My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields On Reissue Delays: 'Sony Hid Our Master Tapes'
from the inevitable-'artist-signed-a-contract'-trolling-in-3...2... dept
Shoegaze legend My Bloody Valentine has never been mistaken for a prolific band. With their last album (Loveless) having been released over two decades ago (1991 to be exact), anyone who's been holding their breath waiting for a followup has probably been revived enough times that friends and family are considering adding a DNR order to their living will.Now, at long last, there are signs of life. On May 7th, Sony Records is set to release remastered versions of MBV's two full albums and several EPs [exclamation points!]. Not only that, but MBV co-founder Kevin Shields is strongly hinting at an actual new My Bloody Valentine album [more exclamation points, tempered with a "we've heard this before over the last 20 years, but still..."!].
While the new remasters will be appreciated, it's a project that's been in the works since 2004. Most of those familiar with Kevin Shields' perfectionism (the obsessiveness that saw the band go through 19 recording studios and nearly as many producers while recording Loveless, nearly bankrupting Creation Records in the process) probably chalked up this extra-long delay to excessive amounts of knob twiddling. But in an interview with Pitchfork, Shields points out that this time it wasn't him:
The [remastering] process actually started in 2001, when we managed to come to an agreement with Sony, who inherited us from Creation. Part of the Sony deal was that I wanted all of the EPs made into one package because, back in 2001, you could get the albums pretty easily but not the EPs. So it was basically a compilation of all the EPs, and that was it.Tapes going missing isn't completely unheard of. When bands lie dormant for years at a time, the labels generally don't place a premium on keeping everything sorted out, especially when they can do things like issue faux-remasters by pressing the "+Loud" button while the CD is in the tray. Shields points out that Warner (who handles American distribution) did exactly that when issuing supposed vinyl "remasters" in 2003:
Then we decided to do Isn't Anything and Loveless as well-- if we're gonna remaster [the EPs], we should remaster everything. In 2002, I tried to start working on it, but the studio that had the tapes, Metropolis Studios, lost them; the analog multi-tracks were all missing for a year. Only after I started threatening to get Scotland Yard involved did they magically, suddenly reappear. The true story is as yet to be determined, but we'll fight that one out in the near future.
For example, in America, Warner Bros. licensed Loveless and Isn't Anything to Plain Records, and they basically just ripped [the audio] off the CD and put it on vinyl [in 2003]. They did an awful, terrible job. It was done without my permission, and the sound quality was 100% wrong. It was a rip off to anyone who bought it. But I didn't know anything about it until they were in the shops. We actually got an injunction against it being imported into the UK at the time because it was technically a bootleg but, in America, Warners operate under their own law, so it might have been slightly legal in the United States.But Shields states that the missing master tapes wasn't the result of simple oversight:
The contract we did in 2001 basically gave me ownership of the tapes, and then the Sony regime that existed when that contract was signed left. And when the new regime came in, the tapes disappeared. That was relevant because even though I was the owner, it would only revert back to me if I remastered from the original tapes-- if the tapes were gone, I couldn't remaster from them and hence I couldn't ever own them.[Fun note: Pitchfork asked Sony to comment on this and got this smiley chunk of PR spam in reply: "We have really enjoyed working on these hugely iconic re-issues with Kevin, and can't wait for the release." We know this isn't true because no one enjoys working with Kevin Shields. (HAHAHA ONLY SRS. 19 studios! Thousands of pounds!!! Engineers not being allowed to listen to vocal takes!!!?!)]
So, keeping the tapes away from Shields meant preventing him from reclaiming control of his band's output or being compensated for any interim sales. In fact, despite continued interest in My Bloody Valentine's catalog, the band is still operating in the red:
Also, you don't get paid if you don't own it-- you know, we've never been paid one penny from the United States from any of the records we've ever made. In the record company's world, we're always in debt. But the strange part of the story is Loveless alone sold enough copies in its first year to put us out of debt. But somehow Warners have managed to create a situation where, hundreds of thousands of records down the line, we're still in debt. That's why the compilations aren't coming out on Warner Bros. They're extremely in breach of contract as well at the moment.Despite all of this, Shields remains largely pragmatic about this situation. It's not that it isn't unfair or stupid or flat out ugly. It's just that it isn't uncommon:
I'm no victim here-- this is just the way it is for everybody. It's a bit like being in the middle of a battlefield and getting shot in the arm and going, "Why me?" I mean, to put it very, very, very simply: The corporate system is fully psychopathic, and any creative people who enter into business with any of these organizations come up against a lifetime of issues. You just deal with it as you go along. It'll keep on happening until people reorganize the organizations.Shields expands on this, pointing out that this two-decade gap between the original albums and the reissues could have been a lot shorter, if there had been any sort of cooperation from the labels involved.
