FrancisPage

Sunday, February 8, 2004

RIAA: Download A Clue!

Two years ago during the Grammys, we saw three young people publicly shamed for downloading hundreds of songs online, something they had done at the RIAA's encouragement to show people it could be done (like we didn't know that already). However, we never saw them at computer terminals, getting the goods. We saw them sitting in the audience during a whiney-cry speech about music piracy which pointed out their deed. I wonder if those three even knew they were going to be somebody's fool on live TV.

This year, we were spared a repeat, but one thing didn't change: the RIAA's air mass between the ears. They announced the launch of their anti-piracy site www.whatsthedownload.com with a clueless ad that shows the music being cut off at a nightclub as soon as a girl finishes downloading a song from the net. What's the download? Uh, what's the message? Music piracy drains electricity?

At least the film industry had the smarts to trot out the behind-the-scenes people who stand to lose money when it started taking a stand on pirated flicks. And most of us are still buying and renting movies instead of ingesting them into our PC's. One rental is still less than one matinee ticket. Ditto for pay-per-view. The industry has done the math and provided value. It cut costs, and it added value with DVD's.

What has the music industry done lately to add value, beyond jacking up the price of a CD?

No comments:

Post a Comment

Rules Of Engagement

The views expressed on this blog are those of Christopher Francis and the various respondents. They are not necessarily those of his employer, KOLD-TV, KMSB-TV, Gray Television or TEGNA, Inc.

Practice your honors. Spam, racism and excessive language in comments will not be tolerated.

All material is Copyright © 2004-2019 By Christopher Francis except for material identified from other sources which is the property of those other sources. No infringement is intended.

Links and video embedded in postings may fail to work properly after several weeks from the date of the original post. I have no control over this.

In personal accounts, numerous names have been omitted as a courtesy so that their remarks may be shared without risk of embarrassment.

Contestants must meet eligibility requirements. Segments not affecting the outcome of the game have been edited. Celebrities have been briefed in order to help them with their bluffs. Due to a production problem, the car game was replaced. Two incomplete rolls of the dice were edited from the program. Prices of the prizes do not include sales tax. Some celebrities have been provided with comedic material.