i wonder what it's like to be the rainmaker.

[semisweet]

does anyone else get annoyed when fan communities for musicians or bands or whatever upload music by that artist, like, stuff that's available for sale? i mean, i have no problem with people uploading leaks or rare tracks or live recordings, but beyond that i find it sketchy. i guess i feel like if you're a big enough fan of an artist to join a community for them, if you want their album you should be willing to pay for it? i mean, if i consider myself a fan of an arist (or band, whatever), i want them to succeed, i want to support them, i want to actually buy their music. i'm not going to lie, i download plenty of stuff, but it's usually things i'm just checking out or whatever. however, i have paid for every FOB, cobra, panic, gym class, kelly clarkson, butch walker, etc. album that i own, because i admire and respect those artists and i'm happy to give them my money. i can't imagine being all "omg, i love *insert band here*" and just downloading all of their music for free. so when fan communities allow uploads of that artist's music, i personally get a little >:O about it. i mean, clearly people will find downloads of things if that's their inclination, but i guess i would expect that fan communities would encourage people to support the artists.

am i weird on this? (the community stuff, or just the idea that real fans pay for the music, or...whatever!)

Comments

[peridium.livejournal.com]

I think I know what you're referring to, and... yeah. That bothered me. People download music and we all know it, but it's kind of common sense to, at least in a public space devoted to an artist, encourage people to support that artist.

[http://users.livejournal.com/______sparksfly/]

not strange at all, i don't think.

even if the entire album of a band i like leaks, i buy the album when it comes out. for instance, i'm probably the biggest onerepublic fan EVER, and i downloaded their entire cd when it leake,d but as soon as it came out i went out and bought it. i definitely agree that it's best to support them :)

sorry for the novel, haha.

[letloverule42.livejournal.com]

i have no idea what sparked this, but i have to say that i agree.

however, i will say that i am a terrible, no good, very bad fan, because i just don't have the extra money to buy music, so for the past few years i have downloaded EVERYTHING, with the exception of Blake's album. My fiance bought me a copy of that, and even when he asked me to upload tracks for him, I told him he could go out and buy his own copy, lol. but it's rare that i've supported a artist as fully as i support blake. so idk. everybody's view on downloading is different.

but if i could be in a position to be buying all of this music and not freely downloading it, i absolutely would.

[makemeabeliever.livejournal.com]

blake! ♥

err... that's all. XD

[http://users.livejournal.com/__cardiac/]

agreed. like you though, i do download a lot of stuff i just want to check out. If you're in a file sharing community, i think it's fine because it's just a file share community.... but in a specific artist comm asking for albums by them that you can just go grab on itunes? i can see where that's annoying.

[jkpolk.livejournal.com]

I'd like to think my morals were consistent but I think for me it depends on the size of the artist. If it's someone huge, I don't get too picky about it all because of what they already earn, you know? But most of the music I'm into is indie/small artists and I wouldn't dream of not paying for their stuff if I want it. I go see them at shows and their CD sales dictate whether they get a hotel or sleep in their car before the next tour stop, y'know?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kittenheels/]

It bugs me when "for sale" music is uploaded in fan communities too. Most of these communities are fairly large and there are plenty of people in there that won't buy the album if they don't have to. I know people that want to download will find a way if they really want to, but why make it easy and tempting, you know?

I do think that the diehards buy the music no matter what (except in cases of like, financial situations where it's food or music. then not so much.) but there are some grey area people too.

[indilime.livejournal.com]

Buying music makes me happy.

And I have been listening to that Matchbox 20 album non-stop in my car!

[singingrl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's definitely wrong somehow. I am not one to pass up free music, I've been doing it since the days of Napster, in one form or another...but I draw the line at dling albums from artists I actually know I like, if that makes sense. If it's a newer band or a group that I don't know much about, I will dl, only because I don't want to waste 10 bucks on something I'll never listen to again. If you're doing that for bands you *love*, well that's just -- lazy, at least I think so, if you don't support the artist, there might not be an artist to support in a few years. At least that's how I see it.

[heatherlovesca.livejournal.com]

I agree. or at least when people ask for it. I'm still getting PM's to send them Chris' song, it's like no betch go buy it now.

[estellegetty.livejournal.com]

BB, did you see the new events Blake added on his MySpace?? He's in Albany ...

