Artists take a stand against the music companies.....

[whitejremiah]

Original Link: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Spyware/index.php?p=726

The battle between artists and Sony BMG over the use of Digital Rights Management (DRM) copy protection on audio CDs just got even more interesting as some more artists have decided to act. This time it is My Morning Jacket, who's album "Z" is copy protected. They are doing their very own recall of the CDs and get this... they are burning unrestricted copies of the CDs themselves and sending them out to fans. Oh I wonder how Sony BMG feels about that.

It would appear that their actions are actually clear violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), even though it is a CD with their own work on it. They aren't the first to make their thoughts heard on DRM either; Foo Fighters, Switchfoot and Dave Matthew's Band have all done so but none of them have actually burned copies of CDs for fans.

Sony BMG is re-evaluating copy protection on CDs following the XCP DRM nightmare that has only died down a bit recently. Immediately following the XCP situation, MediaMax became a problem also when a vulnerability was revealed. However, more artists standing against DRM is a good sign and if more artists make their thoughts heard, then Sony BMG might just cave in to the pressure.

[edDV]

They are doing their very own recall of the CDs and get this... they are burning unrestricted copies of the CDs themselves and sending them out to fans. Oh I wonder how Sony BMG feels about that.

The typical Sony BMG contract gives all rights to Sony BMG to do what they please. "My Morning Jacket" have no more rights to do this than a Chinese pirate.

Their strategy may be to create a PR stir in hopes Sony forgives some of their debts or releases their contract in a settlement.

[whitejremiah]

true, that was all a direct copy/paste though.........i hope that sony does start to feel the heat, though.....

[thecoalman]

I don't understand why more artists don't "flip the bird" to big comapines like that. The big expense years ago was creating and distibuting the medis the music resided on, making it nearly impossible for a small band to do it themselves. with the internet that is no longer an issue. The only real thing that a comapny such as Sony can offer a band is promotinional in nature, granted that's a big enticement to sign but there's other ways to promote, ad considering the crap they do pick to promote we the consumers would probazbly be better off in the long run.

[edDV]

I don't understand why more artists don't "flip the bird" to big comapines like that.

True but if you do sign with the devil, you are bound to the contract.

[Headbanger's Ball]

Record companies are becoming obsolete very quickly.
Bands no longer need them.
Good for those bands to take a stand.

A band I like is releasing a new album in Jan., they are on a major label and the new album looks promising. This would be the first US major label release I would have bought since 1998! However, if it is not a true CD (anything other than audio on it,) it won't be purchased!

[painkiller]

It isn't just the presence of the Internet - that's just a delivery/distribution medium.

There have been significant improvements and price drops for musical instrument recording/capturing/editing/burning hardware and software.

Now current and future "garage bands" can actually produce works on their own and distribute it as they wish.

[Neroon]

The typical Sony BMG contract gives all rights to Sony BMG to do what they please. "My Morning Jacket" have no more rights to do this than a Chinese pirate.

Legally speaking you are of course correct. In practice though the big labels are doing a very good propaganda campaign to portray themselves are the shining knights protecting artists against evil pirates. Bands doing this are a threat to their carefully made-up image, while taking steps against them will play even worse in the public eye.

That's why if i was in charge of the EFF i'd try to get those guys charged with copyright infringement, to make the general public a bit more aware just how restrictive copyright is.

[thecoalman]

True but if you do sign with the devil, you are bound to the contract.

I'm suggesting they do it before they sign. I can see where it would be hard to turn down a contract. It's one of those damned if you do and damned if you don't situations. If they do sign they get stuck under the heel of big business but they also become rich and famous in most cases. If they don't sign the lable just picks some other band and makes them rich and famous. In the end the band makes a little money, more than they would have if they never signed, Sony makes a fortune and the fans get stuck with the bill.

Comapnies like Sony control way too much of what we listen too. If they wanted they could pick some band with a little mediocre talent and make a succes out of them overnight.... that's a pretty sad statement but the truth.