Well, the organizations are [psychopathic], but probably 70% of the individuals in them are decent people. But a significant controlling minority have no empathy. They don't give a shit. If you put them in a situation where they can't make any decision but one that is in your favor, they will-- but that can take years. That's the game. Most people just give up with time and go, "I'm a victim." The only reason I've got the reputation for delays and spending a long time on things is because I just don't stop. We've had incredibly huge obstacles in our way-- no tapes, no royalties, no cooperation on any level-- and we sort it out.Apparently, this is what it takes do a proper reissue: eight years, two labels, Scotland Yard and Shields' willingness to keep pushing on despite the labels' best efforts to keep him and his music as far apart as possible. I eagerly await the naysayers who will point out that the label system is still the artists' best friend, preferable to self-publishing, Kickstartering, etc. while simultaneously pointing out that "Screw the artists! They signed a contract!" Fun stuff, this cognitive dissonance.
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Filed Under: kevin shields, master tapes, my bloody valentine
Companies: sony, warner bros
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"you know, we've never been paid one penny from the United States from any of the records we've ever made"
I wonder how our trolls will spin this one, though. I'm going to guess it's suddenly going to turn into the "attack the artist cause he's wrong!" day, rather than the "pirates and Spotify are stealing from the poor artists" day it's been so far...
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Paul, if you don't read the story and realize that the "artist" comes off as more than a bit of a perfectionist prick , then you really missed something. I have no doubt that he is a lot like you, very demanding, wants it his way, and basically makes a lot of people miserable in trying to get his way.
As for the old "we didn't get paid" saw, I am betting that those monies were paid to another company that their eagle eyed accountant or manager set up for them a couple of decades ago, and then let run out without anyone noticing.
The real history of these stories seems to be people who made their own lives complicated, and then wonder why nobody else can follow along with their convoluted methods of avoiding tax.
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Paul, if you don't read the story and realize that the "artist" comes off as [rest of attack and blame the artist rather than the corrupt system rant clipped]
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Yep, you were pretty much right there. Only took 4 comments to get there too.
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"I am betting"
No, you are guessing, based once again on your own half-assed assumptions and biases. Even when it comes from artists and customers, you can't even comprehend that you are wrong. Proof of your claims, or GTFO.
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It's not about attacking his character - his character is a key part of the discussion here.
"Proof of your claims, or GTFO."
I am watching you be a prick, and you ain't nothing compared to this guy. I think it's a good bet.
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Yes, because if dealing with a perfectionist prick means that it's OK to do business with them badly, at least half of the business world would grind to a halt overnight.
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It doesn't make much sense, does it?
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Yet you deem it suitable to ignore the characters of Chris Dodd, Cary Sherman, Cara Duckworth and Mitch Bainwol when deciding that each download equals a lost sale. Why the double standards from you?
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And yet, you seem to expect us to do this for you...
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Well you and your AC brethren (assuming it's not just you being an obsessed fool in other threads) seem to expect me to accept your lies and do just that when you act like it (100% of the time). Why is it different for someone who bothers to identify himself before acting like that?
"It's not about attacking his character - his character is a key part of the discussion here."
No, it's not. Unless you can prove that his character had a direct bearing on the issues being discussed, his interpersonal skills are irrelevant. Feel free to cite such evidence, else all you're doing is attacking yet another artist because he dares to speak out - as you do in every such thread. Oh, but of course, if a politician or label head is an asshole, or the manager of U2 is being an idiot, we're not allowed to call them on that, right, because that would be wrong?
Double standards - your favourite dish.
"I am watching you be a prick, and you ain't nothing compared to this guy. I think it's a good bet."
Ad hominem and doubling down on idiocy again, while refusing to give any reason to give credence to your claims. Aren't you bored of this yet?
