Band Leaks Own Tracks To BitTorrent, Pretends To Be Pissed Off

from the not-quite-getting-it dept

Thu, Jul 31st 2008 3:38pm — Mike Masnick

Yes, part of the business model for using free music to your advantage is recognizing how that free music acts as a promotional good for you, but the band BuckCherry seems to have taken that a bit too far. It definitely seemed quite suspicious when the band, signed to a major label, put out a press release about how angry they were that their latest music was leaked online. So, the good folks over at TorrentFreak did a little investigating, and tracked down the fact that whoever leaked the album just so happened to use the same exact IP address as the band's manager. Oops.

So, let's try this again. Using free music as a promotional tool can work wonders, but part of that is in publicly embracing the fact that your fans want to share your music. Not creating mock outrage about it.

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Filed Under: bittorrent, buckcherry, leaking, press releases

33 Comments

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Jason, 31 Jul 2008 @ 4:28pm

Lead Singer...
Mike Masnick??? Is that a double streisand?
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- Anonymous Coward, 31 Jul 2008 @ 4:43pm
  
  Re: Lead Singer...
  I've long suspected this kind of crap is going on to invent popularity, inflate sales or lack thereof, and DRM.
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Michael G., 31 Jul 2008 @ 4:40pm

Got to be good...lol
Remind me to run out and pick up that CD.
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Overcast, 31 Jul 2008 @ 4:44pm

Isn't that illegal?

Since they have pretty close to solid proof - will the RIAA prosecute? :)
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Jul 2008 @ 4:49pm

Publicity
ROFL this is quite smart. Due to their mock outrage everyone now knows that this song is on the BitTorrent trackers and those that normally would never have heard of this band might go looking for. Excellent publicity.
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david, 31 Jul 2008 @ 5:09pm

news to me
i had no idea that band still existed. no wonder they're pulling cheap stunts like this.
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pingywon, 31 Jul 2008 @ 5:13pm

They suck anyway...who cares....
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Jul 2008 @ 5:23pm

Didn't they write a song, "too drunk to mass-download?"
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Anonymous Cowherd, 31 Jul 2008 @ 5:32pm

Getting it
from the not-quite-getting-it dept

Oh, I think they are definitely "getting it" -- both the promotional value of free music AND the promotional value of the Streisand Effect, exploiting both to the hilt. :P
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wasnt me!, 31 Jul 2008 @ 5:36pm

i agree with other posters.

1st - publicity stunt using bittorent.
2nd - publicity stunt claiming it was "stolen"

not sure how the discovery of there manager having leaked the music will affect that, but chances are even more publicity.
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bobbknight, 31 Jul 2008 @ 7:07pm

Buck Cherry?
Why they just a crazy bitch.
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Jul 2008 @ 8:22pm

Well at least they aren't Metallica.
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I don't know but, 31 Jul 2008 @ 9:16pm

I eat waffles.
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- can i be a mongoose dog?, 1 Aug 2008 @ 5:47pm
  
  Re:
  YOU LIE!
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fuse5k, 1 Aug 2008 @ 4:12am

using the streisand effect to their advantage...
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Lier Lars, 1 Aug 2008 @ 5:16am

I think Metallica did the same couple years ago...
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- Metallica sux, 1 Aug 2008 @ 12:17pm
  
  Re:
  Metallica did not do anything good since Napster was brought down.
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Frank, 1 Aug 2008 @ 5:56am

One Problem
The only problem with this is that the band was trying to vilify file-sharing. This would only go to make "piracy" look bad, when in fact the band was trying to use "file-sharing" as a means to circulate their music to fans that would have otherwise never seen it. I love the idea of putting the music out there and letting the fans pick what survives, but I certainly don't like the fact that they tried to make file-sharing look like the bad guy that the RIAA tries so hard make it out to be.

The RIAA should take note that one of their beloved artists has so little faith in the associations ability to promote them that they have turned to the dark side. Irony tag?
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- Amazing Steve, 1 Aug 2008 @ 10:15am
  
  Re: One Problem
  In order to get maximum possible coverage of the issue, you HAVE to vilify. The media just doesn't care any other way and it's disgraceful. This already has more traction than news of the last 2 free albums by major artists. The free NIN package is SWEET and you really don't see that everywhere. No such thing as bad press in Rock n Roll.
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failedmusician, 1 Aug 2008 @ 6:12am

I just dont get it . . .
As a failed musician who worked in the studio and on stage as a professional, I just dont understand these musicians complaining about file sharing. Playing live is what being a musician is all about, remember guys . . . remember the fun part of making music . . . is actually MAKING MUSIC. The Greatful Dead let people freely tape and share thier music for decades and were also the worlds highest earning entertainment act for much of that time. These guys that are fortunate enough to make a decent living playing music need to be thankful everyday that they have that opportunity. For most, it will be over before they know it.
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Heath Ackley, 1 Aug 2008 @ 6:37am

It could have been stolen...
Just because the IP address was the exact same as the band's manager doesn't mean he put it onto a bit torrent Site.

