content in paying for music (of course I also purchase from BMG, thrift shops, yard sales etc.) and knowing that by doing so the music will always be there, and lots of it, whether it be new music or reissues of classics.

Treyhoss - I agree that it is an injustice but the courts will have to decide whether it is illegal. I beleive that recording music off the radio for personal use is technically illegal, but really hard to police. I did some investigations for ASCAP when I was younger and almost any use of copyrighted material without permission requires that fees be paid to ASCAP on behalf of the copyright owners. Even if it is ruled that the use of Napster is illegal, how can the abuse be stopped as the software is already in cyberspace? Will they have to create a virus that kills Napster? Or is Napster like the original sin and kind of irreversible?

Sedond - Please do not tease me with vinyl. I have not heard Johnny Rivers "Live at the Whiskey" for fifteen years and do not wish to be reminded.

Thank you Sedond, for dissing Johnny Rivers. I feel much less jealous right now. Did you make it to "Secret Agent Man"?