Comments on: The Explanation Of A Simple Request http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/article/the-explanation-of-a-simple-request/ Music & More Since 2005 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:33:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: amy http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/article/the-explanation-of-a-simple-request/comment-page-1/#comment-9748 amy Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:39:25 +0000 http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/?p=3380#comment-9748 Sorry to hear about this. You are completely right that people like you posting mp3's result in album sales. The first time I heard Tegan and Sara it was more than 3 years ago when I illegally downloaded one of their mp3's from a music blog. I immediately got hooked on them and as a result have bought every cd they have put out, their tour dvd, a few t-shirts, a good handful of mp3's not found on their albums from iTunes and the new bookset they put out with Sainthood. I can understand why the labels feel like they need to protect themselves but the result is not always bad. Good luck. Sorry to hear about this. You are completely right that people like you posting mp3′s result in album sales. The first time I heard Tegan and Sara it was more than 3 years ago when I illegally downloaded one of their mp3′s from a music blog. I immediately got hooked on them and as a result have bought every cd they have put out, their tour dvd, a few t-shirts, a good handful of mp3′s not found on their albums from iTunes and the new bookset they put out with Sainthood. I can understand why the labels feel like they need to protect themselves but the result is not always bad. Good luck.

]]> By: Dominic http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/article/the-explanation-of-a-simple-request/comment-page-1/#comment-9747 Dominic Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:19:18 +0000 http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/?p=3380#comment-9747 We were fools to ever think we could apply the capitalist model to art (music). Musicians always have and always will find "patrons" who want to pay for the music to be made. The labels will eventually have to abandon their current model, and yeah, it will probably take a few years. On a personal note, despite having read this blog for about 2 years, I still don't like T&S, and now that I know their label is a bunch of dickheads, I WON'T be shelling out pesos for it. We were fools to ever think we could apply the capitalist model to art (music). Musicians always have and always will find “patrons” who want to pay for the music to be made. The labels will eventually have to abandon their current model, and yeah, it will probably take a few years.

On a personal note, despite having read this blog for about 2 years, I still don’t like T&S, and now that I know their label is a bunch of dickheads, I WON’T be shelling out pesos for it.

]]> By: Eric http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/article/the-explanation-of-a-simple-request/comment-page-1/#comment-9468 Eric Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:44:52 +0000 http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/?p=3380#comment-9468 Thanks to everyone who has commented on this. Your support and encouragement mean so much to me. Thanks to everyone who has commented on this. Your support and encouragement mean so much to me.

]]> By: nich http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/article/the-explanation-of-a-simple-request/comment-page-1/#comment-9466 nich Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:31:40 +0000 http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/?p=3380#comment-9466 I couldn't agree more, and upon re-reading I am even more impressed at the sheer plain-spoken eloquence herein. I own an indie record store, which puts me on the frontline in what is seemingly becoming a war waged by the Majors on all music fans (if they're not pulling their own work from willing ears and wallets, they're muscling out smaller artists on ClearChannel). As is the case with many types of person, it TAKES a music fan to KNOW a music fan. WE know that people downloading a track or two here and there are roughly 6000 times more likely to end up spending money on the artist, and by extension the label. It takes a bunch of greedy, malicious thugs to think that everyone downloading a track off a blog is a skeevy pirate out to ruin Metallica's profit margin. And in the way that most important questions do, it all comes down to "where does one draw the line?". It saddens me to think that the representatives of respectable artists are already prepared to draw a line that will leave thousands of dedicated appreciators out in the cold in a music scene that within the last decade has (for better or worse) been fragmentized within the marketplace beyond any reasonable prediction. I am pleased to see that you will be devoting more energy to indie artists, even though I wish it was for different reasons... Take care, love your reviews! --n I couldn’t agree more, and upon re-reading I am even more impressed at the sheer plain-spoken eloquence herein. I own an indie record store, which puts me on the frontline in what is seemingly becoming a war waged by the Majors on all music fans (if they’re not pulling their own work from willing ears and wallets, they’re muscling out smaller artists on ClearChannel). As is the case with many types of person, it TAKES a music fan to KNOW a music fan. WE know that people downloading a track or two here and there are roughly 6000 times more likely to end up spending money on the artist, and by extension the label. It takes a bunch of greedy, malicious thugs to think that everyone downloading a track off a blog is a skeevy pirate out to ruin Metallica’s profit margin. And in the way that most important questions do, it all comes down to “where does one draw the line?”. It saddens me to think that the representatives of respectable artists are already prepared to draw a line that will leave thousands of dedicated appreciators out in the cold in a music scene that within the last decade has (for better or worse) been fragmentized within the marketplace beyond any reasonable prediction.

I am pleased to see that you will be devoting more energy to indie artists, even though I wish it was for different reasons…

Take care, love your reviews! –n

]]> By: stevens http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/article/the-explanation-of-a-simple-request/comment-page-1/#comment-9441 stevens Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:25:31 +0000 http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/?p=3380#comment-9441 Major labels have failed to realize that music blogs are serving the same function as radio stations from previous eras: offering key tracks to expose people to new music. It's because of your blog and similar others (sound as language) that I've discovered so many cool songs that then led me to go out and purchase the whole CD. To wage a war against free, enthusiastic publicity seems crazy. These same efforts destroyed muxtape, which was great innovation that all artists should have supported. Major labels have failed to realize that music blogs are serving the same function as radio stations from previous eras: offering key tracks to expose people to new music. It’s because of your blog and similar others (sound as language) that I’ve discovered so many cool songs that then led me to go out and purchase the whole CD. To wage a war against free, enthusiastic publicity seems crazy. These same efforts destroyed muxtape, which was great innovation that all artists should have supported.

