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I liked the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. I didn’t like ‘Hook’. I guess that means I have mixed feelings on pirates? Right? Wrong. The entertainment industry is fighting what appears to be a losing battle against “pirates” who operate torrent websites that freely distribute and share copyrighted material. Some people think it’s highly acceptable and others are venomously against it. The real concern though are the people caught in the middle, the masses.

It is those internet users who are undecided by the whole illegal file sharing issue that hold the key to what happens next. Some people think the idea of being a “pirate” is rather cool and sexy. Others think it sounds highly incriminating and don’t want to be connected (literally!) in any manner to such activities. Sure, the music industry, record labels especially and legal eagles would love to think they are in control of what the future holds for the music industry specifically but frankly all they can do is steer the ship and hope no-one else jumps off on to that torrent bandwagon. Of course if that ship is destined to go to a better place then it is much more likely people will buy into what they have to offer. It has been a long time coming but in recent times the music industry has woken up to the fact that it must change to survive. The torrent sites will not vanish overnight no matter how much certain sectors of the industry would love them to.

While record companies are smelling the coffee, the pirates are smelling something more pungent to say the least. Now more so than ever, it really feels like the tide is turning against them. It’s true to say they’ve had it too good for too long. How it got to this stage is anyones guess but with more pressure on them more so than ever before perhaps now really is the time for change. I hear it’s quite fashionable at the moment! It’s easy to argue that if one torrent site gets shutdown another one will just pop-up elsewhere. People said that about Napster too. We all know what happened there. Fact is, it can be done but the question is will it be?

The masses stuck in the middle, some who download illegally and others who do not dare commit such an act through morals or uninitiated in the process, are the ones who actually yield the most power here. The choice is simple but dilemma is not. To illegally download or not? Some do and don’t talk about it, some do and pontificate with unwarranted pride. Those who choose specifically not to do so will tell you it is not worth the risk for damage to their computers, plus of course the fear of the authorities taking action against them. It is also now more affordable than ever before to download digital content legally. Some sites like Kerchoonz.com allow you to do it for free while they give something back to the artist. Other sites charge around a £1 for a song. A nominal fee for a track and not too dissimilar to what we’ve been used to paying in the past for various physical formats. There is also a sense of appreciation if you pay for something. In this digital age it is all too easy to delete music before giving it a chance. If you pay for it in some form, be it directly or getting it for free through an advert based website then you will respect the music more. It won’t feel so disposable and if you download something that is not instantly enjoyed by your palette then it is likely you’ll give it another try. How many songs and albums do we love that we weren’t sure about on the first few listens? Nowadays though, some people don’t even give a song it’s duration before deleting it. Harsh, but true.

There is however a recession on. People are penny pinching. This should mean the temptation to get something for free, legally or illegally, is much greater. On the surface that is indeed the case but take a moment to consider that the recession affects everyone on many levels. The pirates will always throw up big names to raise the flag of their mission, declaring certain musicians don’t need the money. Maybe they are right but it’s not really for them to decide. More importantly is the knock on effect. If that big famous musician’s sales are affected, Office Joe with his mortgage and 2.4 children will feel the brunt, no doubt long before the musician in question will. Rightly or wrongly his job will be on the line, even more so at this time.

So the BIG question really is, what will happen next? The answer is easy, that is down to you. What will you choose?

Tags: Music Pirates Torrents Downloading Industry File-sharing P2p

Local music is crap, eh? I mean, when was the last time you saw a decent local band? It’s not like they are in the charts or anything. Why would you want to waste time out of your life going to see some unknown act for nothing or next to nothing? February 9th, 1961. That’s why.

Now let me hold my hands up and admit now I do not get out to embrace the local music as much as I’d like. However I would say working six nights a week for six years may have something to do with that and certainly now I am making up for it, albeit in some small way. There is nothing better than live music, the response of a crowd, the skill of musicianship, the unpredictability factor of it all. You don’t get that on a recording, nor do you get it sitting on your arse watching The X-Factor being spoon fed by Simon Cowell.

It frustrates me when I do turn up to a gig and there’s hardly anyone bothered to do the same. I have total respect for anyone who stands in front of a mic to fourteen people in a room and carries themselves with dignity and pride. It takes a special talent to do that, one that is often overlooked even by those in attendance.

I do realize what the problem is but fixing it is far more difficult. Ignorance is the main crux here and it’s down to individuals not educating themselves either online by looking to discover new music or gambling on popping along to a gig, although the latter often is not such an issue as they don’t even know the gig is on in the first place! I want to stress I am not being a musical snob about this. It is something everyone can do, certainly if you’re reading this then you’re online so you’ve got no excuse.

However it is not just the punter’s problem. Some musicians are shockingly bad at self-promotion. The lack of plugging of their gigs, websites, etc. constantly amazes me that they can even survive financially or successfully in such a cut throat industry. If they don’t do the first part, you cannot blame the public for not turning up to a concert. A little tip to any musicians reading this, if you want people to turn up to your gigs, tell us where it is and when, and I mean what time. If there is a reason not go to something then generally people will be apathetic towards it. Make it easy and people will come. Believe me.

My brother was telling me the other day that he’s already decided that in 2009 he is going to make a point of going out once a month to a local gig. People generally say that about the cinema or visiting a restaurant. Not concerts. We need more people with that attitude and I’m not just saying that because he’s my brother. It makes total sense, especially when so many gigs are free or around five pounds. In the credit crunch it makes more sense to go out and enjoy yourself but doing it in a frugal way. Certainly it’s more inexpensive than the cinema or a meal.

February 9th ,1961. I mentioned that date at the start as a reason to go to a local band’s gig. That was the day a local band in Liverpool played a venue called the Cavern Club. The gig was an unadvertised lunchtime performance by a band called The Beatles, you may have heard of them. That is the point. Every band, every act, every musician is local. Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen are local acts in New Jersey. U2 are a local band in Dublin, Oasis are a local band in Manchester, need I go on?! If it wasn’t for people supporting these acts in their early days they wouldn’t be here now for our worldwide enjoyment. That’s a fact. 

So the next time you or someone you know claims that “all local music is shite” think about your music collection because it’s full of local music, maybe not local to you but it’s local to someone. Oh and anyone about to level to me that some local music is shit, yeah I agree but then do you like every act in the charts?!

Here is something fun... if you add &fmt=18 at the end of any YouTube video URL you should get it in better quality, in picture and sound.

For example: Regular YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr0ZZacBOBM

Enhanced YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr0ZZacBOBM&fmt=18

Jase xx

Tags: YouTube