TAKING A NAP(STER)

by

I must start this rant on the music-sharing list controversy by declaring my biases (goodness knows organizations such as The Recording Industry Association of America have not, though their prejudices should be clear soon).

I have an ambivalent attitude towards copyright. Until recently, I would had said that I was opposed to it. However, thanks to the prince of perception that is my Arne, I have discovered that I have one or two reservations on the matter.

For example, I have often stated that, if some publication were to pay me for the printing of an article, or, heck, even if I were not paid and got published in another 'zine or the like, I would not really care what someone did with my work subsequently (assuming a scenario that did not involve residuals - if there WERE fees established, I would be glad to take the dough...). It would be nice to be asked or informed, out of professional courtesy, but...

However, I have also griped that I would not want my material used out of context, or in a magazine with an ideology I found repugnant (such as Naziism or evangelical Christianity), or without recognition that I penned it.

So, clearly, I am a hypocrite, since I DO want to control the means of production.

To continue, I am not someone who has, does or is ever likely to make a living from music. I acknowledge cheerfully that topics and arrangements that move me to tears do so for others in a different sense.

Having outed my patent-pooh-poohing tendencies and my lack of Top 40 talent, I do, nevertheless, have thoughts on the matter.

To briefly explain, Napster is an on-line music-swapping service, in which individuals post songs which others can download. At the moment, it is under fire, most prominently from Metallica.

Let us stop there for a moment. Much as I used to have a crush on the band's James Hetfield, I have a hard time mustering sympathy for them losing some royalties on the song "I Disappear" from Mission Impossible II, which starred closet-case Scientology stooge Tom Cruise, since they must be quite wealthy by now.

I have never been to Napster, but my sources inform me the sounds quality is not very good, and that songs often have the wrong titles, due to limited space in which to enter those names.

In any case, to put it simply, Metallica went to court, complaining about how people had apparently 'stolen' their song, providing a tally of roughly 300 000 thieves.

One of the spearheads of the anti-Napster movement, along with the bloated and recently uninteresting aforementioned band, is the Recording Industry Association of America (yes, there is a Canadian equivalent, with the same position on Napster), which consists of major labels, which have been reluctant even to put out artist-sanctioned MP3's, thus leaving that to the independent music bloc, which whose well-being and royalties the RIAA is less concerned.

Years ago, the music industry was concerned that, when the blank tape came along, it would kill off sales. In fact, it increased them, as it heightened exposure of bands and product when friends exchanged mixed tapes. Anecdotal evidence suggests the same is true for Napster, at least in the long run.

As a life-long devotee of indie stuff and mixed tapes, I, for one, would think that Napster might be a tool for democratizing capitalism (hmmm - metaphors along the lines of 'giving the tiger's nails a trim and stuffing him into a kitten suit' come to mind, but I'm a Marxist, so DUHHHH...) and increasing artists' exposure...but, of course, that would keep the labels from collecting a few pennies here and there, and that would never do...the examples of Elvis Costello, Graham parker, Joe Jackson and even George Michael should show us that a musician's only hope for creative freedom is through the major companies (yes, sarcasm)...

Would I go to Napster? Probably not - if it is major-label material, there isn't much I'd be interested in. When I get a Columbia craving or a Universal urge, I know how to scratch them - but how will people even develop that yen if they don't hear the stuff, given the increasingly atomized and narrow nature of pop radio?

More and more, I think the band KLF (Kopyright Liberation Front) had the right idea, though don't make me listen to the music (except for the track they did with Tammy Wynette :-) )...