Challenging Music Downloading Myths

The BBC is reporting on a study by digital music research firm The Leading Question, which found that people who download music from peer to peer networks paid for four and a half times more music than regular music fans. Also that most of these people "are extremely enthusiastic about paid-for services, as long as they are suitably compelling." What is nice is that the BPI welcomed the findings that not all file sharers are actually evil... they still pledged to carry on the 'carrot and stick' approach though.

here is a myth

[crow_t_robot]

"are extremely enthusiastic about paid-for services"

yeah, sure.

I have a quest

[SamSim]

One day I am going to find and buy - or else delete from my hard drive - all the music I have illegally downloaded.

Re:Downloading isn't evil at all.

[zr-rifle]

You spent $200 in Buble' merchandise???
 
If this isn't an epitome of evilness, I don't know what else could be...

Re:Downloading isn't evil at all.

[Captain Scurvy]

"You spent $200 in Buble' merchandise???"

It was my girlfriend's birthday. No, seriously, I have a girlfriend. Hey, I'm not kidding.

Stop looking at me like that.

Re:Downloading isn't evil at all.

[op12]

there aren't many things more juvenile than insulting someone's musical taste

Unless it's country music. That's just wrong.

Nahh i'm evil

[darkmayo]

I download music with no intent of paying for it, I go to live shows make bootlegs and sell them.. after stealing the bands equipment from the back of the van of course... I kick kittens and puppies and beat up old people while selling smack to their grand kids. Britney Spears and all those wonderfully manufactured musicians are going hungry because of me.

I am evil hear me roar.

That's Not What it Means

[waldoj]

"Carrot and stick" refers to putting a carrot at the end of a stick, which is held above the head of a reluctant mule by its passenger. The mule walks forward to get the carrot, which it can never quite reach, at least until it arrives at its destination, when it's given the carrot. "Carrot and stick" means "incentive." It does not mean "alternately rewarding and beating." Anybody who's beaten a mule knows full well that the damned thing will just kick you in the head.

-Waldo Jaquith