My Position On RIAA/Sharing MP3s

THE SALES MODEL IN PLACE NOW IS NO GOOD. RECORD COMPANY EXECUTIVES LIVE LIKE PIMPS, SUBSISTING OFF OF THE CASH RAKED IN BY THEIR PROSTITUTES, THE ARTIST. ONE TINY EXAMPLE: TLC SOLD FIFTY MILLION COPIES OF CRAZYSEXYCOOL, AND ALMOST WENT BANKRUPT AFTER PAYING THE RECORD COMPANY! THINK ABOUT THAT. FIFTY MILLION ALBUMS. SOMETHING IS VERY, VERY WRONG WHEN THE MAKERS OF A PRODUCT ARE BUT A VESSEL FOR MONEY THAT IS FINDING ITS WAY TO THE HANDLERS.

I HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR THE RIAA'S ETERNAL THRASHINGS AND MOANINGS ABOUT THE THREAT TO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. THE TRUE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS NOT AN INDUSTRY, BUT CREATIVE, DRIVEN ARTISTS WHO WILL MAKE THEIR MUSIC ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, AS I DO. AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO SEE THE LIE OF THIS COMPLAINT IS GRAB A PAPER SLEEVE FROM A RECORD ALBUM MADE IN THE 70S, WHERE THE RIAA USED TO PRINT IN SCREAMING CAPITALS "HOME TAPING IS KILLING THE RECORD INDUSTRY." WE NOW SEE HOW THAT WAS A VALID FEAR, HMM?

I DO BELIEVE IN FILE SHARING, JUST AS I BELIEVE IN TRYING ON A PAIR OF SHOES BEFORE I PAY FOR THEM. I WILL TRY ON MANY PAIRS, AND WALK ALL OVER THE STORE. IF THE STORE COMPLAINS, I WILL WALK OUT IN MY OLD SHOES, AND WITH MY MONEY. I WILL NOT BE BULLIED INTO PAYING FOR A PRODUCT I HAVE NOT SAMPLED. WHICH IS WHY I OFFER FREE DOWNLOADS, AND MANY OF THEM.

IF YOU REALLY ENJOY MY SONGS, CONSIDER PAYING FOR AN ALBUM, WHICH AFTER CONSIDERING THE TIME, PAPER, INK, CD CASES, BLANK CDS, ETC, DOES NOT REALLY LEAVE ANY PROFIT, BUT THAT'S OKAY. I AM HAPPY THAT YOU ARE PLAYING THE MUSIC.

PAYING FOR AN ALBUM BOTH PAYS FOR TIME AND MATERIALS AS WELL AS LETS THE ARTIST KNOW THAT YOU WANT HIM OR HER TO KEEP MAKING THEIR JUNK. word.

Remember:

1. Good word of mouth and giving someone the URL can be just as good as buying an album, when it comes to supporting an independently-produced musician's efforts.

2. When you burn a Metallica CD for your friend instead of them buying one, you will not jeopardize James Hetfield's career. When you do the same with my music, chances are good you are directly affecting my ability to keep bringing people this music. However, this only applies if that person would buy an album on their own. So:

3. If your friend truly has no money and no means and must own some WRECKINGBOY: please burn/rip them a copy! But please ask them not to burn it again.

Thanks for being your beautiful, big-mouthed self, and remember: a blow for WRECKINGBOY is a blow against both Terrorism and Bush!