Re: Musicians and Money.... Take 2

From: R. Scott (framboise@mindspring.com)
Date: Fri Apr 28 2000 - 10:50:19 MET DST

  • Next message: Richard Hawkins: "RE: Musicians and Money.... Take 2"

    And your point? It's a fact that technology is changing the way we "get" and
    make our music. That was mine. Also, I play live regularly and it's not
    solely for the $$. I do it 'cause I love it and hope for a connection with
    the people.

    The global revolution will be televised, downloaded, zipped-up and e-mailed
    directly to you . Now, settle down.

    peace,
    R. Scott
    framboise@mindspring.com

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "aspeitia axel arturo barcelo" <abarcelo@indiana.edu>
    To: "R. Scott" <deebull@mindspring.com>
    Cc: "Steve Catanzaro" <stevencatanzaro@sprintmail.com>; "paul s. westney"
    <pwestney@jhu.edu>; <acid-jazz@ucsd.edu>
    Sent: Friday, April 28, 2000 12:28 AM
    Subject: Re: Musicians and Money.... Take 2

    > On Thu, 27 Apr 2000, R. Scott wrote:
    >
    > > . . . Technology has empowered the artist like never
    > > before. And same technology is allowing the artist to "take it to the
    > > people" as never before.
    >
    > Do not want to be a full time whiner, but this whole discussion has
    > acquired an elitist attitude that's starting to bother me. How many people
    > -in the world- actually have internet access? How many have good enogh
    > connections to download music on-line, even the compratively small mp3
    > files? How many musicians are actually able to upload their music to the
    > internet? Let's be realistic. Are not the majority of the people unable to
    > partake in this so-called revolution? No music for them?
    >
    > I have my music available online on mp3s for the same reason a lot
    > of people have their baby photos in their web sites, so that my family,
    > firends, and even former bandmates can listen to what have I been doing
    > musically lately. Alas, almost none of them has been able to download it.
    > Oops! I forgot they live in a third world country (Mexico, by the way),
    > where internet connections are luxuries that very few can afford, and even
    > those who can have pretty crappy ones. Most universities forbid their
    > users to download files as big as the smaller of mp3s.
    >
    > You may say that with time this technology will become as
    > ubiquituous as CDs or VCRs, but I wonder how much time is that. In case
    > you had forgotten, electricity is still unavailable for an amazingly large
    > number of people in this world. However, thank god, music is. Music
    > distribution still has its strongest tool: live performance! The actual
    > way to escape the strong fist of the evil musical industry is by getting
    > off your butts and going out to catch a live act or DJ. The same for
    > musicians and DJs: go out and play: wherever and whenever you can. In
    > Mexico, and I bet in other places in the world, portable sound systems
    > have brought DJ music to communities left behind by more than one
    > technology revolution, but still hungry for new musical ideas. PolyMarchs
    > sound system, for example, have kept the electronic dance music
    > underground alive in Mexico for about twenty years, by touring and taking
    > their 'moving-disco' to even the samellest communities in the country
    > (sometimes bringing their own energy source) and, that way, actually made
    > more than one dance style or act breakthrough against the plans of the
    > major media and record companies. They are proof of how it is possible for
    > DJs to reshape the musical landscape in noticeable ways without the
    > assistance of major companies in the recording or entertainment
    > industries.
    >
    > Of course, it is still easier, instead, to sit in front of a
    > computer, talk to some privileged cyberzines, and believe to be part of a
    > global revolution.
    >
    > -xl
    >
    > :':.:':.:':.:':.:':.:':
    > : www.mp3.com/drxl :
    > :.:':.:':.:':.:':.:':.:
    >
    >



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