I've posted multiple times on several different threads on this over on hypebot.com.
Here's my most recent post, which I hope boils it down from my perspective.
___________
I don't fault Palmer for inviting fans to play on stage for hugs and beer. She's done it before and everyone has been happy.
What I have wanted to shoot down, though, is the idea that musicians who complain about not getting paid are bitter and jealous. I don't think that is the case. Rather, they see that Palmer raised a significant amount of money and have wondered why there's not enough left to pay everyone.
And the reason everyone knows how much money she has raised (aside from all the stories about it) is Kickstarter. People can now see how much a Kickstarter artist has raised, what the rewards are and how many have sold, and, if the artist is open, what she/he plans to do with the money. Plus Kickstarter encourages everyone to think of these projects as "their projects." Therefore the community becomes involved and may be more inclined to voice their opinions on what should or shouldn't happen with the money. I think all of this is good, but it does change the dynamics between artists and their patrons. Yes, contributors to Kickstarter can be considered patrons rather than fans, and patrons tend to give out more advice about the projects they are supporting. It's no longer artist-to-fan. It's artist-to-patron-to-artist, a continuing feedback loop. Palmer knows that and routinely adjusts what she does based on what her fans/patron/audience say.
Re: I have been wondering something for awhile now
I've thought this should happen for awhile now. If the major labels don't want to deal with you or charge you too much, just play artists who allow you to play their music for free.
In fact, I don't have any sympathy for a startup that knows licensing with major labels with be costly, goes ahead anyway, and then complains after the fact that licensing is killing them.
The usual response is that no music service can survive without major label music because that's what the consumers/fans want to hear. But if enough people really do believe there is quality music outside the major label system, a DIY/indie service should be able to attract enough listeners to make it worthwhile.
Okay. Here's an example of the kind of thinking that is influencing politics in this country. How do you change their opinions? They believe Agenda 21 is a conspiracy to take over the US, so anything that is at all related to green communities they are against. They think bike paths are a plot outlaw cars.
I'm positive that if we wanted to have an informed citizenry, it is attainable in one or two generations.
Well, I totally support the effort. I can accept diversity of opinions, but I can't accept opinions formed on inaccurate information because working from that perspective won't likely produce acceptable solutions.
If people are led to believe their problems are caused by factors that have nothing to do with those problems, then they are ill-equipped to actually solve the problems.
More education trumps religious zealotry. They've needed help in defining the things that are needed in the new democracy that is forming.
I'd like to believe that, but we've got a sizable number of people in the US who believe what they want to believe even when confronted with facts that suggest otherwise. Once people get a bias into their heads, no matter how irrational, it seems like they cling to it forever. If we have people in the US who believe in questionable or totally false constructs, I don't know how we can expect the rest of the world to be more open to adjusting their beliefs.
Re: Re: Cultures and definitions of freedom collide
Just let anyone fill in any blank they like and we can start letting angry mobs in remote countries (and on main street USA) prune the tree of liberty into a twig of regression.
If it weren't for oil and Israel, we probably wouldn't be involved in Middle Eastern politics nearly as much as we are. Trying to get them to see the world the way we see it may not be in the cards right now. Democracy does not necessarily mean a country's citizens will embrace our world view.
Like it or not, the rest of the world is not necessarily going to embrace American values and we don't have it in our budget or wherewithal to force them to do so. So understanding other cultures probably is going to be necessary to find some diplomatic solutions.
The government is slowly losing its legitimacy and fighting to maintain it. The people in Syria lived with dictatorial rule for quite some time but the Arab Spring movement showed people a new life.
What do you do, though, if the will of the people is to elect a conservative religious government?
Cultural Clash Fuels Muslims Raging at Film - NYTimes.com: "When the protests against an American-made online video mocking the Prophet Muhammad exploded in about 20 countries, the source of the rage was more than just religious sensitivity, political demagogy or resentment of Washington, protesters and their sympathizers here said. It was also a demand that many of them described with the word 'freedom,' although in a context very different from the term’s use in the individualistic West: the right of a community, whether Muslim, Christian or Jewish, to be free from grave insult to its identity and values."
Cultural Clash Fuels Muslims Raging at Film - NYTimes.com: “We want these countries to understand that they need to take into consideration the people, and not just the governments,” said Ismail Mohamed, 42, a religious scholar who once was an imam in Germany. “We don’t think that depictions of the prophets are freedom of expression. We think it is an offense against our rights,” he said, adding, “The West has to understand the ideology of the people.”
What I want to know is, WHY was the film maker taken ("voluntarily") by police for questioning? Since WHEN do the police in this country question you for making a movie?
Sites like Google and Facebook have screened what is allowed and isn't allowed, so how is asking Google to take down this video any different? What's been the status of neo-Nazi and other hate crime videos? I haven't researched it.
I always tell people in creative fields they won't make any money at it
I intentionally warn anyone in music, the arts, writing, etc. there is no money in it.
I do this because
(1) For most people this will be true.
(2) To get into creative fields as a way to make money is the wrong reason to do it (there are easier ways to make money).
(3) If people feel they MUST do something creative, whether or not they make any money at it, that is a sign they are probably making the right decision for themselves. Let me paint a picture of all the sacrifices you will have to make to live the life of a full-time creative, and if you still want to do it, then I will help you develop business plans.
I've been a critical of all the conferences, consultants, etc. encouraging hopeful creatives to believe the Internet has bought forth a new opportunity for creatives to make money.
No, what it has done is allowed that many more people to share their creativity. But in the process. more people are competing for a fairly fixed pot of consumer dollars (if anything, disposable income has gone down as with the recession).
Creativity will always be with us. People will create. But making money at it doesn't necessarily follow. Sure, a few people will do so. But they won't necessarily be the most creative. They will simply be those who have best figured out to work the system to collect money from people or companies.
