Apple Approves Spotify App... Spotify Should Thank Google

A Hunger Strike Isn't A New Business Model And It Won't Stop File Sharing

from the good-luck-with-that dept

Fri, Aug 28th 2009 8:12am — Mike Masnick

Talk about the wrong way to go about things. Apparently musicians who are upset about the rates of unauthorized file sharing in Nigeria chose to go on a hunger strike to protest such things. It's really difficult to think of a worse, less productive idea. Hunger strikes are used to "call attention" to a problem -- but usually the idea is to call attention to a problem not enough people care about. The thing is, most people understand what's going on with file sharing, and they think (accurately, in my opinion) that the real issue is that musicians need to embrace newer, better business models. The fact that they've failed to embrace new business models isn't exactly a "cause" that will get people excited because someone is refusing to eat. The file sharing will continue. Perhaps instead of starving themselves, these musicians could have put a bit more effort into a better business model.

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Filed Under: file sharing, hunger strike, music, nigeria

34 Comments

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The Infamous Joe (profile), 28 Aug 2009 @ 8:27am

Win-Win
When my little brother was 5 he used to hold his breath if he didn't get his way, too.

Anyway.

So, the musicians that embrace file sharing will continue to eat and the ones that don't are starving themselves?

Sounds like a win-win to me.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 28 Aug 2009 @ 8:30am

Okay....Seriously?
"Apparently musicians who are upset about the rates of unauthorized file sharing in Nigeria chose to go on a hunger strike to protest such things."

So....if I'm reading this correctly....Nigerian musicians/artists are going on a hunger strike. Nigeria...who next to Sudan, is probably the country with the most unfed, hungry citizens on the planet....has hunger strikes....and those hunger strikes are organized at the behest of music industry execs....

Question: how does one get more evil than to look at a country filled with starving people, most of which don't have much water or food, nevermind disposable income to spend on Britney Spears' new "See, I'm a little less fat then before" album, and suggest a HUNGER STRIKE?

I mean, seriously, what are Igbo and Amada (real Nigerian names, thank you www.babynamebox.com) supposed to think, when somewhere between their 4th and 5th mile on their trip to find clean water, emaciated since Sally Struthers ate all their US AID twinkies, they come across an artist who informs them that he is voluntarily not eating food to protest digital downloads?

Another Question: if Nigerian artists are going on a hunger strike to protest digital downloads, can it be said that the REST of Nigeria, save a few wealthy elite, is going on a hunger strike to protest the lack of food?

Idiots.
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Simon, 28 Aug 2009 @ 8:47am

I'm going to download some music.

You can't do that, it's stealing! You're taking food from the mouths of musicians

But they're not eating anyway.

oh, OK - go ahead then.
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Lucretious, 28 Aug 2009 @ 8:50am

Isn't starving yourself par for the course in Nigeria?
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Aug 2009 @ 9:03am

If only American artists would go on a hunger strike...
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Aug 2009 @ 9:07am

Someone needs to tell them that the whole "starving artist" thing isn't meant to be taken literally.
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haiku, 28 Aug 2009 @ 9:20am

Re: Okay....Seriously?
unfortunately this logic makes perfect sense. In Nigeria, that is ...
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interval, 28 Aug 2009 @ 9:28am

Re:
We need to go on a hunger strike to protest Nigeria's largest export; 419 scams.
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interval, 28 Aug 2009 @ 9:31am

Hunger Strike
"I don't mind stealing bread from the mouths of decadence."

Juvenile, but had to be said.
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NullOp, 28 Aug 2009 @ 9:43am

Geezzzz
Stop or I'll do myself a hurt! I'll right out in the middle of the war!

Anybody remember these threats from Frank Burns on M*A*S*H when his wife threatened to divorce him? The hunger strike makes about as much sense.
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Steve, 28 Aug 2009 @ 9:43am

Didn't South Park do this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Rock_Hard

I guess it wasn't a hunger strike.
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TheStupidOne, 28 Aug 2009 @ 9:48am

Re: Win-Win
"When my little brother was 5 he used to hold his breath if he didn't get his way, too."

That's the perfect situation because he isn't whining, or crying, or even that annoying. Plus if he holds his breath long enough he'll just pass out and start breathing again
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stat_insig (profile), 28 Aug 2009 @ 9:52am

"The thing is, most people understand what's going on with file sharing, and they think (accurately, in my opinion) that the real issue is that musicians need to embrace newer, better business models"

I don't think most people understand the issue. In my humble opinion most people think illegal downloading is immoral, but they do it anyway.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 28 Aug 2009 @ 9:59am

Re: Okay....Seriously?
Correction: according to malnutrition statistics, Nigeria is 11th. However, they are near the top of the list when considered per capita.
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Sea Man, 28 Aug 2009 @ 10:00am

The only way...
The only way I would care about their cause is if they had a live webcam on them as they starved themselves to death. Although, it'd be like watching basketball where only the last two minutes count.
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 28 Aug 2009 @ 10:01am

Re: Okay....Seriously?
I told a coworker about this and you know what he said? "More food for the rest of them".

