RIAA, Listen Up

An Open Letter to The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) (Who are by the way too cowardly to post an online form of contact and so will be receiving this message by snail mail in the near future):

We all won today, or at least that is what you would have us believe. In a court case over pirated music RIAA emerged victorious over a single mom who decided to fight back against a system that she felt had unfairly and, quite possibly, unjustifiably picked on her to make an example of to the unwashed masses of their criminal ways.

How exactly is sentencing a working class woman to unending menial servitude good for everyone? Well, you would say you are saving music from extinction, that you are protecting musicians' rights and ensuring fair prices and products of excellent quality for everyone.

At least, I think that is what you would say, but until recently I also thought it was perfectly legal to backup my music digitally so as to transform my computer into a gigantic jukebox of epic proportions, or to place such music on my phone so I can listen to it while out and about, not to mention the convenience of making my own mixes of my fav tunes for those long road trips.

But heck, if AT&T can claim filters limiting your internet access broadens and enhances the content you can view, then I really should just shut up, get on board and start talking the doublespeak. I have a problem though, see I can disappoint myself, be my own worst enemy and place my foot in my mouth with ease, but one thing I can't do is stand by and watch multiple people with vast resources commit stupidity without comment.

For when that happens you hurt far more than yourself, you hurt everyone in love with media, and in this specific case music. You see RIAA, I don't pirate music, I buy it through various legitimate retailers (amazon.com, amazon mp3 store, itunes, emusic, various big box stores) and I frequent concerts as much as I can, but your actions this week and over the last few years have infuriated me so much that if I could prove the artists represented by record companies were slaves without pay I would stop buying music today in protest of your draconian, heartless, ignorant ways and not look back.

For it is you who have missed the boat, failed to realize that if you want to fight piracy you have to offer legitimate buyers an incentive for spending their hard earned money on your products and you know what, it is so god damn easy even I can figure out some ways to get you started.

It goes something like this: when someone buys an album they get the following no matter what: standard music CD, album artwork, band photos, full lyrics, rights to have a digital content control free copy of the music with full ID tags, including lyrics for each song. Possibilities for value added extra incentive content: music videos (that you can also download to your personal media players and computers), discounts to concerts, t-shirts, etc. Oh, and yeah, the prices mostly suck, but they are finally getting a bit better, keep working on that and you'll see some real results fast.

Here's another hint, don't go after your customers in ridiculous lawsuits, unless you can prove to the world that poor woman never bought a record in her whole life she IS a customer of yours and no self respecting business treats their customers like that.

I guess now you can see that I disagree with you on many fronts and that instead of a victory, I see a tragic defeat for every Jane and Joe Doe in the world as a result of this case. I hope you can sleep easy, knowing how much you have completely failed music today.

Remember, whatever you think at the end of this day, no one owns my memories of the first time I heard Nirvana as a growing adolescent, or The Clash as I began to learn to love life or the first time The Pixies' Where is My Mind sent chills down my spine of pure blissful understanding. And I shouldn't even mention Fugazi, but I will, Waiting Room, it still blows my mind. But even though those thoughts and feelings can't be bought or sold, you do have a right to charge a fee for the privilege and convenience of listening to a great tune whenever we want, but be smart about it, make it as easy and as reasonable as possible or say goodbye to ever being able to sell music again.

Below you'll find a little message from a great band called Wilco who have had their own troubles with the recording industry and if you are wondering what I really think, well, until you clean up your act, just shut the hell up and take care of music like you are supposed to, it can't take much more of your abuse.

"I'd like to thank you all for nothing at all"
-Misunderstood from Kicking Television: Live in Chicago

For some more information on the case (including some very well researched specifics) click here.

Dancing and a Story

Long ago there was a dragon named Koto who devoured the land in an orgy of flame and gore. All who fought against this terror died as soon as they made their stand. To defeat the horror the lord of this land put out a calling to all the great warriors of the world. Despite grave forebodings many came to give aid and for the chance of glory. Beauty was to be had as well for it was well known this lord had the most beautiful daughter in all the known countries. Her heart had grown tired and sad though with the destruction of the land she cared for so much.

Every night new warriors arrived to give battle to the beast and every night the lord threw a great feast and afterwards there was always dancing. One night, after a particularly grand feast Tara, the lord's daughter, danced a slow waltz to the sounds of the harp. A kitchen boy, seeing this, forgot his tray of dishes and stood transfixed by the image before him. How sad she is, he thought, if only someone could make her smile again.

The boy had known Tara all her life for they had grown up at the same time, but Tara knew nothing of the fond kitchen boy. Philip! Philip! the cook yelled, now where has that darn boy gone off to this time? Philip awoke from his hypnosis and returned to his task at hand, not forgetting the image of Tara in his mind...

And afterwards Tara is taken by the dragon and a great journey takes place to rescue her. The kitchen boy Philip follows and is challenged by one of the pride filled men sent to save her. There is a fight and Philip wins, but not without forgiveness for his assailant. Before the party reaches the dragon they encounter a strange and mysterious witch who ensnares them with her dark arts. Some of the companions fall astray, but Philip breaks free and rescues those remaining for his heart stays true to Tara.

Philip eventually finds Tara and they run for their lives. However, the dragon gives chase and relentlessly hounds them, finding them out at every turn. Over their time together Tara and Philip grow close to one another and discover they share feelings for each other. Deciding they cannot run forever, and vowing to at least attempt to save their land, Tara and Philip agree to make a stand against the dragon despite knowing it is their doom.

They climb to the top of a great hill and hold hands and wait for Koto to appear. He comes soon and almost immediately he sends out his fire to consume the two friends. However, something strange happens. this time there is no ash, no fiery immolation, a white light surround the two and even as Koto blows harder and harder the white light grows larger and larger surrounding everything in sight.

It is the light of love and the dragon does not understand it, for he is a thing of evil and darkness, born to bring suffering and pain to the world, all feeling is anathema to him. The dragon goes numb and in a flash of brilliance the white light explodes outward wiping away Koto and breathing new life into the destroyed land. Grass grows, flowers bloom and where the two once stood now sprout two trees, their branches intertwined as two people holding hands. The End.