Arts & Entertainment
 

Fans finally fight RIAA

Organization's founding principles are ridiculous, and people now realize it

Stay Sick

Jason Gagnon

Recently, a New Jersey woman who was sued by the Recording Industry Association of America for illegally downloading music filed a countersuit alleging that the group's tactics fall under anti-racketeering statutes. 

In case you're not fluent in fed speak, that "anti-racketeering" jargon refers to mafia-style activity. The woman argues that instead of merely presenting the offender with the complaint, the RIAA urges a financial resolution with intense pressure. Such jackbooted tactics come as no surprise considering how vile and disgusting the record industry is. 

To make matters worse, the group is now trying to buy corporations that have ownership of peer-to-peer networks like Kazaa. Can you imagine what they would do? You'd have the RIAA keeping the service illegal while being able to seek out the identity of users. So, they would be making money off promoting something they apparently abhor and also off of suing their subscribers. Huh?

The record industry is not as bad off as they would have you believe. Their problem is that they are seeing less profits. Never mind that artists do not see most of that money and many bands' first releases puts them in debt to their label. Why do you think so many artists start clothing labels and seek endorsements? It's because they don't see much money from their music. This is baffling to me. Elvis Costello once said something to the effect of, "It's my job to make a record and it's the record company's job to sell it." Sounds pretty good to me. 

Now, to end their "slump," the record companies are dropping bands, negotiating tougher deals and placing limitations on albums to cut costs. Basically, they are continuing to kill rock 'n' roll. This time, though, they're doing it creatively instead of subjecting the world to talentless nothings. And get this, they even want a piece of an artist's tour and merchandise. Does that make any sense? Does the fact that there is an organization out there devoted to protecting the record companies make sense?

By the way, has anyone else seen those "I download ... legally" ads in music magazines? There's one of Sheryl Crow who says she does so to preserve integrity. That lady lost all integrity when she objected to female musicians being displayed as pieces of meat and vowed to never do such things. Of course, now she tarts herself up for whatever rag offers up the bucks. Mandy Moore is also in one of the ads. 

What the RIAA needs to realize is that people don't just download for free music. There are plenty of valid reasons. For instance, some people still buy vinyl. Remember that? Why should they have to pay for a CD version of their record? Plus, I can always copy a new CD for a friend or a few thousand if I feel the need and no one is going to sue or arrest me as long as I don't profit from it. 

File sharing is killing the record industry? Killing isn't wrong.

Gagnon writes a weekly column on all things sick. 
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