Technically Speaking

Yes, that is the want ad you will be reading soon. As the record industry comes to a crashing halt in 2007, early 2008. I think the latest news about Madonna is far more significant than the Radiohead news earlier this week.

Whilst the deal differs from Nine Inch Nails in that Madonna is not offering direct-to-public albums, Live Nation isn’t a record company. The deal shows that even for a world famous act, a record company is no longer required in the days of digital downloads and P2P music sharing.

I believe that there will be some lawyers looking for a new line of work within the law community this year. Being a record company suit is not an option I would recommend for the guys/gals coming out of law school. Hey, maybe there is some room for second life law? It seems like IBM has become nice and cozy with Linden Labs. Never say never, but…

Technically Speaking, the recording industry as a whole did it themselves. I don’t feel sorry for the hand writing on the wall, and neither should you. Think I’m being mean? I’m not. Would you feel sorry for a thief? That’s exactly what the recording industry has been for many years to many artists. Thieves. Plain and simple. Legalized stealing.

While NIN may have laid down the gauntlet in the past 24 hours with their statements, the truth is the recording industry did it to themselves. While they can get the courts to rule against poor Jammie Thomas to the tune of $220,000 in damages, they never have really gotten the wrong they have been doing for the past 100 years or so.

When lawyers sit in offices and pretend they know the music and musician, it’s a joke. It has been a joke for that long, and too many artists have suffered as a result. Too many bands that were promised endless lies and taken advantage of for the good of the record companies bottom line only has fueled my disgust for them.

It’s about time that the artists stand up and say “enough is enough“. I wonder what other main artist that has made enough money throughout their career has the kahunas to stand up and say “I’m a free agent, screw that suit.”

Recording your own music has never been easier with the technology available today. Distribution has never been easier. Touring, well that just takes a lot of work and connection, and not hard to do once you get in the clique.

Technically Speaking, it’s time for some record company attorneys to go make an honest living. It’s way beyond time. I wonder if Lars Ulrich is about to maybe change his tune?

Now earlier this evening, going off the Reuters report, I figured they were a bunch of buffoons in a room complaining about getting the shaft. Now the NY Times is reporting that the music industry is considering doing the free is good thing in the next 12-24 months.

Technically Speaking, maybe they had a feeling they were about to be ripped to shreds online?

Where? On MySpace of course! SnoCap which is Shawn Fanning’s latest and greatest startup is doing things right. Merlin, which is a record label launched at MidemNet in Cannes yesterday, made the announcement. They want to be the the next major player in the recording industry. Hey, wasn’t it just like yesterday that Shawn and his boys showed the record labels that you can’t hog all the money? Isn’t this the same Shawn that mastered and applied p2p technology and took it to another level? Of course it is!
Technically Speaking, I have one more, and then I’m off to watch a game! Watcha Gonna Do now RIAA???