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You know, so what if he was such a prick, the record labels didn’t have to keep working with him, there was nothing forcing them to keep putting up with his personality.
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Here's a clue: If you have annoying customers or clients it is still your legal obligation to perform your duties to them as best practices dictate, otherwise you will be held up as an example of what NOT to do by all and sundry (and the courts)
Whodathunkit hey
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Please
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If the labels treated him like the pirate bay, he's get nothing, have nothing, and never be able to get anything.
There are no contracts, no advances, no payments for bands on The Pirate Bay. So I guess Kevin can't dispute the illegally exploitation of his work there, because the pirate bay don't offer artists contracts or money.
pirate bay = 100% of the artists money
artists on tpb = 0% of the artists money
funny that the same laws that make it possible for artists to seek justice from labels are the same laws you wish to take away from artists, ironic isn't it.
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Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
Because you have repeated this comment I'm gonna estimate AT LEAST 20 times today and with no evidence whatsoever to lend it any credibility. And repetition DOES NOT make it a fact, you're deluded belief of that not withstanding.
Not too mention The Pirate Bay does nothing to the artists. It's users however are another story.
And can you link to where PaulT has said let's take away the artists' rights? I'd so love yo read that. Otherwise, it's just another one of your blatantly false statements based on no reality but the one you create in your head.
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Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
the pirate bay is making 100% of the artists money.
the artists on the pirate bay is making 0% of the artists money.
the artists work is being distributed (illegally) the pirate bay is making money (in millions according to tech crunch) and the artists are getting paid ZERO of this money.
sorry, but you've cornered the market on blatantly false. Of course if you want to show me any of those contracts or payments to artists from the pirate I'd be happy to look at them, citation please!
do you support the pirate bay ripping off artists?
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Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
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Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
The Pirate Bay is NOT making 100% of the artists money. They do not get paid for anything that their site points to and is uploaded by the users of said site.
According to Tech Crunch, huh? So can you link to this article where you read this on Tech Crunch? Or should we just take the word of an Anonymous Coward? And according to, you know, ACTUAL court documents The Pirate Bay WAS NOT making money (at least not in the millions).
And why do you keep asking about contracts from The Pirate Bay? How many times do people have to tell you they are not a label before you get that? Since they are not a label and are not distributing any material or hosting it themselves, they have no reason to have any type of contract with the artists.
Again, the one being blatantly false and intentionally misleading here is you. Everyone else in the other article was willing to present citations to support their statements that shot down each and every one of your moronic comments. You've yet to present even one.
I do not support anyone ripping off artists. But I think before you bitch about The Pirate Bay, you turn that finger around and point it at the labels and the RIAA. You know, the ones who are supposed to be FOR the artists and who have a verifiable history of ripping off the artists by withholding royalties, by completely failing to pay royalties straight up (as was the case in Canada) and who have tried to slip things into laws in the works that would cheat artists out of their ability to reclaim copyright on their own songs. These are the people you should be holding to a higher standard. Because they directly profit off of and withhold millions upon millions upon millions of dollars (all verifiable, through court documents from suits brought forth from artists).
Wait, what am I doing? I just fed the moron. I mean troll. Damnit. I fear my IQ was just lowered to WAY below room temperature from having even read what he wrote. Double damnit.
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Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
"It's not funny. At all. It's actually a bit annoying. Find a new talking point, present proof/evidence to support your wild claims, or shut the fuck up because we heard you the first 50 times already. "
truth hurts doesn't it? show me proof evidence that the pirate bay has ever paid an artists or asked their consent?
they have not. prove otherwise.
simple math.
the pirate bay = 100% of the Artists Money
the artists on TPB = 0% of the Artists Money
Fact. Show me where the pirate bay is offering artists a better deal than a label. Tell my why you so aggressively support ripping off artists and your solution to one injustice (labels) is an even GREATER injustice (pirates).
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
you've been reading this site for 'a long time' and STILL manged to come out with that crap?
....
I'm pretty sure you're why this world has so many nice deep lakes...
good for jumping in.
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Is that a "fact?"
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Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
As to the aspect of pirating: There is currently no way in the US to pay the artist and receive their music in return. As such, pirating and then granting a donation would actually be better than using the "proper" channels.
Setting aside moral questions for a second, the system is obviously ridiculously broken.
