stop buying CDs for the rest of 2003

[miriam_e]

The music industry is trying to stuff the file-sharing genie back in the bottle by attacking their own customers instead of moving into the 21st century with an appropriate business model. Musicians who try to earn a living through that backward-looking industry risk long-term ruin. Around 60 million Americans share files, and heaven knows how many in the rest of the world. This is a massive market waiting to be tapped, but the industry is gripped by fear of the new technology, like a rabbit caught in the headlights. This is the same way they reacted when recordable audio cassettes were marketed, and when listening booths were introduced in record shops. It is the same way the film industry reacted about recordable video cassettes. They are completely out of step with a technology that could revitalise a sagging, top heavy industry.

We need a large-scale movement to stop buying CDs for the rest of 2003. Xmas is traditionally a windfall period for the record companies. Deny them this. Let the record shops and artists know, and the Luddite executives just might change course, stop hurting little people, and save their industry before too much damage is done.

Buy from artists who share and sell their music online. For example:

Alanis Morissette Ani DiFranco Beastie Boys Beggars Banquet CD Baby Chuck D David Bowie Einsteurzende Neubauten Green Day Ice T Janis Ian Justablip Records Kristen Hersch

Matador Records Michael Franti / Spearhead Paula Cole Pearl Jam Phish REM Smashing Pumpkins Sonic Youth Streaming Geeks They Might Be Giants Ween Wilco Wonderlick