HogansGoat

This is my first thread here at TFP. Hello and sorry for the rant, but I need to vent. I read today on Slashdot that the RIAA is now attacking XM, and you know Sirius will be next, because you can record the transmission. The only thing that pisses me off more than the fact that this organization is so ignorant of reality is the fact that they are getting away with it. This is why I vent to you; you who are born of the technology generation, you who can understand the absurdity of this. Next the RIAA will assail those cover bands who are too good. I remember recording the radio when I was a kid, like 6 years old, because I could, I still bought cassettes. But where was the RIAA when the tapes got munched? Where was the RIAA when the sun distorted my tapes beyond recognition of even the most avid day tripper? Why is inevitability ignored? Why are we letting them get away with it? We can’t blame the artists, they are as screwed as heroine addicts. The industry has them so tight they can’t make waves for fear of modern McCarthyism. We can’t blame politicians either. They are merely the wooden gun of democracy, brandished only in the hopes of getting a new coat of paint and fear of being discarded. I blame my self and those like me. I am smart, yet do nothing. I hear the lies and ignore them. I see my boarders of rights shrinking everyday as patriotic servitude encroaches and turn away. Why does my voice ring so hopelessly and so voraciously seeking an ear yet rebound on the edge of the world only to reverberate inner dialog? My vows to never buy another CD, Tape or MP3 dissolves in the presence of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Doors, Dave Brubeck and so many others that such a contract is ridiculous. Yet affecting the bottom line is the only weapon we have against this tyrant. They care little for their reputation as they vehemently regurgitate their fetid battle cry in the name of their alleged patrons, the artist, plunging their pens deep into the souls of children, shredding dreams.

Here is an excerpt of their mantra, a glimpse at their motivation: (from the RIAA web site, under research) Music is the world's universal form of communication. It touches every person of every culture on the globe to the tune of $40 billion annually, and the U.S. recording industry accounts for fully one-third of that world market. It employs thousands of people, including singers, musicians, producers, sound engineers, record promoters and retail salespersons, to name only a few.

See that part about the singers and musicians? They are just employees. For those of you who are or have ever been employed, you should remember the phrase “at will”. These are artists who “…touch every person of every culture on the globe…” yet they seem to be treated as corporate surfs. I know they have contracts, but let’s be realistic here. You think they will honor a contract if it negatively influences their profit? This is more like “at will, but with a reason we feel is valid and we might ejaculate a smattering of coins at you is you resist a little.” So this is all they understand: George, Abraham, Alexander, Ben, and so on. Now we must affect them somehow. Perhaps some kind of agreement to refuse products from those that would take unfair advantage of talented people. Maybe I’m too much of an optimist, maybe too idealistic. What more can I do but rant and hope others will hear?

J