Moby: The RIAA Needs to be Disbanded

[rectifier]

The two million dollar fine handed out to Jammie Thomas by a Minnesota jury this week hasn’t done the music industry’s image much good. While lawyers and high level managers at the major labels cracked open the Champagne, artists such as Moby and Radiohead shook their heads in shame at what the music world has become.

Earlier this week the case of Jammie Thomas versus the RIAA went up for re-trial before a new jury. She was found guilty of sharing 24 songs using Kazaa and ordered to pay $80,000 per infringement, which all mounted to a total of $1.92 million in fines.

High ranking people at the record labels soon declared victory claiming that justice had been served. However, many of the artists to which the record label executives owe their well paid salaries are disgusted by the outcome of the case and the witch-hunt on their fans.

One of the artists that has shared his disappointment at the disproportionate fines is the American musician Moby. “Argh. what utter nonsense,” he writes on his website. “This is how the record companies want to protect themselves? Suing suburban moms for listening to music? Charging $80,000 per song?” he questions.

“I don’t know, but ‘it’s better to be feared than respected’ doesn’t seem like such a sustainable business model when it comes to consumer choice. How about a new model of ‘it’s better to be loved for helping artists make good records and giving consumers great records at reasonable prices’?”

Moby is right that the sue and scare tactics of the RIAA are not the ideal business model in the long run. However, thus far they have made millions from all the settled cases alone. In recent years over 30,000 people have allegedly settled with the RIAA for an average of $3500 dollars. This means that the RIAA have raked in more than 10 million dollars without even having to go to court.

In the UK, a coalition of top artists have spoken out against the actions of a music industry that chooses to criminalize their fans, and expressed their growing discomfort with record labels abusing copyrights for their own benefit.

Radiohead, who are also part of the coalition, even showed interest in testifying against the RIAA in the case of a Boston University student also accused of sharing several music recordings. Tenenbaum’s troubles started in 2003 when he rejected an offer to settle with the RIAA for $500. After a few more settlement attempts and legal quibbles, the case eventually went to court.

Moby, a proponent of Net Neutrality - another topic dear to most file-sharers - is equally dissatisfied with the RIAA’s tactics. In his view, it would be better for both artists and fans to end all the legal quibbles and focus on the art of music instead.

“I’m so sorry that any music fan anywhere is ever made to feel bad for making the effort to listen to music,” Moby writes, ending his blog post with some solid advice for the record labels that pump millions of dollars into the non-profit organization.

“The RIAA needs to be disbanded,” he writes.

Moby: The RIAA Needs to be Disbanded | TorrentFreak

the riaa have sued Jammie Thomas-Rasset of minnesota for $2,000,000 for illegally downloading music. | moby.com

[XHipHop]

i'm going out to buy his last record NOW.

full support for what moby is saying here.

[rectifier]

Just preordered the new cd.

[paul101]

Neither Moby or Radiohead are part of the real world.

Their opinions can be entirely unattached from reality because they have already earned their millions. I doubt they would feel the same way if they were back to being young upstarts in the current climate.

[rectifier]

Originally Posted by paul101

Neither Moby or Radiohead are part of the real world.

Their opinions can be entirely unattached from reality because they have already earned their millions. I doubt they would feel the same way if they were back to being young upstarts in the current climate.

Who would listen to an upstart's opinion?

[MrT]

File-sharer or "theif"-hater you have to admit that $80,000 PER song is way over the top. People that are found liable for the death of another person usually don't get that heavy of a penalty. Are we really saying that file sharing is worse than causing someone to die?

[drBill]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

i'm going out to buy his last record NOW.

full support for what moby is saying here.

I'm going to steal it cause I can.....

[paul101]

Originally Posted by rectifier

Who would listen to an upstart's opinion?

Nobody, but perhaps they should appreciate their opinion carries weight and should be a little more considered with their responses on an industry that effectively made them.

Moby is in a position where he can focus on just making music, many are not. His head in the clouds vision of the music industry will not help.

