David Byrne: One Of My Albums Sat On The Shelf For A Year Because Label Wanted DRM And I Didn't
from the drm-helping-musicians? dept
David Byrne, who has definitely been one of the more enlightened musicians for quite some time (using Creative Commons all the way back in 2004? Yup) when it comes to understanding both technology and new business models, recently sat down for an interview with Cory Doctorow about how the music business works today (which must have been really fun to watch given the two participants). The whole article is interesting, but one part in particular caught my attention:As an artist, Byrne said that he has had his own problems with digital rights management. Following the Sony/BMG rootkit scandal—which saw thousands of CDs recalled after the built-in DRM software rendered computers vulnerable to viruses and malware—he asked his label to make sure there was no DRM software on an upcoming release. They were less than obliging.Byrne, of course, has embraced direct to fan efforts a lot lately, and if I remember correctly, was the very first publicly announced musician to use TopSpin's direct-to-fan tools. Some will, of course, argue that he should have just dropped working with major labels, but especially at that time there were distribution advantages to signing a deal. But the fact that they would sit around and argue over DRM -- even right as the whole mess with the rootkit was happening -- shows the kind of thinking that major labels have gone through with DRM.
“I’ve run up against this a couple of times,” Byrne said. “I was in the process of negotiating a record contract at the time, and I went in to the subsidiary of Warner Brothers and said, ‘I’m adding a clause into my contract that you’ll never put DRM on my record.’ And they said ‘Oh, oh, oh…’ The record was done, and the negotiation went on for a year. The record just sat on the shelf. It was very frustrating for me.”
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Filed Under: copyright, cory doctorow, david byrne, drm
Companies: warner music
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This is meant to serve as a lesson. If artists want to truly advance their art, the very first step is not to sign with a record label.
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You eva read a Contract ?
Implying the Record Label has to release anything
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Re: You eva read a Contract ?
Any Artist who now Signs With a MAFIAA Label is a complete and utter fool.
In the old Pre-Internet Days it was a lot easier to fool Artists into thinking this is a Good Move.Not now because Artists can do a lot more and really have no need of these Dinosaur Labels.
You Artists who presently sign with the Big Boys get just what you deserve.
In My Eyes You Are A Traitorous Scum !
Fuck the MAFIAA !!!
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In that case, Def Leppard signed with their label decades ago when there was no other option. Today, there is still a bit of a belief (although not as much) that if you want to 'make it big' you must get signed by a major label. It is this belief that we need to get rid of.
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FTFY
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They know better than both when it comes to half-assed measures to control the distribution of "their" media.
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DRM and region-locking are both solutions to problems that don't exist.
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Having a huge market with all segments is a total nightmare for this kind of business model since the stratification in what people are prepared to pay is larger. They believe they are loosing money on this breakdown of segmentation which is correct if they abused the segregation before.
These players despise normal market mechanics unless they are rigged in their favour. DRM and region-locking are small pieces in rigging the markets. They are not solutions to anything.
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Both DRM and region-locking are solutions to problems that don't exist.
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eBooks and DRM
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Re: eBooks and DRM
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Oops
-Spiff
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And another the week before and another...
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When bands realize they can compete without labels, that's when change may finally happen. The myth is that labels have for better distribution that better known musicians "need".
The acient licensing, distribution and royalty collection systems all serve to keep the current label system in demand. This is where policy needs to streamline the system rather than empower it through bad trade acts.
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The studios and record companies and publishing companies seem to love scorched Earth policies and are fond of pyrrhic victories. "We'd rather not sell it at all than give up the smallest modicum of control."
I bet they're a lot of fun in the sack.
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I think there is a myth that labels over distribution that larger bands need, but I think that's been proven it's a myth and not reality. I think he released his last album with Eno online and self published that.
This statement from Byrne opens up a lot more questions about the industry and what needs to happen. I'd like to hear more from him.
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mp3, ogg, wav aif formats
for example reselling it.
copyrights are no a
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