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Downhill Battle fights RIAA
On its web site (www.downhillbattle.org), the group describes itself as a non-profit organization working to build a better, fairer music industry.
The RIAA may have its hands full with this group, which counters the lawsuits that have been filed the past few years against the old Napster and individual file-sharers.
Downhill Battle has added a sense of humor to its defense of music lovers. In December, it began a fund-raising campaign for which every $100 donated to any of three digital rights defense groups, Downhill Battle would send a lump of coal to the RIAA and the Motion Picture Association of America.
The founders of Downhill Battle see online file sharing as a beginning of a new and legal distribution system for music, not the widespread problem that the RIAA insists it is. "The organization works with musicians, music fans, artists and designers around the world," its web site states.
"What we'd like to see is a flat-fee licensing system," said Nicholas Reville, a co-founder of the organization. This type of system would charge about $5 to $10 monthly and allow listeners access to both popular bands and up-and-coming acts.
Downhill Battle lists on its web site six reasons why major record labels should be diminished, such as a growing diversity, the end of pay-for-play radio and lawsuits on individuals. Major labels often require consistent material from a band as part of its contract and bands are typically signed based on the opinions of company executives, not the popularity of the material.
Though it is illegal, Downhill Battle says that major labels often pay radio stations for airplay for its bands, which means that mediocre music signed to a major label may get played instead of better, but independent music. In addition, individual file-sharers won't likely get sued if the RIAA does not have labels with bulging wallets willing to bring music fans to court.
From http//www.dailycampus.com/news/2005/02/03/Commentary/Downhill.Battle.Fights.Riaa-851167.shtml%3Fpage%3D2
User Comments
(These do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of this site)
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Fluffyhere
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Date: February 3, 2005 @ 4:46 PM
...bands are typically signed based on the opinions of company executives, not the popularity of the material.
Very Interesting... |
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gdZiemann
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Date: February 3, 2005 @ 4:49 PM
I hope that wasn't a big surprise, Fluffy. You don't think music gets played on the radio because the deejay likes it, do you?
"The A&R man said 'I don't hear a single...'" |
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INeedAlover
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Date: February 3, 2005 @ 4:55 PM
Even years back lots of music got played because they were PAID to do so. That's one of the reasons FM radio rose to popularity for music, because FM stations allowed their DJ's and listeners to pick the music, not the RIAA record label like the AM Pop stations.
But, sadly today, FM has turned into old AM Pop for the most part, and AM has turned into News Radio. Which is why more people have turned to the internet to discover new music. Now the RIAA wants to take that away. I say let's take away their funding by boycotting and maybe they'll get the message.
(LOL what am I thinking?? The RIAA get the message... I MUST BE DREAMING!!!) |
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