What’s the value of a bit? It seems that going after folks who have traded songs or movies online is a huge expenditure of effort and money. Is DRM-protected content the way to go? If you don’t agree, propose another method for the distribution of digital multimedia so that content creators can still be compensated.
Totally disagree. "What is the value of a bit?" would be an unfair question. What is the value of a piece of paper? Almost nothing. But what's the value of the paper Shakespeare's words were first written on? A hell of a lot. So yeah, a bit is worth dick, but the information stored on them is more important.
Lets take the recording industry for instance. There is a false conception that the recording industry is doing "just fine" and that they have "plenty of money." False. Less than 3% of the recording industry is made up of Jay-Zs Beyonces, and Justin Timberlakes raking in the dollars. The other 97% barely breaks even. Ever heard of a guitarist named Eric Johnson (maybe you have, but most have not)? He is a platinum selling artist. But he's a regular guy. Not a rockstar - he doesn't own part of New York Knicks. It took him six years to reach platinum on his album Ah Via Musicam. More than likely his record label, Capitol Records, gave him the standard $1 million advance to make the album. Damn! A million bucks! Wrong. That million is split up amongst his band members, agent, manager, pays for music video production, travel, studio time etc.... After 1 year its all spent on expenditures. Royalties? He doesn't see a dime until that million is recouped. So if he made a dollar on each album and it took 6 years to reach platinum, then he went without a paycheck for 6 whole years! Now waht about the artists who never recoup? That's most of them.
In 2000, there were over 400 platinum albums in the US. In 2010, there were 70. The atmosphere is changing. People can buy songs individually now and get just what they want. And then "share" it with 100 million of their "friends."
The only way to combat this is through education. Teach kids at a young age that stealing bits is exactly the same as breaking into the bank or robbing a Quicky-Mart. Would you throw a brick through a record store window and copy a song then leave the disc...technically you didn't steal it. No. Mindset needs to change.
I'm in the business of trying to educate young minds about this situation, and still, the thought of trading 100 or more songs for free is almost impossible to fight. Not only do kids not see the concept of theft, but their parents many times are just as guilty at wanting something "for free."
ReplyDeleteI buy my music because I can afford it, and because it's convenient. I also understand it's likely the best way to support musicians who I cannot see live.
While DRM isn't convenient (it's messy, at best), it was an interesting idea. I'm wondering if subscription models aren't the better option - let me support movie makers and musicians through a monthly fee?
We'll see. I am hoping the democracy of the net makes it easier still for artists to self-publish and distribute in a more economical way.