Come on, I am sure half (most likely all) of the readers here use someone else's unprotected WiFi all the time!

It would only take a jerk (like me) to work in the office with the manager and have access to his files to then leak them to a torrent. Well, if they are on the same WiFi, then the IP address would be the same.

Apologies for the length.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Aug 2008 @ 7:02am

Something to consider...
It was stated that the band is under contract with a major label, and we all know that major record labels often refuse to let their signees distribute their music for free on file-sharing networks, even when they do so knowingly and willingly. It's possible that the mock anger at the music being shared via bittorrent was an attempt to secretly share the music to increase popularity while making the record label think they're still touting the corporate line.

If that is the case, I certainly wouldn't blame them for it, although if I were them, I would be trying to figure out how to out from underneath such a stupid contract in the first place. If a label tells people that they can't share of copy music in any way, shape, or form, and also tells their artists that they can't willingly give their music away for free, then it's blindingly obvious that this is no longer about the artists or their music at all. Instead, it's all about filling their own pockets with cash.

What I don't understand is that if all these major labels are so evil, why doesn't somebody who understands the value of free content and modern distribution methods start up a new label that actively promotes those things instead of trying to shut them down? Such a label would no doubt become "major" in no time because tons of artists would leave their current labels and come running for a label that knows how to make money while not treating all their customers like thieves. I would love to see somebody step up to the plate on this. The labels and the RIAA will never change as long as there's no direct competition to their ancient business plans. Unfortunately, competition is required for innovation. A label that allows its artists to give away some of their music for free if they so choose would most certainly force the other labels to change their thinking, because there can't possibly be any law that could stop people from giving away their own stuff for free.
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- crazyness, 1 Aug 2008 @ 7:11am
  
  Re: Something to consider...
  "It's possible that the mock anger at the music being shared via bittorrent was an attempt to secretly share the music to increase popularity while making the record label think they're still touting the corporate line."
  
  Yeah everyone wants to rock out with a band that "touts the corporate line" . . . any they wonder why they cant sell records . . .
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- Angryguitarist, 1 Aug 2008 @ 7:36am
  
  Re: Something to consider...
  "What I don't understand is that if all these major labels are so evil, why doesn't somebody who understands the value of free content and modern distribution methods start up a new label that actively promotes those things instead of trying to shut them down?"
  
  Radio airplay is the strength of record companys (today that power would include the VH1, BET, XM outlets as well). Radion copmanies can get you airplay . . . that is the ONLY value they offer an artist. Ironicly peer to peer distribution also helps aliviate the value of mass broadcast thus making record companies less viable. The truth is, record companies are pretty useless and continue become more and more so all the time. The truth is, they are fighting thier lives here as they really have less and less value to offer artists.
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sarah, 1 Aug 2008 @ 9:06am

ha, that's great.
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teknosapien, 1 Aug 2008 @ 11:09am

Trying
To use the Streisand affect to it's advantage ?
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Aaron, 1 Aug 2008 @ 12:07pm

worked for me
Worked for me, I didn't know they released a new album until reading this article... and now I'm going to "buy" it from bit torrent. Buck Cherry rules! They're one of the last real rock bands.
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another mike, 1 Aug 2008 @ 12:16pm

round of applause
Give them credit for leveraging the Streisand Effect advertising model. We've seen this before and we'll see it again because it works. I didn't even know they were still recording but now I'll go grab their new album from the torrent stream and keep an eye out for a local concert appearance.
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Sonny, 1 Aug 2008 @ 3:02pm

Chuck Berry
Meh, I liked their 'send in your naked videos' idea for the "Crazy Bitch" video better.
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Eric, 2 Aug 2008 @ 6:53am

Well, good to see they are using bit torrent properly....
I've long said they SHOULD be doing this because 90% of people who download things like music and movies end up buying them. Glad to see people in the industry clue-ing in.
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- Anonymous Coward, 24 Aug 2008 @ 4:47pm
  
  Re: Well, good to see they are using bit torrent properly....
  i call bs.
  
  prove your 90% claim.
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Keep it real, 8 Aug 2008 @ 9:36am

WRONG!
No... This is WRONG. Why? It's like sicking a box full of junk in your front yard with a FREE sign on it...

...then running to the police and telling them you where robbed.

It's illegal, it's immoral, it's pretty stupid. The only thing I'll take away from this is that I'll never buy anything from them... and I'll never want anything for free from them for fear they'll claim I stole it. Basically I don't want anything to do with them at all now.

Stupid.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Nov 2009 @ 1:49am

youre all fuckin lame
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