]]> By: Shane http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/article/the-explanation-of-a-simple-request/comment-page-1/#comment-9425 Shane Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:50:04 +0000 http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/?p=3380#comment-9425 One angle that the record label may be looking is multiple blogs posting a track or two. Sometimes you can hit the hype machine and find darn near a complete album from various blogs who are only posting 1-2 tracks each. One angle that the record label may be looking is multiple blogs posting a track or two. Sometimes you can hit the hype machine and find darn near a complete album from various blogs who are only posting 1-2 tracks each.

]]> By: Jamie http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/article/the-explanation-of-a-simple-request/comment-page-1/#comment-9390 Jamie Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:01:04 +0000 http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/?p=3380#comment-9390 When we know certain labels will take down MP3s, we don't review music on those labels. It's not out of spite or anything, it's just useless to write about music and not give the reader something to listen to. The big boys in the music industry have needed a new game plan for the last ten years, and they're still fighting the new way music is distributed. They should take a note from labels like Matador and Asthmatic Kitty, two fairly big labels that understand free MP3s means better business. Nice post. BLECHH @ ignorant anachronistic record labels. When we know certain labels will take down MP3s, we don’t review music on those labels. It’s not out of spite or anything, it’s just useless to write about music and not give the reader something to listen to.

The big boys in the music industry have needed a new game plan for the last ten years, and they’re still fighting the new way music is distributed. They should take a note from labels like Matador and Asthmatic Kitty, two fairly big labels that understand free MP3s means better business.

Nice post. BLECHH @ ignorant anachronistic record labels.

]]> By: Derek Nicoletto http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/article/the-explanation-of-a-simple-request/comment-page-1/#comment-9383 Derek Nicoletto Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:05:20 +0000 http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/?p=3380#comment-9383 From an artist's standpoint, it's really disappointing when we hear stuff like this. It would not have hurt to have contacted you first as a matter of courtesy to work out some sort of use agreement. Or, have even apologized but asked you personally if it could have been taken down without getting your host involved. From an artist’s standpoint, it’s really disappointing when we hear stuff like this. It would not have hurt to have contacted you first as a matter of courtesy to work out some sort of use agreement. Or, have even apologized but asked you personally if it could have been taken down without getting your host involved.

]]> By: Ste http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/article/the-explanation-of-a-simple-request/comment-page-1/#comment-9381 Ste Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:58:33 +0000 http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/?p=3380#comment-9381 I completely agree. With the enormous cloud of music out there right now, how do music fans cut through the shite and get only music on their device that they want to listen to? They find trusted sources that they've been able to test drive, via free mp3's or tracks, and begin to read them regularly for their valuable insight. In the past this would have been magazines with free CD's, friends with mixtapes/discs etc. Now it's largely music blogs posting a couple of tracks to give a taste and try before you buy. CYSTS isn't the only blog I read, of course, but off the top of my head you've put me onto the following by posting MP3's that I've downloaded: Chuck Ragan, Sara Watkins, The Weakerthans, Gaslight Anthem, Maritime.....all of them albums I've BOUGHT on the back of recc/MP3's here (CD versions...um, sorry). There will be plenty I've missed and plenty more I have lingering as MP3's (such as Dear Landlord) that will turn into buys when I'm next looking to buy. Because I turn to my iPod 'Buy' playlist, which includes many blog-post songs. Multiply that by the 20 or so blogs I hit every week and there's some good marketing potential for the ailing industry to snag my $$. So they've closed another door to themselves now by alienating you from writing about them? Good for them. Readers money will now flow into the hands of indie or unsigned artists instead and build to another reason for these creators to not sign up/get spat out by these machine-like organisations. I have a feeling this might not be a bad thing in the long term.....there's only so long these ignorant, faceless monoliths can bite the hands that feed them and hemorrhage cash before they implode altogether. I completely agree.

With the enormous cloud of music out there right now, how do music fans cut through the shite and get only music on their device that they want to listen to? They find trusted sources that they’ve been able to test drive, via free mp3′s or tracks, and begin to read them regularly for their valuable insight. In the past this would have been magazines with free CD’s, friends with mixtapes/discs etc. Now it’s largely music blogs posting a couple of tracks to give a taste and try before you buy.

CYSTS isn’t the only blog I read, of course, but off the top of my head you’ve put me onto the following by posting MP3′s that I’ve downloaded: Chuck Ragan, Sara Watkins, The Weakerthans, Gaslight Anthem, Maritime…..all of them albums I’ve BOUGHT on the back of recc/MP3′s here (CD versions…um, sorry). There will be plenty I’ve missed and plenty more I have lingering as MP3′s (such as Dear Landlord) that will turn into buys when I’m next looking to buy. Because I turn to my iPod ‘Buy’ playlist, which includes many blog-post songs. Multiply that by the 20 or so blogs I hit every week and there’s some good marketing potential for the ailing industry to snag my $$.

So they’ve closed another door to themselves now by alienating you from writing about them? Good for them. Readers money will now flow into the hands of indie or unsigned artists instead and build to another reason for these creators to not sign up/get spat out by these machine-like organisations.

I have a feeling this might not be a bad thing in the long term…..there’s only so long these ignorant, faceless monoliths can bite the hands that feed them and hemorrhage cash before they implode altogether.

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