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?

Music Biz wins - Well they won round #1 in the war, that I’m sure will continue. One comment left on this blog suggested we all start a fund for Jammie. So do you think or agree with Vickie? Should we rally around Jammie and lend her a few dollars to pay off her fine?

YouTube Spam - Yes, it seems that spam is everywhere. Now in the case of YouTube (who is Google in disguise), they really need to do something asap. Marshall has all the scoop info you love to read as well as related articles on this.

Facebook to do what? - Why not. Serve up some mp3’s. Everyone loves mp3’s. Well legal music is great. But according to the trial above, what really is legal anymore? It seems like the record industry wants it all and than some. Greed. It’s totally why the record business has declined. It has nothing to do with file sharing. Artists saw an opportunity and the ones who have seized it are the ones that are doing fine. Record companies screwed musicians for years upon decades.

Technically Speaking, the music business is changing and for the better for the people creating the music - the artist - the musician. Sorry, no more greedy lawyers sitting on their fat a$$es collecting a check. Go chase an ambulance would ya? IBM memory

**UPDATE** - more info on what Sony’s lawyer had to say.
You can read all about it here, but I think it’s quite funny how they described Jammie’s computer:

Armed with three boxes of documents and Thomas’ computer (a squat black and silver Compaq minitower of not-too-recent vintage),

And the first witness is a lawyer from Sony BMG?

With opening statements concluded, the labels called their first witness, Jennifer Pariser, the head of litigation for Sony BMG.

GMAFB! Sign up if you don’t have an account!

Technically Speaking, it should be interesting to see how this one comes out. North Face

The RIAA is doing everything possible these days to turn a dollar. They are now in the process of killing the web cast. If you don’t belong to that special a$$ kissing club of the RIAA, you are going to be screwed. I say we form our OWN RIAA. One that is fair across the board. One that makes certain the artist and broadcasters are actually paid. One that doesn’t hurt the industry more then it helps it.

Technically Speaking, the RIAA has done more bad in the past few years then good.

Here are the schools you want to attend if you want free mp3 files. The below universities are on the naughty and not nice list the RIAA put out today. Here is the complete list, and the article goes into greater depth about them.

1. Ohio University - 1,287
2. Purdue University - 1,068
3. University of Nebraska at Lincoln - 1,002
4. University of Tennessee at Knoxville - 959
5. University of South Carolina - 914
6. University of Massachusetts at Amherst - 897
7. Michigan State University - 753
8. Howard University - 572
9. North Carolina State University - 550
10. University of Wisconsin at Madison - 513
11. University of South Florida - 490
12. Syracuse University - 488
13. Northern Illinois University - 487
14. University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire - 473
15. Boston University - 470
16. Northern Michigan University - 457
17. Kent State University - 424
18. University of Michigan at Ann Arbor - 400
19. University of Texas at Austin - 371
20. North Dakota State University - 360
21. Indiana University - 353
22. Western Kentucky University - 353
23. Seton Hall University - 338
24. Arizona State University - 336
25. Marshall University - 331

Technically Speaking, I was only kidding when I wrote the first line! Copyright infringement is a crime, and the RIAA will take you to court.

That is the reason behind them appealing the attorney fees that was awarded in the case of defendant Debbie Foster in Capitol Records v. Foster. It appears that if they lose this, they may back off and regroup for a bit.

Technically Speaking, it’s actually nice to see the RIAA sweat a bit for a change.

Well done. I’m glad you are standing up for your rights. You are exactly right, the record companies stood by and did nothing when it started. Only after they realized they weren’t acting correctly, they decided to sue. What did that bring them? More lawyers on the payroll, not entertainment attorneys, but witch hunting screw you for your last cent lawyers. The type that chased down the step off the curb and twist their ankle to sue the city type.

Now in the end, they are crying. They are crying hard, as they lost a ton of money that was all potentially there. This is not my first, or my last post about the corruption within the recording industry. I don’t feel bad for them, as they screwed over the musicians for years. Years.

First by making outlandish promises to young impressionable “kids”. Selling them dreams of rock stardom, then bringing in free everything. Free beer. Free smokes. Free drugs. Free women. Free limos. Free hotels.

Of course at the end of the day it was not all free. When the accountants tallied it all up - the musician could have made more working at some fast food restaurant. So tell your lies RIAA, sell your story. Blame yourself for your below statement and no one else:

The Recording Industry Association of America, which has coordinated most of the lawsuits, issued a statement saying, “The record industry has suffered enormously due to piracy. That includes thousands of layoffs. We must protect our rights. Nothing in a filing full of recycled charges that have gone nowhere in the past changes that fact.”

Technically Speaking, “RIAA - blah, blah, blah… same story of bull sh*t that you have tried to tell for years.” I’m glad that a 16 year had the balls finally to stand up and say,”Enough is enough, leave my mom, my sister, and my family alone.” Seriously, does the RIAA think this is really going to make more people want to buy their tainted product? Tonight, or rather - this early morning - I encourage all of you to go out and find some local band, some independent artist, that is not affiliated to a major record label. Go there, check them out and then BUY their CD! That folks is the BEST way to send a message to the RIAA. It really shouldn’t have had to come to the above lawsuit.

Tagworld Supporters - Keep posting your comments either here on the original post, or here on the new one. I’ll be reading. Other people will be reading. I liked the last idea I saw by kindspirit - so if you have something to say about it, air it out on one of the above links.

Now on to the wrap -

Buzzvote - Do you know I have seen like 3 to 4 sites that have copied this exactly look in the past week? Is this where the look started or is there a free script somewhere that everyone is taking off with?

China netizen is now 137 million strong - It appears China is about to take over; unless they have another big earthquake!

Can someone verify this? - Someone that was at CES. Is this real? I know it’s funny, but was this how the RIAA represents at a major function? If this is real, then no wonder they are as lost as I make them seem. They are actually more lost then I thought.

Technically Speaking, the rest of the news is in the Link Blog today. Sorry for just the one wrap n’ roll post this morning!

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???