[skyfalling.livejournal.com]

That's definitely a valid point of view, and I do think fans should support the artists they like, but at the same time, not everyone in a fan community is going to be at that level of dedication. They might want to check out a new album first before they decide whether they want to buy it or not, or they paid for a pre-order and it's taking forever to get to them, so they just decide to download it rather than waiting. Particularly with fan communities for foreign bands (in Japanese, Korean, etc), a lot of people simply don't have the resources to buy the music in the first place. They don't have a credit card, or sites won't ship to their country.

Bottom line is, though, if you can support the artist and like them enough to do so, then... do so.

[blindmadness.livejournal.com]

Echoing peridium, I think I know what you mean and I agree. :/ I do download most of my music, because I lack any source of income apart from my parents, but I honestly have been trying to do my best regarding actually buying stuff. I've bought an MCR album and LotMS (and I'll be buying The Black Parade Is Dead!), and I bought Analog Heart, and I also buy all of my Josh Groban music. If I had the money for more than that, I'd probably buy stuff much more because I like CDs, but I have to limit myself thanks to my parents not really being willing to shell out too much money for musics.

However, there's a difference between not having money and actively offering up music so that people who just don't want to pay don't have to. Maybe if someone asked for a copy and it was offered, it'd be a little different -- and I think someone on a The Cab community said that it was also different when the bands in question were pretty big and didn't really need the money as much, but with them they were still getting off the ground and needed the support. This was also why I bought David Cook's album and why I tried to make myself an iTunes account for the studio singles, but it didn't work, unfortunately. (So peridium did it for both of us. >__>)

So, yeah, basically tl;dr -- I agree, even if I suck and lack money for buying stuff most of the time, but comms who do it are stupid. :Db

[bijou.livejournal.com]

the only people i really buy albums from are phantom planet, rooney, and butch. ):

[forcedmovement.livejournal.com]

I don't think you're weird on this at all! Fan communities should encourage the fans to support the artists.

Personally, I don't have the money to buy half the albums I want right now, but I know that as soon as I DO have the money I'm going to buy the shit out of the Hush Sound and Gym Class Heroes albums I don't legally own. I intend to have a full fan collection. But I do spend all my money on concert tickets to be supportive! (Okay, and also because concerts are a rocking good time.)

[masio.livejournal.com]

i'm with you on this one. since the last album of my favourite artist came out (that was in October), i've bought eight regular cds and one 'premium edition' or whatever that one's called. i gave the first eight away to friends and family though. i'm sweet like that!

[harthouse-cynic.livejournal.com]

I buy all my music, even bands that I only have a casual interest in and including bands that I just want to check out. So yeah, I'd fully expect a real fan to pay for the music, and I'd be quite upset if a fan community I'm in starts uploading the artist's stuff. Just buy the CD/download legally. It's not that hard.

[andthatisthat.livejournal.com]

I don't think that's weird at all. I will admit that I've downloaded stuff for free before, but if I genuinely enjoy what I've downloaded, I'll go out and buy it properly - partially as a sign of respect to the artist and partially because I wouldn't really feel right about it if I didn't. Also, I'm a completist and I like to be able to hold it in my hand. :D

[holdmesam.livejournal.com]

I totally see what you're saying. I've gotten a lot better over the years about just buying stuff. I used to be way more into just finding downloads and not bothering. But now? I'm totally about shelling out the cash. (With my favorites, I usually even buy an iTunes copy and then go out and buy a hard copy.)

What bothers me most is the "fans" who say 'Oh! They have enough money, I'm not giving them anymore! I'm just downloading!' So. Stupid. Why would you not support someone so they can make MORE music? IT'S NOT THAT HARD TO FIGURE OUT THE FLOW CHART TO THIS PROCESS, PEOPLE.

[themightybee.livejournal.com]

i'm of two opinions. there are a handful artists whose albums i will always, always buy. on the other hand, i don't think springsteen is going to suffer if i obtain one of his greatest hits albums through mininova. but honestly? i'm kind of a cyber klepto. :x

[makemeabeliever.livejournal.com]

ITA with everything you said and you are not weird! :P

[alittlepunchy.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you. I'm fine with downloading rare tracks, or ones I couldn't find anywhere else. But if I love an artist, I want to support them by actually purchasing their CD.

If you're weird, then I'm weird with ya! ;)

[livehead16.livejournal.com]

one million percent agreed. i won't even post buy-able music in my own journal most of the time, aside from a song here and there.