[fanriffic]

Originally Posted by paul101

Neither Moby or Radiohead are part of the real world.

Their opinions can be entirely unattached from reality because they have already earned their millions.

With all due respect that's kind of irrelevant.

Either you agree with the point they're making or you don't..

..and I personally think ordering a woman to pay $2,000,000 for sharing 24 songs is total BS.Regardless of the illegality/immorality of it.

Its a lazy,desperate response which will make very little real difference to the situation and will in addition lend more (false) weight to the pirates 'evil musicians/copyright owners/record company' nonsense.

[rectifier]

Originally Posted by paul101

his head in the clouds vision of the music industry will not help.

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[paul101]

Originally Posted by fanriffic

With all due respect that's kind of irrelevant.

Either you agree with the point they're making or you don't..

..and I personally think ordering a woman to pay $2,000,000 for sharing 24 songs is total BS.Regardless of the illegality/immorality of it.

No its not irrelevant, because their opinion will be taken as fact by many people.

I do however agree that the fine is laughable.

[Siggi_O]

Originally Posted by fanriffic

With all due respect that's kind of irrelevant.

Either you agree with the point they're making or you don't..

..and I personally think ordering a woman to pay $2,000,000 for sharing 24 songs is total BS.Regardless of the illegality/immorality of it.

Its a lazy,desperate response which will make very little real difference to the situation and will in addition lend more (false) weight to the pirates 'evil musicians/copyright owners/record company' nonsense.

You're right, if you see it objective it is too much money. But Imo, when discussing this subject, we shouldn't foget that she refused to settle the Case. That would have been like a maximum of 5000$ or so, probably less. It seems that she has been a bit stuubborn and they reacted to it. But to be honest, I don't know everything that went on there...

[Sqye]

Originally Posted by drBill

I'm going to steal it cause I can.....

.

lol...hiLARIOUS.........and spot on.

and, yes - you sound like 98% of the human race right now!


i'm not saying it's right.......but there is this little thing called REALITY.

...and one can either live in it, or not - your choice...

.

[chrisso]

Originally Posted by paul101

Neither Moby or Radiohead are part of the real world.

Their opinions can be entirely unattached from reality because they have already earned their millions.

Agreed.
Although I'll listen to them if they come up with a workable business model going forward.

[rectifier]

Originally Posted by chrisso

Agreed.
Although I'll listen to them if they come up with a workable business model going forward.

Such as?

[drBill]

Originally Posted by rectifier

Such as?

Such as anything that would work for everyone involved. Unfortunately, I haven't heard any good suggestions yet. Still waiting.



And waiting....



And waiting.....



Sigh....

[drBill]

PS - Moby appears to not even get the point of the suit so it's hard to even see his appeal as valid. He said :

Moby. “Argh. what utter nonsense,” he writes on his website. “This is how the record companies want to protect themselves? Suing suburban moms for listening to music? Charging $80,000 per song?” he questions.

She wasn't sued for "listening to the music". She was found guilty for "SHARING" - pirate-speak for illegally UPLOADING songs for distribution.

Earlier this week the case of Jammie Thomas versus the RIAA went up for re-trial before a new jury. She was found guilty of sharing 24 songs using Kazaa

Get it right Moby......



PPS - since Moby doesn't want me to feel bad for stealing his music.....

“I’m so sorry that any music fan anywhere is ever made to feel bad for making the effort to listen to music,” Moby writes

I guess I'll just go ahead and download his entire catalog while I'm at it...... Sounds like he WANTS me to steal it. I guess you can't call it stealing if someone WANTS you to take it.

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by drBill

PS - Moby appears to not even get the point of the suit so it's hard to even see his appeal as valid. He said :

Moby. “Argh. what utter nonsense,” he writes on his website. “This is how the record companies want to protect themselves? Suing suburban moms for listening to music? Charging $80,000 per song?” he questions.

She wasn't sued for "listening to the music". She was found guilty for SHARING (ie: illegally UPLOADING songs for distribution.

