Posted by: Anonymous Coward
on August 01, 2003 05:15 PM
The only way that an effective boycott of RIAA is going to happen is if:
1) Everyone knows about it - how many people actually know about the problems RIAA is causing? It's all very well and good to preach to the choir on NF and<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/. but it IS preaching to the choir. Perhaps we should ask ourselves what is an effective method of reaching beyond this arena and getting the message out to the real world in a manner the real world can understand.
2) It's all very well and good if a few people boycott RIAA (that'll show em!) - I myself quit buying music a couple of years ago (and I don't download, either). What's going to have to happen is that it starts affecting pocketbooks in a very real way. That means boycotting radio station, advertisers, distributors, sellers, etc. It may have to go even further - boycotting consumers of music as well such as bars, malls, and anyone else you can think of. And letting them know why.
3) It will have to be sustained - not one day, or even one week. A month or even a year is more likely. This is not something you can cheat on - you have to be serious about it.
4) Find an acceptable way for artists who aren't represented by RIAA companies to make a living. Some artists do try to make a living with their music - it's a time-honored tradition. The method needs to be something that is neither burdensome on the consumer, the middleman, or the artist. That artists should be paid for their work is, oddly enough, the only thing I agree with RIAA on.
We have reached a point in our society where the individual doesn't have a real voice, but the masses do. So if 100,000 people in New York suddenly quit consuming music from RIAA members, they're going to take notice. If 10 million people across the US stop consuming music, they're going to panic. Especially if the reason is publicly known.
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Realistically speaking
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on August 01, 2003 05:15 PM1) Everyone knows about it - how many people actually know about the problems RIAA is causing? It's all very well and good to preach to the choir on NF and<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/. but it IS preaching to the choir. Perhaps we should ask ourselves what is an effective method of reaching beyond this arena and getting the message out to the real world in a manner the real world can understand.
2) It's all very well and good if a few people boycott RIAA (that'll show em!) - I myself quit buying music a couple of years ago (and I don't download, either). What's going to have to happen is that it starts affecting pocketbooks in a very real way. That means boycotting radio station, advertisers, distributors, sellers, etc. It may have to go even further - boycotting consumers of music as well such as bars, malls, and anyone else you can think of. And letting them know why.
3) It will have to be sustained - not one day, or even one week. A month or even a year is more likely. This is not something you can cheat on - you have to be serious about it.
4) Find an acceptable way for artists who aren't represented by RIAA companies to make a living. Some artists do try to make a living with their music - it's a time-honored tradition. The method needs to be something that is neither burdensome on the consumer, the middleman, or the artist. That artists should be paid for their work is, oddly enough, the only thing I agree with RIAA on.
We have reached a point in our society where the individual doesn't have a real voice, but the masses do. So if 100,000 people in New York suddenly quit consuming music from RIAA members, they're going to take notice. If 10 million people across the US stop consuming music, they're going to panic. Especially if the reason is publicly known.
This is the reality I fear we are faced with.
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