[obsessionful.livejournal.com]

No, that stuff drives me crazy -_-

I've bought every Panic album, every Kelly Clarkson, every Anberlin, every Maroon 5, and most of my Madonna albums. And, as always, I bought Jordin and Blake's albums.

I'm not going to lie. I'm 15 songs short of 5000 in my iTunes, and I'm going to say that... 85% of those are downloaded for free?

I guess it's why I'm happy that nobody uploaded ADD on CF. I think a bunch of people would have been yelling.

[maroonjessy5.livejournal.com]

I agree completely. The only time I download is when I want just one song that was like, a one-hit wonder ages ago and I don't want to hunt it down or don't have any money on my iTunes. Also, I use it when I'm impatient for a new cd and am strapped for cash at the moment - but I always buy it later on when I have the cash to. Also, I'll dl a song when I want to check out a band and all that jazz.

So no, you are not weird on this. :D

[xrogue81.livejournal.com]

I download a whole lot too. But I think in music communities, it should be a rule to include an Amazon or iTunes link at the end of their post to encourage people to buy the albums.

On another note...
I'm going to Bamboozle Left this Saturday (I can only do it for one day) and am happy to find out that The Cab is playing on the day that I'm going!!!! So excited to see your bbz :)

[plausible.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, you're definitely not weird there. For me, it's a matter of how popular the artist is. If they're insanely popular? I don't mind. But little indie artists need the support, so I only like rares/leaked and then to purchase them later.

And I usually end up purchasing the popular stuff later, too, anyway. Or going to a show. So I guess it (sort of) evens out in my case.

tl;dr

[thegirliscrazy.livejournal.com]

Short answer: Not weird at all.

Long answer: I have so many thoughts on this. First being that I honestly feel it is a generational thing. We're only 26/27 so it seems strange to refer to myself as an 'older' generation still, but there is a big difference between us - being the latter part of the age group that still remembers what it was like to want to "own" a piece of the artist, and my sister and her friends - part of the age group that just wants everything easy and cheap if not free.

I remember knowing when an album was going to drop and making sure I would have enough money by then to buy it. I still do that. But this new generation below us has no concept of that, and no real concept of artist loyalty. I was talking to a friend about this once - we cannot fathom not having an entire album, but my sister and her friends are quick to download that one single that is on the radio and stick it on a mix CD. My sister even goes so far as to look at me like I'm crazy when I do buy someone's album. She rolled her eyes when I bought My December as soon as it came out, even though I had downloaded the whole album leak.

Oh, and as an aside one of my big music pet peeves is when I buy an album and then my sister just burns it from me. I'm like, ugh, you mooching asshole, go BUY a copy, support someone for once. Sometimes I don't care but for people I really love, like Kelly, it drives me up the wall. Anyway, moving on.

Another thing to point out here is that as part of "owning" the artist we tend to want the artwork as much if not more than anything. I mourn the digital age b/c it really eliminated the point artwork and being able to read the credits, which is a Really Big Deal to me. This emphasizes the generational gap as those younger than us know nothing about that and don't care. It's hard to get them pumped up about a cool CD cover or knowing who wrote someone's latest single. Maybe that's just me though, I mourn the day that the record died (now record sleeves - that is some awesome artwork) and I wasn't even around during the record/eight-track hey-dey. I don't miss cassettes, though; their cover sleeves were pretty suck.

Now, I won't lie, I stay broke. So if I have no money I will download like crazy, and then when I do get some money I will buy the actual album. And like several above me, if it is a new or small artist I will make a point to buy the album ASAP though. Almost any Idol artist whom I like, I will buy the album. A larger artist, not so much. I also have a hard time feeling too bad for uploading something that is old as dust. I mean, seriously, if I suddenly reallize I don't have Rhythm Nation in my media player and download it, do you really think Janet will feel the loss? Somehow I doubt it. (Her new album by the way SUCKS ASS. I am so disappointed in her.)

I have an eternal guilt complex b/c I downloaded a torrent for Prince's entire discography and I LOVE him, but I'm just broke as shit! If/when I finally get some money I will buy as much as possible because I want the artwork, and because I want to support him.

I belong to a group that uploads music but we always post a "Like what you hear? Support this artist!" link to Amazon after each post. Moreso for the new artists than the established artists and older albums. It's a way to hopefully get people to check out someone new and hopefully make the person a new fan who will actually buy their stuff in the future.

I was going to say something else but can't remember what it was, and have already written a freaking book, so...whatever. :-)