Earlier this week the case of Jammie Thomas versus the RIAA went up for re-trial before a new jury. She was found guilty of sharing 24 songs using Kazaa

Get it right Moby......



PPS - since Moby doesn't want me to feel bad for stealing his music.....

“I’m so sorry that any music fan anywhere is ever made to feel bad for making the effort to listen to music,” Moby writes

I guess I'll just go ahead and download his entire catalog......

You know you've reduced yourself to nothing more than a troll at this point, right?

Take a night off and regain some perspective.

[chrisso]

Originally Posted by rectifier

Such as?

I dunno.
You tell me what they suggest and i'll tell you if I agree with it or not.

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by chrisso

I dunno.
You tell me what they suggest and i'll tell you if I agree with it or not.

The consumer will make the choice, buddy. Not you.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

You know you've reduced yourself to nothing more than a troll at this point, right?

Take a night off and regain some perspective.

I thought you put me on your ignore list. Evidently not. Go do it right now. You'll feel better.

I just thought I'd point out the utter absurdity of your (the pirate) viewpoint. Evidently it hit home....

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by drBill

I thought you put me on your ignore list. Evidently not. Go do it right now. You'll feel better.

I just thought I'd point out the utter absurdity of your (the pirate) viewpoint. Evidently it hit home....

Yeah - so absurd that entire music conferences are echo'ing what i (we)'ve been saying on here.

But I just fed the troll again and i need to stop that.

[drBill]

Hold on, let me go get my green outfit with the pointy ears on......

In the meantime, feel free to hit up piratebay and download some more music for you to "audition"......

[drBill]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

The consumer will make the choice, buddy. Not you.

Before the consumer can make that choice, the paridigm must be discussed, agreed on, and put into effect by the people who write, perform, produce and yes, SELL music. THEN the consumer can vote. Since most of us here fit primarily into the production/selling side of things, I think Crisso's point is well taken.

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by drBill

Hold on, let me go get my green outfit with the pointy ears on......

In the meantime, feel free to hit up piratebay and download some more music for you to "audition"......

Not sure what the green outfit is eluding to but it's insensitive for you to use that as a joke while people are dying in Iran to use that as their symbol for freedom.

Maybe you should move there as the government will most likely kill people (or at least censor the internet) to protect the music monopoly that you so dearly love.

You are on the wrong side, man. Get over here and fight for the artists with us. You are being a shill for the wrong people. Hopefully you'll get it before it is too late.

In the other thread i posted the fact that the top 5 music retailers use music as a loss-leader to sell other stuff. DUH! That is all we've been suggesting! I just didn't put it in those terms, but that is the business model!

All of the retailers that haven't been able to use music to sell other things, have been closing shop. Selling music doesn't make you money.

Now, are we clear?

I'm trying to show you the matrix.

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by drBill

Before the consumer can make that choice, the paridigm must be discussed, agreed on, and put into effect by the people who write, perform, produce and yes, SELL music. THEN the consumer can vote. Since most of us here fit primarily into the production/selling side of things, I think Crisso's point is well taken.

See my other post. The consumer has already voted.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

Not sure what the green outfit is eluding to but it's insensitive for you to use that as a joke while people are dying in Iran to use that as their symbol for freedom.

Maybe you should move there as the government will most likely kill people (or at least censor the internet) to protect the music monopoly that you so dearly love.

You are on the wrong side, man. Get over here and fight for the artists with us. You are being a shill for the wrong people. Hopefully you'll get it before it is too late.

In the other thread i posted the fact that the top 5 music retailers use music as a loss-leader to sell other stuff. DUH! That is all we've been suggesting! I just didn't put it in those terms, but that is the business model!

All of the retailers that haven't been able to use music to sell other things, have been closing shop. Selling music doesn't make you money.

Now, are we clear?

I'm trying to show you the matrix.

You are deluded. Music doesn't make money because you can STEAL it easier than BUY it. Duh.

