Privatized Culture: Redux
Mar. 31st, 2004 04:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nfotxnAs a follow-up to this little rantfest: CRIA Loses Download Case
The CRIA presented a case that pivoted on a privacy issue. They wanted Canadian ISPs to reveal the customer details co-related to IP addresses. Now from a technical standpoint anyone with any experience with networking knows it's absurd. Let alone the little detail that the payee of the ISP bill isn't the only one using the computer(s) or networks contained behind whatever IP address. What about open WiFi access points? It was a messy case and I guess in retrospect was destine to fail.
Stuff like this gives me faith that my government wants to uphold my rights. Whereas in the USA Congress is trying to criminalize P2P use with the PIRATE act. It's like The War on Drugs all over again. Lobbyism is of course the #1 threat to civil liberty in the USA today. When any big industry in the USA gets their shit fucked up by a smaller concern they lobby the government and get laws made. Be it cotton, oil or media the story is always the same. And the scariest part is how culturally the USA always seems to uphold these legal beliefs as if they were moral truths.
Anyhow, I'm glad I'm not getting sued for the records that I download. I couldn't possibly afford any more than I already buy so I don't see how I'm being economically damaging. Now there are more studies showing downloads are not effecting record sales very negatively if at all. Which begs the question: why are record sales falling billions a year? I think an often over-looked but at least minorly significant contributing factor is that the further disaggregation of the industry. Like anything working in the *buzz* New Economy the effects of direct relationships between consumers, distributors, re-sellers and retailors is causing the governing bodies like the RIAA/CRIA, MPAA etc. to lose sales to independents, used sales and resale of albums via Amazon, eBay etc. Let alone the ever-present progressive cultural effects of things like this blog that you are reading or that IM conversation you had with your friend in Italy about that new band from France. That band from France isn't represented by the RIAA.
In reality I think it's just bad accounting in addition to a natural economic slump and a poorly performing industry. If the industry is not limited by suing their customers and calling them theives what lengths could the music industry's arrogance go to? It leaves the imagination open to a excess of possibilities. And even still the truth is often stranger than fiction.
CRIA Loses Download Case
The CRIA presented a case that pivoted on a privacy issue. They wanted Canadian ISPs to reveal the customer details co-related to IP addresses. Now from a technical standpoint anyone with any experience with networking knows it's absurd. Let alone the little detail that the payee of the ISP bill isn't the only one using the computer(s) or networks contained behind whatever IP address. What about open WiFi access points? It was a messy case and I guess in retrospect was destine to fail.Stuff like this gives me faith that my government wants to uphold my rights. Whereas in the USA Congress is trying to criminalize P2P use with the PIRATE act. It's like The War on Drugs all over again. Lobbyism is of course the #1 threat to civil liberty in the USA today. When any big industry in the USA gets their shit fucked up by a smaller concern they lobby the government and get laws made. Be it cotton, oil or media the story is always the same. And the scariest part is how culturally the USA always seems to uphold these legal beliefs as if they were moral truths.
Anyhow, I'm glad I'm not getting sued for the records that I download. I couldn't possibly afford any more than I already buy so I don't see how I'm being economically damaging. Now there are more studies showing downloads are not effecting record sales very negatively if at all. Which begs the question: why are record sales falling billions a year? I think an often over-looked but at least minorly significant contributing factor is that the further disaggregation of the industry. Like anything working in the *buzz* New Economy the effects of direct relationships between consumers, distributors, re-sellers and retailors is causing the governing bodies like the RIAA/CRIA, MPAA etc. to lose sales to independents, used sales and resale of albums via Amazon, eBay etc. Let alone the ever-present progressive cultural effects of things like this blog that you are reading or that IM conversation you had with your friend in Italy about that new band from France. That band from France isn't represented by the RIAA.
In reality I think it's just bad accounting in addition to a natural economic slump and a poorly performing industry. If the industry is not limited by suing their customers and calling them theives what lengths could the music industry's arrogance go to? It leaves the imagination open to a excess of possibilities. And even still the truth is often stranger than fiction.
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no subject
Date: 2004-03-31 03:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-31 03:39 pm (UTC)The Industry (meaning: the Big Guys, not independent labels) are still clinging to their formula "making" acts and peddling them. The only variations they can come up with for hits come in the form of narrowly defined "genres".
What's "alternative" about contemporary "Alternative" music? Pre-Kurt Cobain, "Alternative" wasn't really an oxymoron, and the media also didn't peddle anything as "Alternative" either.
Is there any connection between these tendencies and the shortage of music aired on music stations on TV? They're resorting to airing last year's Michael Jackson special at least once a week on MuchMoreMusic, along with all these retro-specials on musical trends that feature clips of music videos. Or worse yet, programming like the "Bad Boys/Girls of Pop" or profiles on their fashions and/or movie careers.
MTV and MuchMusic both used to specialize in... music videos. Remember those?
no subject
Date: 2004-03-31 07:47 pm (UTC)Once upon a time, I didn't mind Metallica - wouldn't go out of my way, but wouldn't turn em off if they were on... After the mp3 fiasco, no interest in hearing em.
just passing through, don't mind me
Date: 2004-03-31 10:12 pm (UTC)hey, maybe they'll start funding bear-boy bands. wouldn't that be neat?
no subject
Date: 2004-03-31 03:06 pm (UTC)I'd say apathy of the public is...but I really don't care either way.
(joke)
no subject
Date: 2004-03-31 03:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-31 07:43 pm (UTC)Wouldn't have anything to do with absolute shit pop crap being spewed out by the major record companies, and the spending being spread across the now more accessible small labels, of course.
no subject
Date: 2004-04-01 01:47 pm (UTC)