Saturday, April 26, 2008
The Woman Who’s Beating the RIAAThe RIAA’s indiscriminate legal tactics against downloaders has caused many innocent people to get sued in court. One of them fought back and won. Now she is still fighting to take them down.
After being sued by the music industry for stealing songs and winning the case’s dismissal, Andersen is now taking the record industry to court. Her case is aimed at exposing investigative practices that are controversial and may be illegal, according to the lawsuit. One company hired by the record industry, she claims, snoops through people’s computers, uncovering private files and photos, even though it has no legal right to do so. A different industry-backed company uses tactics similar to those of debt collectors, pressuring people to pay thousands of dollars in settlements even before any wrongdoing is proven. In Andersen’s case, the industry’s Settlement Support Center said that unless she paid $4,000 to $5,000 immediately, it would “ruin her financially,” the suit alleges.
Andersen is going after the recording industry under conspiracy laws. She argues the Recording Industry Association of America, the industry’s trade group, and its affiliates worked together on a broad campaign to intimidate people into making financial payoffs. The defendants “secretly met and conspired” to develop a “litigation enterprise” with the ultimate goal of preserving the major record companies’ control over the music business. Andersen is requesting class action status for her case, seeking at least $5 million in compensation for the class.
It’s bad enough government is destroying our privacy. We can’t let corporations do it too. This is an important case. And an important step towards digital sovereignty.
In other music news, Phil Collins is retiring.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Reuben’s Tube
Mythbusters even did a spot on it
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Heavy Metal in Baghdad
Sunday, March 23, 2008
The Fall of the JacksonsAn interesting article in the NY Post about how the Jackson clan is impoverished. This part is especially interesting.
The King of Pop used his vast power and influence to prevent his siblings from plying the trade that led to such mega-hits as “I Want You Back,” “The Love You Save” and “ABC.”
Jackson, riding high in the music world, signed his brothers to his personal record label, MJJ, and refused to release any of their music.
“Michael’s mission was to make sure his family was broke, and he accomplished that through the industry, which mostly kowtowed to him,” said Bob Jones, former longtime director of communications for Jackson and the author of “Michael Jackson: The Man Behind the Mask.”
“We were always ordered by Michael to keep his family away from his offices and out of his business,” he said. “He hated them. He wanted them broke. Michael even refused to allow Jermaine, who had come over to Europe to see one of Michael’s concerts about a decade ago, to guest on ‘I’ll Be There.’ Jermaine was devastated.”
I used to see them around Encino, Ca when I lived there. I was waiting for my car at a car wash on Ventura Blvd, and sat next to Randy as he was waiting for his. I also saw Joe Jackson in the supermarket one time, buying some antacids. He was in front of me in line. And, of course, I’ve met Michael Jackson as I recounted on my old blog a few times. That was an interesting story.
Anyway, this family is rather sad. When you read teh whole thing, you realize Michael may or may not be a crazed pedophile, but he is certainly a creep. But he learned it from Dad, because the Jackson family has run several charity shows where they kept all the money and didn’t pay any of the bills..
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Mongolian Folk Rock
Friday, March 21, 2008
The Beatles Come to Town (1963)
Before and After
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Hey, Look! It’s Phil Stacy!
Last season’s Idol finalist has a video out
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Space Age Pop MusicWednesday, March 05, 2008
Free Wins AgainLike I’ve been saying, making stuff for free on the internet is the new business model. People will pay you for something if they like it. Another artist released his music for free and is making bank.
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails made headlines again this week as he released his new, four-part instrumental album Ghosts I-IV, at a variety of price points, including a $300 super-deluxe package. He’s also giving away Ghosts I at no charge, even throwing the tracks up on The Pirate Bay for anyone to download. And it appears to be working quite well for Reznor, who has managed to sell all 2,500 copies of his $300 package without major label backing or much in the way of splashy marketing. If Reznor’s earlier experiments in digital distribution failed to recoup their costs, he’s clearly learned his lesson: grossing $750,000 in the space of three days isn’t a bad haul for any businessperson.
The way to make money is sell people special versions and/or use advertisement money. There are lots of ways to do it and people are figuring them out. The bottom line is the consumers are winning.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Beatles Meet Led Zep
