Re: FSF : lackeys of their corporate masters

[Martin Dickopp]

Stefaan A Eeckels <tengo@DELETEMEecc.lu> writes:

> On Thu, 06 May 2004 18:51:14 +0200
> Martin Dickopp <expires-2004-06-30@zero-based.org> wrote:
>
>> I agree that nowadays, it is becoming increasingly difficult to make a
>> profit by /distributing/ music, but at the same time, the need for
>> companies in the business of distributing music decreases.  So while I
>> do indeed believe that the future for the "music industry" looks rather
>> dark, I don't think less music will be created.
>
> Actually, being able to make a profit from selling recorded music
> isn't under threat at all.

It isn't under threat in the sense of disappearing completely, but I
predict that it will become more difficult.

> People still buy CDs,

I don't, simply because my 10+ years old CD player cannot play the "copy
protected" (i.e. deliberately not CDDA standard compliant) CDs sold
nowadays.  Given the choice between bying a new CD player and not bying
any new CDs, I prefer the latter.

I agree that in theory, a market for recorded music exists, but in
practice, the "music industry" is trying very hard to destroy this
market by alienating their customers, and it might eventually succeed.

> As to no less music being created if people stop paying for access
> to music on CDs or in MP3s, I agree with you. But that music
> might linger in the composer's archives after having been 
> performed live a few times. The real contribution of affordable
> recorded music is that millions have been able to discover and
> enjoy music they would otherwise not even know existed. 

But today, it is becoming more and more feasible for musicians to
distribute their music without the help of the "music industry".

> Also, don't forget that software isn't an art form,

Well, I can certainly appreciate some computer programs as a form of
art, so let's say being art is not the only purpose of software. :)

Martin