Several times a week, we get asked the question, “Will someone steal my music if I put it on the Internet? Or, Is it secure?”
Audio is not secure on the Internet. Audio files can be made secure, but during playback, the audio itself is vulnerable. As long as there are two cables running out of the back of a computer, a copy can be made in five minutes. It’s currently impossible to stop this with modern technology. Companies have embedded watermarks in files so they can track when it’s moving on the Web, but that doesn’t stop the piracy, it just attempts to track it. Other companies have developed brilliant software to protect the files, but not the audio.
I guess the big question really is, Do you want people to access your music without compensating you? I’m not suggesting one way or the other is right for you. Only you can determine this.
A friend of mine was telling me the story of a well-known band that was dropped from a label three weeks before their tour was to begin, but kept the rights to their recently finished album. Uncertain about their future, they decided to give away their new record on all of their fan sites for free. Some thought they were nuts. In fact, everyone did. For the first time in their history, they sold out every venue and ended up selling loads of physical copies at their concerts. Merchandising was up, sales were up and the fans got the music for free.
This is just one example of the possibilities the Web can offer. Because most of us will take music when it’s given to us, it makes sense this strategy worked. I’m not suggesting you give away your music, I’m just suggesting that you should consider it as a marketing tool, especially if you’re touring.
Years ago I was given a CD by a label. The CD was a singer/songwriter named Todd Snider who was signed to this label. I listened to his record and thought, “Someone just got bumped off of my list of ten must-have albums on a desert isle.” I wore it out. I passed it around the office and the entire staff was blown away with this guy as well. We noticed that he was going to be in town and 12 of us went to the show. Every single person who didn’t have a copy of the CD bought one that night. In fact, a visiting music attorney from New York City attended with us and has told me several times how many people he has told about this guy, and this story.
These aren’t really amazing stories. Long before recorded music, musicians made their living playing live. And if you’re primarily a live performer, you might want to consider using your songs to sell tickets. It might just work. Promotions could begin at local record shops
Posted by Broadjam on Oct 28, 2005 in Broadjam Blog
I’ve always thought that when it comes to downloading music, its not what can be done about those who do it, but what can be done about the fact that they WANT to do. It’s getting way too cheap to record a quality product. Let’s be honest, an unknown band or artist can, for a relatively limited budget, record a product that is good enough to compete with everything else that is out there. The big labels have dictated that they won’t pass that savings on either by lowering the prices of CD’s or including larger budgets to add more artists to develop. I think pirating is the natural response to this and the fact that despite the vast resources of the internet, people still can’t find all the music they want.
Nov 1, 2005/11:48 amFor me as an artist, I can’t wait for the day when all the music is free and those who are talented will have an honest chance at being recognized. People will still support their favorite artists by attending concerts, buying merchandising and the licensing of music will still be a lucrative venue. It may not be the big bucks of days passed, but I predict, there will be more artists out there making solid livings off doing what they love the most.
As hard as it is for all of us indie artists to hear, isn’t that why we’re making music in the first place? For others to listen to? I’m all for making money off of it (let’s not get too greedy though), but we’re never going to make money off of our music until we get a following and fan base. And that’s never going to happen until people start listening to my music. And Roy made a good point – it’s a heck of a lot easier to find new music when you can get it for free rather than when you have to pay for it. If somebody can download my song, they can put it onto a CD and burn it for a friend. Or they can put it on an MP3 player and listen to it with friends on a road trip. If either of these scenarios happened, I could potentially have 2 or 3 new fans instead of just the one guy sitting at his computer streaming it. Once you have your loyal fan base, that’s when you’ll start seeing the money. There is no get-rich-quick solution for indie artists, so we’ve got to be creative and crafty in getting people to listen to our music. Personally, I don’t worry so much about people stealing my music. I should be so lucky that there are people out there who WANT to steal my music.
Oct 31, 2005/4:54 pmI see this time that we’re in as a major turning point in the industry and it’s actually and exciting thing. Independent musicians are getting a voice and sharing the stage with the big guys and getting equal chance to get their music out there. The internet is of course changing things and in a big way and it has it’s doubters…some people just don’t like change. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my music and yes I would love to get filthy rich with it but I’m also realistic. Due to the internet and how easy it makes it to find good (often) free music. This means I’m competing with free music and I’m not gonna sell music next to a guy that is giving it away for free. I’m gonna have to figure out a new way to market and compete with that and honestly I don’t know how yet. I think that’s what is exciting for me because it is an opportunity…I feel like at least now I have a chance when earlier in my career I had to work hard to get noticed. Not that I don’t expect to work hard but nowadays good music gets found and supported (at least more than before) and it matters less and less everyday what they shove down our throats on the radio and T.V. In other words, I think we are moving towards an industry where artists get rich and famous for being talented. There’s so many great unknown artists out there and I wish them all the best of luck…I’ve always rooted for the underdogs!
Oct 29, 2005/11:58 pmI agree, once your music is recorded and on the internet in any way it can be obtained. But for me (and this is from the view of an independent musician), it all comes down to supporting good music. As a big hard rock/heavy metal fan, I have admittedly been suckered into buying really bad albums in the past, mostly albums that recieve heavy promotion from the majors and contain a hit single. So many labels and producers are looking for a hit song, they fail to realize that one good song can’t save a bad album. I think people are fed up with spending their money on bad music, and it tends to make them cynical even about music released in the independent arena. But personally, if I hear a song that I really dig, I will gladly support the artist in any way that I can.
Oct 28, 2005/9:33 pmHey, Roy!
How about including an option to include the “download” link (like on the transmit function) in the songs page, as well as the lo and hi-fi streams? On whichever songs you choose only.
What would be great about this is that you could release the album online, a free single at a time, keep people checking back frequenty.
The best part about music is being able to share it with other people. I would love to give the songs on my CD for free, but I’m a little scared. I [fairly] recently recorded a full album and I’m worried about not getting any of that money I invested back. I don’t tour, so CD sales are the only other choice.
Even so, I’m still leaning towards just giving it away. Part of me thinks that if I start to obsess about money and marketing I will never be able to just sit down and write again. Not from the heart, anyway.
We’ll see how things work out…
Hope everything’s going well!
Judith
Oct 28, 2005/6:49 pmI think the musicians that want to “protect” their music are just repeating what the labels are saying and the labels are mad because that’s less money for them. Artists have more power now with the Internet in its current state to promote themselves and that is eventually (I believe) going to eliminate the need for big labels. Wouldn’t that be great…if as an artist I could promote my music myself and sell my albums and not have to pay hundreds of people’s outrageous salaries at a label? In other words, I sell an album-I get the money…Wow what a concept. As far as giving music away for free I don’t see the big deal in that either. I make music for other people to (hopefully) enjoy and I can’t help but compare it to Author’s who write books and their books end up in libraries. I’ve never heard an author complain that people can read their entire book for free and I don’t think it has hurt their books sales either. As a fan of music I’ve heard music that I liked so much that I bought it twice. Maybe I lost an album or someone stole it, but I bought it because I wanted the album and because it was GOOD and it meant something to me. These are my random thoughts on the subject, I really think the Internet has helped me promote my music and find music I would have probably never heard. If you want your music protected I think you are missing the point and if that’s what you really want then don’t record it or play a live show.
~My Thoughts~
Oct 28, 2005/4:39 pm