There is one good thing about people going on a hunger strike over there, at least they're good at it.

I know, that sounded evil, but I just don't feel any sympathy for these people.
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Sean T Henry (profile), 28 Aug 2009 @ 10:01am

Re:
If only RIAA Lawyers went on a hunger strike, we would be trouble free in a few months.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 28 Aug 2009 @ 10:05am

Re: Re:
"If only RIAA Lawyers went on a hunger strike, we would be trouble free in a few months."

Unfortunately you're operating under the incorrect assumption that RIAA Lawyers need food to live.

They don't. See, their not human. They're Pod People sent to earth to destroy what little pleasure we are still allowed to experience, and it is our misery that sustains them....
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Sean T Henry (profile), 28 Aug 2009 @ 10:05am

Re: The only way...
Or like baseball where at the end of the day no one cares if they even played.
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 28 Aug 2009 @ 10:14am

Re: The only way...
Unless there's a sudden death overtime.

(this is why a webcam won't work, far too many people online are evil)
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Jason (profile), 28 Aug 2009 @ 10:16am

Alternative measure
Yeah, I'm thinking they should instead go on a-get-a-real-job-that-actually-produces-something-that-meets-the-basic-needs-of-my-people-strike.
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bshock (profile), 28 Aug 2009 @ 10:21am

I think a hunger strike to protest file-sharing is a very good idea. In fact, I'd like to see everyone angry about file-sharing start a hunger strike. And if file-sharing doesn't stop, I'd like to see these people follow their hunger strikes to the logical conclusion.
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Alimas (profile), 28 Aug 2009 @ 10:42am

So...they're telling people they're going to live (excuse me, eat) like most their national kinsmen do until they are given lots of money. And they're going to be angry about it.

That's a well thought out plan.
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interval, 28 Aug 2009 @ 11:30am

The Outrage
I'm surprised Henry Rollins and Janeane Garofalo aren't leading the Hollywood charge to say how stupid American Citizens are for letting Nigerian Musicians starve themselves. The whiny cunts.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Aug 2009 @ 11:36am

Well, maybe all the file sharers should go on a hunger strike until all the lawyers go on a hunger strike. Oh crap, then Mike would have nothing to blog about.
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diabolic (profile), 28 Aug 2009 @ 11:49am

Following the same logic the crews of cargo ships should starve themselves when real Somali pirates hijack their ships. That sounds productive.
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Mechwarrior, 28 Aug 2009 @ 1:19pm

Is this the sequel to "This is Spinal Tap"?
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Aug 2009 @ 3:43pm

The band to start this was actually a bunch of fourth graders from Colorado called Moop.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Aug 2009 @ 3:56pm

I wonder if the record industry paid these people to pretend to go on a hunger strike.
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John D. Martin III (profile), 29 Aug 2009 @ 5:16am

Let em starve.
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Afunkeybaby, 29 Aug 2009 @ 7:43am

9ja musicians hunger strike
Of course it is a good tool if they break the fast in the evening, for those who go on a hunger strike truelly YOU ARE BRAVE and YOU ARE COURAGEOUS JESUS WILL REWARD YOUR EFFORTS AS IT IS NOT IN VAIN.

For those who dont know, Hunger strike or fast is a weapon against the Kingdom of Darkness[Theft is one of the works of the Kingdom of Darkness] Jesus has DEFEATED THEM [prinicipalities and powers etc] HE COMES TO GIVE US LIFE AND LIFE IN ABUNDANCE NOT BECUASE OF WHAT WE CAN DO BUT BECUASE HE PROMISED ABRAHAM OUR FATHER AND JESUS HIS SON PERFORMED IT ALL FOR US.
GUys you are not ALONE BUT ARE COMMENDED AND WE STAND IN SUPPORT OF YOU WITH YOU.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 31 Aug 2009 @ 6:30am

Re: 9ja musicians hunger strike
"For those who dont know, Hunger strike or fast is a weapon against the Kingdom of Darkness...Jesus has DEFEATED THEM"

As the clear and obvious ruler of the Kingdom of Darkness (just like Catholics, our Kingdom authoriy is based on the people with the biggest hats, and I have a huge Dark Helmet, ergo, I'm the ruler), I feel it is my duty to finally inform you that this Jesus you refer to was actually a double agent, one of our best.
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nasch (profile), 31 Aug 2009 @ 8:51am

Re: 9ja musicians hunger strike
Of course it is a good tool if they break the fast in the evening,

Not much of a hunger strike then, is it?

For those who dont know, Hunger strike or fast is a weapon against the Kingdom of Darkness[Theft is one of the works of the Kingdom of Darkness] Jesus has DEFEATED THEM

If Jesus has defeated them already, why the need for the weapon?
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New Business
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