File-sharing has been on my mind. I’m only 18 but if i want to exist in the productive end of some punk rock or indie music community i have to get my morals in check. Personally, I have no problem with people sharing my music around. I’m flattered by the idea. I also don’t need to support myself on it. But I never want to. So does that make me believe file-sharing is ok?
I need to take into consideration other people in the world besides myself. Two personal heroes of mine, Mark McCoy and Justin Pearson, own their own labels and put out music by bands I really enjoy. But it seems I believe that everyone should be like me and be open with sharing their music. Unfortunately the amount of money I need to put out records and tapes and cd-rs with my friends is only a fraction of the cost of the new Geronimo or Cult Ritual albums. Even on that DIY level, everything is expensive.
Another person I admire, Eric Paul, just started his own label, Anchor Brain, that I am very excited about. His first release is the third LP by his band The Chinese Stars. I’ve heard it and it’s great. But what if I just feel like not spending a few bucks on shipping or the extra $2 it might cost his label to to put out an album because he cant by in bulk because he cant sell that many records? On a small scale, I am costing him and whoever else he may run the label with about $13 they deserve. But of course I’m not the only person who might do the same as him. So on a big scale he is fucked, and Pearson is fucked, and McCoy is fucked. And I save $50 on a couple mp3s.