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Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
the pirate bay makes 100% of the money illegally exploiting the artists work, and pays the artists 0%.
maybe you missed this? lost. illegal. jail.
http://techland.time.com/2012/02/01/pirate-bay-founders-lose-supreme-court-appeal-going-to-jail/
so again, tell me why you support ripping off artists? it's ok, that's your opinion. you can want to rip artists off, it just makes you a hypocrite and worse than the labels you ridicule. but you can admit it, just say it, you hate artists and you support them getting ripped off.
Go ahead, it's ok, you can be anti-artist. It's just the internet. Speak freely.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
i started writing a long piece with logic and maths and such.
then i realised you're either an idiot or a complete arse and would just ignore/fail to understand it either way, so you get this instead.
pffbbbbbbbbbbbbbbt!
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
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So, basically, are you Kevin Shields in disguise?
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
A pretty clearcut case of a bad ruling.
So basically, if someone, really anyone, uses your service to distribute copyrighted materials, you are magically responsible, according to this ruling. Yeah, not seeing how being a third-party that is held to be liable under such ridiculous reasoning (really, you could swap out any ISP just as easily) is the same off ripping off an artist.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
why do you support artists getting ripped off by the pirate bay?
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
Name: Nelson Mandela.
Name: Rosa Parks.
Name: Galileo.
Name: Joan of Arc.
Name: Jesus of Nazareth.
Justice systems: Not perfect.
Conclusion: "Jail time" is logically insufficient as support for your argument.
Why do you support artists getting ripped off by labels?
Why do you support punishing tool makers for how the tool is used?
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
Please write this on the piece of clothing of your choice as your prize.
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Re: Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on May 2nd, 2012 @ 1:50pm
except all the court cases that show they don't make any money but sure whatever
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And why are you trolls comparing TPB to labels all of a sudden? In this case, TPB is treating them BETTER than Warner Bros. TPB gives them nothing for distributing their product (but doesn't make anything off of it). Warner sells tons of product, gives them THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS TPB GAVE THEM, then claims the BAND owes THEM money.
So, by troll logic the pirates are actually the good guys here!
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how much do you pay google, facebook and youtube? probably zero right? but they're making money right? OMG - It must be the magic money fairies!
Stop it. The pirate bay is making an estimated $4m a year from the the artists work and paying the artists ZERO of that money. You can't really be this uninformed, but it would make sense if you were...
http://techcrunch.com/2008/01/31/the-pirate-bay-makes-4-million-a-year-on-illegal-p2p-file-shari ng-says-prosecutor/
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Or to put it in another perspective, they've horded a hell of lot more than 4 million in unpaid dues. And they've been doing so for decades. Yet, I don't see you getting all steamed up about that.
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why do you support artists getting ripped off?
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seriously, are you a politician or record exec? they're the only occupations i can think of where such a mix of ability at ignorance, idiocy, misdirection, and blatant lieing is an asset rather than getting you fired for incompetence.
(wow, you're pressing buttons wonderfully today. normally i make a snarky comment based on the post itself or a several paragraph ramble that fails to stay on topic that starts off being about my experience with similar stuff. today, i'm actually responding to the trollishness.
either that means you're very good at it or it means i need more sleep.)
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why do you support artists getting ripped off?
/FTFY
BTW, I never said I supported TPB. Just pointing out that the labels constantly give bad figures to everyone-the public, the government, judges and juries, and their artist.
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why do you support artists getting ripped off?
/FTFY
BTW, I never said I supported TPB. Just pointing out that the labels constantly give bad figures to everyone-the public, the government, judges and juries, and their artist.
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Also that was what the people suing them claimed they were making the court said it was hogwash.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2008/02/pirate-bay-big-revenue-claims-fabricated-by-pros ecutors.ars
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I would just *love* to hear the drum tracks being recorded in "a shed." The clarity must be stunning.
There are labels who don't rip off their artists, you know?
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Depending on the quality of the shed and the recording equipment, it can indeed be stunning. Wave of the future, bee-otch.
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But they like to pretend they know everything about "professional" music. It's pretty hilarious.
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Not at all surprising, really. Many stair-cases in public buildings have no carpets and rather well sealed doors for fire escape purposes. Makes them great for acoustics.
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why do you support the pirate bay ripping off kevin shields?
