At Dragon Con, we were trying to sell CDs. We have a pretty good sales team there. Yet the two or three of us at the table were baffled when a guy we were trying to sell to said, “I don't pay money for CDs.”
I was a bit floored. He wasn't saying he stole music. He just refused to pay for it. It was like that discussion in Reservoir Dogs when one guy says, “I don't tip.”
How does that happen?! He has so little respect for music that he refuses to pay for it? Does he listen at all? Does he despise art? Is he just from a different time? Was he just trying to avoid a sales person? Or Is he just lame?
I don't know. I've met plenty of folks who download music illegally. With Spotify, I meet people who cherish music and are upset that the musician doesn't make much from streaming media, but it works best for them. I can respect that. But to refuse to ever pay for music? Bizarre.
Have you ever met anyone like that? Do you think the world is moving in that direction?
OK I”M ANGRY AND WANT TO PUNCH HIM! Sorry, but I do. Marc, doesn’t your family LIVE OFF YOUR WORK? In which case, HE NEEDS TO PAY FOR THE MUSIC! I buy it whenever I can, but am poor, too, so it doesn’t happen often. OH BUT WHEN IT DOES, I TRY TO PAY MORE THAN YOU CHARGE!
I love the idea of spotify, i just wish they would pay artists more. My problem is i like too many genres of music and it isn’t unusual for me to want ten albums released in the same month. I don’t really have the extra hundred dollars in my budget to buy them, so i use spotify. With the amount of users spotify has you’d think they could charge more for ads and pass a higher percentage to the artists.
Personally, I have never illegally downloaded music, while my wife and I usually use public radio or pandora, we make a point of purchasing music, both CDs and downloads from musicians we like to help support them in hopes that they will write more music. However, I have meet a growing number of people who believe that they are entitled to free music or movies, simply because they are smart enough to steal it.
At Gen Con we actually bought 3 of your cd’s. Two of them for our family and one for my sister in law since she couldn’t attend. We knew once we heard the Firefly drinking songs that night she would love that cd.
Unfortunately, I have. I have also met torrent freaks who seem obsessed only with increasing their total number of files. I don’t get either. It makes as much sense as walking onto a car lot ans telling the dealer to just give you a car.
However, when I was employed I usually spent about 100 USD per show. When I worked a merchandise table for Jonathan Coulton, I noticed that most fans were spending at least 50 USD. In short, I think most fans “get it” and do what they can when they can.
I don’t always pay for music, but when I do, its always to an independent musician. Heck, I have even bought CDs of music I didn’t really like just because I believe in supporting independent musicians, they are the true artists. If you are on a Major label, I’m stealin yer music.. well not much of it, since 90% of whats put out on major labels is complete and total crap.
I even prefer to buy the CD’s directly from the musicians themselves that way they get ALL the profits and not just a percentage
Confession: I HAVE illegally downloaded music. However – I only did so until I could afford legit copies. And it’s crazy to say what that guy said. Music is worth money.
That being said, I make no promises about downloading sheet music. Some of the prices out there for scores are just gouging.
Yup. I don’t judge people who do. Usually that’s the case. I’ve had people come up to me and buy my entire catalog because they originally downloaded it all illegally. I think most people are basically good. So no judgements here. Sometimes you just want to hear music!
Well I think he should think more about what he has stated. I don’t know what he does to earn a living but I doubt if he were self employed he would like it very much if people took that same attitude. What if he drew? Painted? Is he to be expected to give away his work? And if he owns a festival then perhaps he should let everyone in for free? Everyone has overhead and costs. This person isn’t being realistic or even trying to be; he is being selfish.