My green outfit with the ears is my troll outfit. That's what you think I am, right? Your comments on Iran are lost on me??? Are they wearing outfits with pointy ears?? If so, I appologise to them. If not, it's just another of your machinations to twist the point into some absurd notion of what you feel is important. I wish the freedom fighters there all the best. The regime in power is an ugly one.

Back on topic....

You can dish it out, but when confronted with the absurdity of your own beliefs in a comical way, you can't even deal with it. Typical when people's arguements have no foundation or basis to stand on. What's the problem with me stealing Moby's entire catalog? He thinks I should be able to from what I can discern from his statements. And he didn't even get it right. She was convicted of UPLOADING not DOWNLOADING (as he suggested). Granted, I think the author of the article just grabbed a random quote out of his blog to make his biased point, but still, Moby wrote it to begin with.

As for fighting with the artists. That's EXACTLY where I come down. You go ahead and fight on the side of the pirates and wannabee's. And that's exactly where guys like you seem to end up. Doesn't surprise me at all.

As for retailers, I don't get it. You see some sort of paradigm shift?? It's been that way forever. At least since all record stores have gone the way of the dodo. They can do whatever they want with their wares. This week it's music, next week it's Diet Coke. Whatever. I'm more concerned with the songwriters, studio musicians, producers, etc. who are getting raped in this whole debacle.

When you decide to pull your head out and put your glasses back on, maybe you'll be able to see that. Until then, keep on believing in your matrix.

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by drBill

You are deluded. My green outfit with the ears is my troll outfit. That's what you think I am, right? Your comments on Iran are lost on me??? I wish the freedom fighters there all the best. The regime in power is an ugly one.

Back on topic....

You can dish it out, but when confronted with the absurdity of your own beliefs in a comical way, you can't even deal with it. What's the problem with me stealing Moby's entire catalog? He thinks I should be able to from what I can discern from his statements. And he didn't even get it right. She was convicted of UPLOADING not DOWNLOADING (as he suggested). Granted, I think the author of the article just grabbed a random quote out of his blog to make his biased point, but still, Moby wrote it to begin with.

As for fighting with the artists. That's EXACTLY where I come down. You go ahead and fight on the side of the pirates and wannabee's. And that's exactly where guys like you seem to end up. Doesn't surprise me at all.

As for retailers, I don't get it. You see some sort of paradigm shift?? It's been that way forever. At least since all record stores have gone the way of the dodo. They can do whatever they want with their wares. This week it's music, next week it's Diet Coke. Whatever. I'm more concerned with the songwriters, studio musicians, producers, etc. who are getting raped in this whole debacle.

When you decide to pull your head out and put your glasses back on, maybe you'll be able to see that. Until then, keep on believing in your matrix.

oh lawd.


I never told you not to d/l moby's records, btw. where did you get that from? do whatever you want. i'm like 99% sure you aren't someone that would buy them anyway. there is no money to be made from you, so who cares. the fact that you even brought that up means you aren't digesting what is being said.

that's why i'm going to repeat, "oh lawd".

And the point of bringing up the loss leader stuff - was because ARTISTS are now starting to use music as their own loss-leaders and opening up big streams of revenue - which is what we told you 2 months ago but you still aren't getting it. Why just let apple cash in off of you while your sales shrink? take the bull by the horn...that's the new business model. Many people are using is successfully. Please watch those videos I posted.

Metric is paying tons of people to do the work needed to put out their record but are doing it independent of a label. You are such a shill and so anti-artist that you keep perpetrating the myth that "songwriters, studio musicians, producers, etc. " will get raped.

WRONG.

You can now pass go and collect $200.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

i'm like 99% sure you aren't someone that would buy them anyway.

HA!! Shows what you know. I have two Moby CD's......

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by drBill

HA!! Shows what you know. I have two Moby CD's......

again, that's what i get for feeding the troll. see my edit, btw. i added more stuff.

please disconnect yourself from the matrix.