Quote:
Originally Posted by ApK
I think the point BearMountainBooks was making was that the comparison may not be valid because mp3 downloads may not be the sole (or even the biggest) revenue stream for a recording artist. If people were stealing mp3 files, the artist may still make money from concerts and radio airplay, for example, so the illegal downloading of music may not hurt as much as the illegal downloading of ebooks.
Not taking a position pro or con, just trying to clarify the argument.
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Yes, that is pretty much what I meant. Thank you. And yes, record producers make money from concerts, so they do care about stadiums.
I'm not saying more people steal Mp3s versus novels--and in fact, stealing isn't the biggest threat--casual sharing is the threat. I respect the hard work of musicians just as much as a novelists, but musicians do have opportunity for other revenue streams. Many of them can play locally--for that matter, they can play at weddings, high schools, and local pubs. They can, in some ways, work in their chosen field. Writers don't have that opportunity and the revenue stream is more critical for everyone involved in the chain. (It should be noted that we writers can attempt to work in journalism, write paid-for articles, but there is not a huge demand for that sort of thing and the pay is lousy. Many of us do that sort of thing on the side, just as musicians might do various side jobs that involve music.)
But to get back to casual sharing--when I've had this discussion with readers on other forums or read through conversations, they tend to start with "How do I mail this book to my x?" The initial poster doesn't even know it shouldn't be done. In longer conversations, it turns out that many people assume, "if I can mail it, it must be allowed, right?" I've seen people post "If they don't want us doing it, they'd take steps..." and that sort of thing.
The bottom line is that most people aren't trying to rip-off artists/authors, but if it's as easy as attaching a file, they don't even stop to THINK about it.
I recently had a conversation with someone who sold all her CDs because she was moving. I said, "But you copied them first, right?" Her response, "Well sure." When I pointed out this was illegal, she said, "I never thought about it one way or the other!"
When I worked in the library, we had to constantly tell people not to copy the movies or the music CDs. "But why?" I'm not kidding you. People don't think twice about it. If they don't get a chance to read the audio, watch the movie or listen to the CD (or they like it a lot) they copy it. If they accidentally put the COPY back in the library case, we have to fine them or take away their library cards (this is only for repeat offenders).