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and if you Don't mean the tapes, and instead mean the record labels (his masters, you said) then all i can say is: good on them.
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In other words, route around.
Sure, some run off with the free stuff, but the proportion that donates is generally higher than 0.6% (which is apparently all the artist gets out of sales). This suggests that the artist gets more from piracy + donations than selling.
Of course, you have to take into account the amounts donated. Then again, most charity groups and some non charity groups have found that donations net much more than a flat price when the asked price would be low.
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I don't support anybody ripping off anybody, and I don't know why you assume I do. However, this story still has nothing to do with piracy or TPB, so your comment remains inexplicable.
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censoring more comments, wow, again, how totally ironically sopa of you... wow, just wow.
#
I'm glad he has a contract he can dispute for breach. I'm also glad he got PAID advances. And I'm glad he can recover damages for wrong doing.
If the labels treated him like the pirate bay, he's get nothing, have nothing, and never be able to get anything.
There are no contracts, no advances, no payments for bands on The Pirate Bay. So I guess Kevin can't dispute the illegally exploitation of his work there, because the pirate bay don't offer artists contracts or money.
pirate bay = 100% of the artists money
artists on tpb = 0% of the artists money
funny that the same laws that make it possible for artists to seek justice from labels are the same laws you wish to take away from artists, ironic isn't it.
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censoring more comments, wow, again, how totally ironically sopa of you... wow, just wow.
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I'm glad he has a contract he can dispute for breach. I'm also glad he got PAID advances. And I'm glad he can recover damages for wrong doing.
If the labels treated him like the pirate bay, he's get nothing, have nothing, and never be able to get anything.
There are no contracts, no advances, no payments for bands on The Pirate Bay. So I guess Kevin can't dispute the illegally exploitation of his work there, because the pirate bay don't offer artists contracts or money.
pirate bay = 100% of the artists money
artists on tpb = 0% of the artists money
funny that the same laws that make it possible for artists to seek justice from labels are the same laws you wish to take away from artists, ironic isn't it.
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censoring more comments, wow, again, how totally ironically sopa of you... wow, just wow.
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Again, I specify. Did SOPA allow you to un-hide the seized website when you clicked on it?
This coming from the group of shills who insist that we don't know what SOPA means.
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Oh, and if SOPA was as gentle and easily bypassed as the thing you're bitching about, I doubt anybody would have complained about it... but it wasn't, was it?
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I record my tracks with one studio and since I use and own gear myself it is very easy to get a good mix.Even if I did not know what knobs to tweak with the Engineers are great and have good ears or they would not last in the business.
Everytime I read about Bands locking up Studios for a Month to record 2 Songs I just laugh.
I may hate Big Labels but I also have no love at all for demanding, anal, and egotist Musicians.My guys I play or played with have always been honest down to Earth guys just like you or I.
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Or FIFTEEN years for G'n'R.
Even more perplexing is what exactly remastering will improve about MBV records. They're a wall of noise. Are they going to hire Bob Katz to "really bring out the high end of that static white noise"?
Not that I don't enjoy MBV, but I've never thought their recordings needed a remaster. What are they going to do? Turn it down?
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Re: gorehound and your lack of love at all for demanding, anal, and egotist Musicians
Personally, as i have a job, it takes me about 5 years to finish an album, working 2 or 3 evenings a week, and i have had to record in all sorts of rooms (as studios).
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So, apparently it's ok for Hollywood to infringe on other peoples copyrighted material?
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Shoulda read the invisible print in the contract!
Well somebody has to frickin' point out the frickin' obvious here!
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Oh, and I found out that 'Sony' appears to be a very commonly used code word for some of the worst swearing I've ever come across.
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Majors and indies
MP3 and home studios have helped immensely, but I doubt the major labels will ever turn into an artist friendly business. They're too entrenched in their ways.
As for Pirate Bay and the like, most artists will tell you they rarely make money off of records, so I doubt they care if some ppl download their music for free.
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Re: Majors and indies
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Re: Re: Majors and indies
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BONO: Horrible and obnoxious.
LL COOL J: 15 minutes of fame over for 20 years.
THE BLACK KEYS: Weak.
ELTON JOHN: Irrelevant for 20 years and counting.
