I like Jim.<\/p>\n
But it looks like he’s protecting his job, like he’s too deep in the old model to see the new.<\/p>\n
Bottom line, we’re not gonna have an ISP tax.<\/p>\n
You know why?\u00c2\u00a0 Because the ISPs don’t want it.\u00c2\u00a0 Because if they cough up some money to the music industry, then they’re gonna have to cough up dough for movies, newspapers, quilters, everybody whose business has been affected by the Internet.\u00c2\u00a0 They don’t want to let anybody through the door, they don’t want to set precedent, and how would you divvy up the money anyway?<\/p>\n
And content industries are a blip on the radar screen compared to telecom providers.\u00c2\u00a0 The RIAA is no match for the representatives of Comcast, Time Warner and Cablevision, never mind Verizon and AT&T.\u00c2\u00a0 And we know that lobbyists control the law, look at the new financial bill.<\/p>\n
So why fight this unwinnable battle against deep pockets who are never going to cave?<\/p>\n
Better yet, why keep trying to convince people music is worth something, that it shouldn’t be free?\u00c2\u00a0 Everybody knows that.\u00c2\u00a0 And you can’t win that battle.\u00c2\u00a0 That’s like telling teens to stop doing drugs and having sex.<\/p>\n
Three strikes?<\/p>\n
Come on.\u00c2\u00a0 Larry Lessig fights you in court, all the way to the Supremes, who determine it’s a basic right, and after ten years you’ve lost.\u00c2\u00a0 Or, maybe you win.\u00c2\u00a0 But after a decade, what’s your record company gonna look like anyway?\u00c2\u00a0 In the past decade, labels have already devolved into a shadow of their former selves.\u00c2\u00a0 In another ten years?<\/p>\n
The only hope is legitimate services.\u00c2\u00a0 Spotify. Rdio.\u00c2\u00a0 MOG.\u00c2\u00a0 Rhapsody.\u00c2\u00a0 They’ve all got mobile apps.\u00c2\u00a0 Which include songs that live on the handset.\u00c2\u00a0 If you don’t think people will go for this, you don’t know how to sell.\u00c2\u00a0 Apps are flying out of the iTunes Store.\u00c2\u00a0 Key element?\u00c2\u00a0 Make ’em cheap and sell ’em to everybody!<\/p>\n
In the future will recorded music generate as much revenue as it did prior to Napster?<\/p>\n
That’s questionable.\u00c2\u00a0 But you don’t succeed by watching your old business model fade while you quibble and never enable a replacement.<\/p>\n
Computer margins are lower than ever before.\u00c2\u00a0 Do Dell, Acer and HP try to convince consumers that computers contain decades of research and should cost $10,000 apiece?\u00c2\u00a0 No, they blow them out at near cost to everybody, that’s the business model, that’s reality.<\/p>\n
The money’s in getting everyone to subscribe.<\/p>\n
Sure, bake the cost into an ISP or mobile carrier fee.\u00c2\u00a0 Sounds good to me.<\/p>\n
But let’s be practical.\u00c2\u00a0 Fighting an unwinnable war is just laughable.<\/p>\n
\n\nDear BOB,<\/p>\nThe response to the industry’s campaign on music piracy last month (below) has been remarkable – nearly 14,000 messages to Congress have already been sent!\u00c2\u00a0 The feedback and interest among our community has been overwhelming.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Together, I am confident Congress will hear our call — but we need to be louder still.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you have not yet sent an e-mail to Congress via this link (http:\/\/bit.ly\/bJSaA8<\/a>), please do.\u00c2\u00a0 It only takes a moment and will make a difference. \u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you have already sent an e-mail to your members of Congress – thank you.\u00c2\u00a0 Please consider making an even bigger impact by asking your friends, family and colleagues to join us.\u00c2\u00a0 You can easily forward the e-mail by clicking here (http:\/\/bit.ly\/auPSI3<\/a>).<\/p>\n
I’ll be in touch in the weeks ahead to update you on Congressional activity and other opportunities to get involved in protecting and defending the industry and art form that we all love.\u00c2\u00a0 In the meantime, be sure to join our Facebook community on www.musicrightsnow.org for news and information of interest. <\/p>\n