A friend of mine who lived in Shanghai for two years points out that buying off the street was always a mistake. On the other hand, if you’re there for any length of time, you can meet people who have stores (without any signs) who have a reputation to protect who then only sell good copies. The version of a movie I saw over there was a copy of an Academy screener, so the only problem with it was a message that came up on the bottom of the screen about twice an hour which told me that if I wasn’t a member of the Academy I shouldn’t be watching this.

that’s perfect, isn’t it? An ACADEMY MEMBER selling his screener to someone, so it ends up pirated!!!

J:

“Why does Christina Aguilera tour China when there are no legitimate cd-sales outlets?”

M:
Because artists don’t make any money off CDs. The make all their money off touring, while the Record Companies rob them blind on Cd sales.

This should be required reading:
http://archive.salon.com/tech/feature/2000/06/14/love/index.html

Marshall
The Real HT Info Podcast

Marshall, I spent over 10 years managing and working with recording artists at all levels – I am well aware of the economics of the record biz & touring. And you can look at both sides (label & artist) of the old model and make interesting arguments. (The Courtney Love piece – from 2000 – is interesting and largely true, but to be fair, there is more to it than what she lays out. I am NOT a fan of big labels, but nobody forced her or any other artist to sign a major record deal. If she didn’t want the label to take the risk (and the resulting profit), she could have gone the independent route. But I digress…)

Trust me, I ran the numbers on the Aguilera tour (while at the show in China) based on attendance and ticket prices. Either she or the promoter took a bath. And the cost of taking a production that big overseas is enormous. Often you tour at a loss to “build your brand,” which is possibly what she was doing – it was the only thing I could think of that made sense.

I am just suggesting that the game has now changed. In the past, you could make money from record sales (even though yes, the label makes the lion’s share). Now, there is very little, if any, income from sales. Indeed if you tour the right way (good business plan), you have a shot at making money. Touring in the US is different than going overseas. Some artists can indeed make big money here. And looking at the Live Nation deals you realize that the business model is changing right before our very eyes.

All good points, and all point back to why it is wrong to assume that “all bands are rich so it’s okay to “file-share” (steal) music.”

This doesn’t have anything, directly, to do with the Christina Aguilera tour, but it needs to be said.

J: it is wrong to assume that “all bands are rich so it’s okay to “file-share” (steal) music.”

M: I don’t think that’s where I was going at all (most bands are anything but rich), but if I was in the business of making bold statements, I’d reword it like this…

“Most RECORD COMPANIES are so rich (and anticompetative, and unimaginative, and manipulative, etc.), so it’s okay to “file-share” (steal) music, because the artists aren’t making any money anyway.”

Now, that’s probably a little too bold, but we’re finally seeing artists (and producers, and record company execs) wising up. Nine Inch Nails are giving away their music to support touring. The music they do sell is offered in value added packaging (limited editions, additional photos and artwork), and is free and open.

Record companies are subtracting value. Locking down music, charging more for low bitrates, no liner notes, etc.

As far as no one forcing artists to sign with the majors, I searched for an article, by Rick Rubin I believe, addressing the evils of the A&R recruitment system (but couldn’ find it, I’d love a link if you recall where this was published at). It certainly wasn’t as coherent as Love’s article (good lord, that’s saying a lot), but it was amazing to hear this prospective from the co-head of Columbia Records. Bands are sold the sun, moon, and stars, and systematically chewed up and spit out.

I’m just tired of seeing my favorite bands and artists unable to break into major music channels because of the monopoly record labels have held (in fairness, this has improved drastically in the last 5 years, but there is still along way to go.)

Notable exceptions:
Mike Doughty and others @ ATO
Everyone @ righteous babe
Dar Williams at Razor and Tie (they also do Kidz Bop, proving that you can address the mass market while maintaining integrity with your fringe artists)

These aren’t tiny labels, these are labels that sell millions of units every year, and they do it by growing, not destroying, their artists.

Is it akin to Robin Hood to “steal” (your words, not mine) music from the rich record labels and give it to the poor (computer owning, ipod users)?

Absolutely not, if it’s against the artists wishes, but many artists would like nothing more than to just have their music/art out there, and be unshackled from the companies and their influence. Just ask Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Poe, Jill Sobule, Saul Williams…this list is growing.

I guess we can just agree to disagree on this fundamental issue of stealing music. There are plenty of truths in your feelings towards the big monster labels (as is also the case with big companies in any industry), but at the end of the day, I have an issue with stealing, regardless of how rich or evil the person you are stealing from is. Just because you steal from a bad guy doesn’t mean you aren’t stealing.

As for artists getting “sold the sun, moon, and stars” by slick A&R guys, welcome to showbiz! Stupidity is a lousy reason to sign a bad contract. Let’s face it – one in a million gets a shot a signing that bad contract, and you’re gonna sign it if you get the chance. It’s only after you hit it big (which probably wouldn’t have happen had you not signed) that you suddenly feel you’ve been screwed…

It is obvious now that the old model sucked. But things have moved forward – the game has changed now. Let’s hope it’s for the better. I think we are headed for some good stuff as a result of the turmoil….

I have seen just a few pirated movies and did NOT enjoy it.