Ionrock Dot Org

Today I read on slashdot that U2, after having an early version of their record released on the Internet illegally, they are prepared to release their record completely on iTunes if it is stolen again and make it available in hard copy soon after. I just don't see the point...

I am happy to make money, especially doing something I love. When we get paid for making music, it is a pretty amazing experience because you are getting money for having fun and being creative. At the same time, I have felt feelings of frustrations when we are not paid according to our efforts. Every time I have felt as though I was getting the short end of the stick I always realize that getting paid that 25 extra dollars is just not worth it. My goal is not make tons of money but rather to put out good music that people can enjoy. It makes me wonder what U2 does it for.

It is funny because you see bands get some success and just blow all their money on stupid crap. They don't realize that the record company that just gave them all this money, expects them to pay that money back. For those that then make enough to cover the advances and recording time costs, you still must make an effort to budget your funds because music is not the most stable of careers. Since most bands never even get the luxory of this kind thing, why then are bands like U2 not more gracious to their fans regarding their music.

If a band really believes in making music that they enjoy and others enjoy, then allowing people to download a record seems like a nice thank you for all the $60 ticket prices they have to deal with to pay for ZooTV or whatever it was called. My point here is that if a band wants to make money on their music it is not about control. Making music a career is not about controling your music so you can squeeze every last cent out of it. It is making good music people enjoy. There have been tons of records that I had as mp3s or oggs that I still bought the actual record. I support those bands and I want them to get my money. I see those bands live and buy a t-shirt. If a band is worried that their "fans" are not going to buy the record because they can download it on p2p networks, they should face the facts that those people are not really fans and their music is note that important to people.

The other side is that you see bands like radiohead who put out a record that is not just the music but rather an entire work of art. The insert and packaging is just as exciting and artistic as the music. I didn't buy the special Kid A edition with a 40 page booklet for $50 because I didn't have the money, not because I didn't want to have it. The idea is here, musicians can make their money by making their album desireable and special, again, less of a "product".

Music should be an art, a mixing of form and function in which the glory is in the balance. It shouldn't be a product like cereal.