We *know* that what Steve says is right… but look at it from his point of view. They tour continuously, most of the people seeing them have seen them before. You can only sell someone one copy of your latest album but they’ll come to see you play as many times as they can. So I suspect that, even if piracy didn’t exist, he’s making most of his money from performing rather than CDs. His mindset is that the CD is publicity material for the live show.

My first thought would be that he’s adopted this approach because the live fees go straight into his pocket – no record company taking half of it. But actually, they are their own record company – so I guess he’s happy to lose some money from that revenue stream if it boosts the more profitable touring revenue.

Bottomline: No one wants to spend money on a product that the user will not be happy.

Once that user is satisfied, he will spend money. No one was born evil.

(Maybe RIAA was born evil)

Really, the only people hurt by piracy are the record labels who ripped off their artists and customers for years on end…not only money..but good music that was left off the air so that they could force feed the public their garbage.

Makes for excellent counter-propaganda to the music industry and I’ve already bought half a dozen albums after hearing about share-friendly bands on TF.

Also, they’re a pleasant break from the usual doom and gloom.

Had I not downloaded those songs, that band would have never been promoted here, and they would have never toured, like they did 2 years ago and include my country in the itinerary.

Had it not been for “Piracy”, that band would not only have not had a sale from me, because they are good and good enough for me and the other fans in my country that had not heard of them before hand to purchase their CD’s. But they would also not have had the opportunity to travel here to promote themselves and satisfy their fanbase.

In the end, one person “pirated” their music, then a whole group of people followed. Purchasing their CD’s from the bands online store on their site. Had I not downloaded their music, maybe this might not happened at all.

Steve

1. They have something to hide (ie lousy music that won’t sell a live show)

2. They are brainwashed.

3. They have delusions of granduer.

4. They are older than rocks and can’t open their minds anymore.

5. They are just smart enough to make it to work without getting hit by a bus.