EMINEM: BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
CAKE: Irritating '90s hipster crap.
ZACK HEMSEY: Who?
DON HENLEY: Sucks.
PRINCE: Chaka mad. Chaka real mad.
DAVID LOWERY: Who?
TRENT REZNOR: I'll grant you that one, but the quote from him on the site runs pretty counter to everything else I've read from him in the past five years.
DISTURBED: CHOPPY VOCALS AND POINTLESS NU-METAL ANGER!
THE GRATEFUL DEAD: Jerry Garcia's been dead for a long time now.
LOGAN LYNN: Who?
RANDY BACHMAN: "Get off my lawn, you darned kids!"
LUPE FIASCO: Who?
LILLY ALLEN: I've only heard of her because the righteous bitch-slapping Dan Bull gave her...and he told her off far better than I ever could.
TAIO CRUZ: Who?
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So there you have it. Straight from a confrontational dick with no love for copyright or those who worship it. These people (with a hesitant exception for Reznor) are not artists.
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Re: Re: Re: Majors and indies
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*snorts* Bwhahahahahahahaha
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Re: Re: Re: Majors and indies
EMINEM for example, I can see him saying that, with a snarky smart ass smile on his face...
(note: i would however love to see him try and kick somebodies ass...eThug vs FreeThug...ROFL)
dont worry tho, Im sure over time they will get more "big names" to give them quotes they can either take out of context or, like many of these types of quotes over the years, get the lable to make them read from a provided rant.
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Re: Re: Majors and indies
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geekhideout
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May 3, 2012 at 7:09 am
Ethics? really?
Which philosophy of Ethics are you specifically referring too, because each and every one of those artists will have a different interpretation of what they think ethics actually is and I'm quite sure this article shows the author has no clue either.
In fact most of those artists at one time or another would of partaken in consequentialism and deontology, though from their quotes they are not really looking at pragmatism are they?
Also do all these artist actually know you are placing the first 3 paragraphs into their mouths? Based on the concept of ethics gleaned from this article It would be highly unethical to do this without their absolute authority. Wouldn't it?
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Re: Re: Majors and indies
Think about it: Even free culture founder Lawrence Lessig has said that piracy (as in illegal downloading) is wrong:
Using the logic of whomever created that blogpost, Lawrence Lessig must be in favor of SOPA, PIPA, ACTA, et al.! Of course he's not. There's a lot of nuance in between "Piracy is a bad thing" and "Everything must be done to stop piracy, damn the consequences."
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If the shills here were intellectually honest, they'd notice that this is how most people really feel about it. Most of the complaints tend to be about the methods used to try to stop piracy, either because they're ineffective or totally counter-productive, or that they have collateral damage that's totally unacceptable. It's not a question about whether piracy is right or wrong, simply that the methods used to fight it are both ineffective and unacceptable.
For example, I'm totally against DRM on purchases (I feel it has a place in the rental/streaming markets) for various reasons. I feel it fragments and skews the market, it restricts consumer choice both in terms of content and playback device, it can damage machines or privacy in extreme instances and anti-circumvention measures tend to have chilling effects on legitimate scientific and education work. Meanwhile, in reality, once DRM has been circumvented, it doesn't affect pirates. This leads to a situation where it makes pirated products even more attractive than they would be without DRM. Sadly, the more clueless organisations out there think that the likes of SOPA and more draconian DRM restrictions are the answer, and so the vicious cycle continues.
Ask the shills around here, and they will tell you that this somehow all means I "hate artists" or I "defend piracy". Complete rubbish, but I fear they're literally incapable of taking the subtleties and complexities of my actual argument, just as they're incapable of recognising that there may be more to an artist's position on copyright than the random quote they found on Google once.
I mean, look at the AC above. He found a random blog consisting of a bunch of random quotes, some taken from other peoples' blogs, and as far as he's concerned that's all that matters. The Trent Reznor quote in particular is hilarious. Not only does it seem to contradict what we know about Reznor, the link on that quote is to another blog post, from 2006, which doesn't cite its own source for the quotes and the only original text on there is to attack somebody's spelling of their first name and to mock Reznor's supposed words.
THIS is what apparently passes as "proof" in these peoples' eyes, because it reinforces their own expectations, which they are unwilling to discuss lest they be proven wrong. Pretty pathetic.
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