why try mp3s?

With this rant, I could easily get myself into a heap of trouble with all the people that I should want on my side. But developments in mp3 technology and culture are offering such an exciting alternative to mainstream media delivery, and are meeting with such resistance from certain quarters, that I have to weigh in. Because I want everyone to benefit in the way I have from finding great independent music on the web.

So, carefully...

The first thing I noticed after downloading a bunch of music from mp3.com was how little I enjoyed listening to radio anymore. It wasn't just that it made me realize just how much radio had gotten out of step with my music tastes. It was also the hidden cost of radio- the commercials- that I became acutely aware of. Largely, the music on the radio is designed to keep you distracted between the commercials.

Not that I'm uncovering any great surprise here. And I still like radio for alot of things- DJs are great, I live for morning shows on my drive to work, news programs on my drive home, and late night shows featuring extreme rock, extreme house, or local bands.

I think the greatest contrast is between Top 40 bands on the radio and Top 40 bands on mp3.com. Popularity on the radio is largely determined by how much your record company spends on promotion. Popularity on mp3.com is based largely on how many people bother to download your songs . What a novel concept.

(That said, I hope you won't begrudge me the occasional paid advertising I indulge in. My goal is to reach you, my somewhat specialized target market, so that you may listen to and appreciate my work, and provide feedback. To that end it's helpful if you know I exist.)

Enter the RIAA and the Big Five record companies (the five largest record companies in the world, which control 95% of what you hear on mainstream radio). They've got their hands on a big cash cow. By allowing only a limited number of talented artists (Smash Mouth) and manufactured hit machines (Backstreet Boys) to mainstream airplay, they've created an environment where they can maximize their profits. Makes good business sense, but it's bad for artists and bad for the listening public.

The mp3 revolution is a threat to their business because it brings alot of talented artists to the public and they don't get to make any money off it . So they have fought the progress of this technology into the mainstream, rather than being forward- thinking and coming up with a way to take advantage of it that might benefit everyone.

Their latest attacks have been lawsuits against mp3.com and Napster. Are they warranted, or just reactionary knee-jerk responses to perceived threats? You decide.

In the meantime, download the free offerings of unsigned artists. Many are as talented as your favorite mainstream artist. Most work hard because they love what they do, and often they receive little reward for the effort. But ultimately, don't do it for the charity work and don't do it to strike back at the Big, Bad Music Industry. Do it 'cause you're gonna love what you hear.