I think it is more honest to encourage everyone to be creative, whether or not they produce great art. It is the process itself that is rewarding. Play music with friends. Paint your own pictures to hang on the walls. Take videos and upload them. They don't have to be masterpieces. You don't have to make money. But your life will probably be better for it.
And keep your day job that pays the bills unless you can figure out how not to have any bills.
Apple is the most valuable company in the world. It's hard to argue in favor of anyone else's approach.
For the moment.
No company has ever remained the most valuable in the world indefinitely. The reason Apple is currently the most valuable is that the previously most valuable companies are no longer so. The same will happen with Apple, sooner or later.
Hmm.. I thought Amazon was trying to drive sales of their physical goods.
Yes, that's what I have figured too. Amazon Prime encourages people to start buying everything via Amazon. Fast delivery, no need to go to a store, etc.
________________
About Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime is an annual membership program that offers customers unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items, instant streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows and access to borrow a Kindle book every month, including New York Times Bestsellers, with no due dates -- all for just $79 a year. Eligible customers who purchase a Kindle Fire will be given a free month of Amazon Prime.
About the free month of Amazon Prime with Kindle Fire: Eligibility
Customers who have not used Prime instant videos over the past year will automatically be given a free month of Amazon Prime when they first activate their Kindle Fire. Eligible customers receiving free shipping benefits as an Amazon Mom, Amazon Student or as an invited guest of another Prime member will receive a month of Prime digital benefits, which includes Prime instant videos and Kindle Owners' Lending Library. If you're already a paid or free trial member of Prime when you register your device, you'll be able to seamlessly use your benefits without interruption or changes to your membership.
I'm not sure about scarcities in either content or hardware
I don't think Apple or Amazon will hang on to the market via either content or hardware. History doesn't support it. There's always another company to come along and undercut you. There aren't really long-lasting scarcities with either. Hardware is harder than digital content to copy, but it does get copied.
But what Amazon does have as a barrier to entry is a huge warehouse/delivery system that would be hard to quickly duplicate. Amazon is Amazon because of that, not because of its tablet.
Because if we could, it would be more feasible to have a direct democracy where citizens voted on individual issues (or at least the most pertinent ones).
I wish we could do something like this as well. Politics now is too much based on candidate personalities, backgrounds, and party affiliation. The issues themselves don't get as much coverage. And I think if voters were presented with issues without knowing the people associated with them, they might actually vote according to what they want to see happen rather than a kneejerk reaction to the politicians.
On the post: Amanda Palmer Destroys/Saves Musicians; Chances Of 'Hitting It Big' As An Artist Remain Unchanged
Kickstarter changes things
Here's my most recent post, which I hope boils it down from my perspective.
___________
I don't fault Palmer for inviting fans to play on stage for hugs and beer. She's done it before and everyone has been happy.
What I have wanted to shoot down, though, is the idea that musicians who complain about not getting paid are bitter and jealous. I don't think that is the case. Rather, they see that Palmer raised a significant amount of money and have wondered why there's not enough left to pay everyone.
And the reason everyone knows how much money she has raised (aside from all the stories about it) is Kickstarter. People can now see how much a Kickstarter artist has raised, what the rewards are and how many have sold, and, if the artist is open, what she/he plans to do with the money. Plus Kickstarter encourages everyone to think of these projects as "their projects." Therefore the community becomes involved and may be more inclined to voice their opinions on what should or shouldn't happen with the money. I think all of this is good, but it does change the dynamics between artists and their patrons. Yes, contributors to Kickstarter can be considered patrons rather than fans, and patrons tend to give out more advice about the projects they are supporting. It's no longer artist-to-fan. It's artist-to-patron-to-artist, a continuing feedback loop. Palmer knows that and routinely adjusts what she does based on what her fans/patron/audience say.
On the post: EMI Universal Deal Cleared, Giving One Company Veto Rights On Pretty Much Any New Music Service
Re: I have been wondering something for awhile now
In fact, I don't have any sympathy for a startup that knows licensing with major labels with be costly, goes ahead anyway, and then complains after the fact that licensing is killing them.
The usual response is that no music service can survive without major label music because that's what the consumers/fans want to hear. But if enough people really do believe there is quality music outside the major label system, a DIY/indie service should be able to attract enough listeners to make it worthwhile.
On the post: Syrian Activist Arrested By Secret Police Merely For Having Livestreaming App Installed On His Phone
Re: Re:
Agenda 21 and the UN Plot to Take Over America: Bill Proposed In Florida Expands Its Reach To Stop Just About Everything Green : TreeHugger
On the post: Syrian Activist Arrested By Secret Police Merely For Having Livestreaming App Installed On His Phone
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Well, I totally support the effort. I can accept diversity of opinions, but I can't accept opinions formed on inaccurate information because working from that perspective won't likely produce acceptable solutions.
If people are led to believe their problems are caused by factors that have nothing to do with those problems, then they are ill-equipped to actually solve the problems.
On the post: Syrian Activist Arrested By Secret Police Merely For Having Livestreaming App Installed On His Phone
Re: Re: Re: Re:
I'd like to believe that, but we've got a sizable number of people in the US who believe what they want to believe even when confronted with facts that suggest otherwise. Once people get a bias into their heads, no matter how irrational, it seems like they cling to it forever. If we have people in the US who believe in questionable or totally false constructs, I don't know how we can expect the rest of the world to be more open to adjusting their beliefs.
On the post: White House Goes Too Far In Asking Google To Pull Controversial Video
Re: Re: Cultures and definitions of freedom collide
If it weren't for oil and Israel, we probably wouldn't be involved in Middle Eastern politics nearly as much as we are. Trying to get them to see the world the way we see it may not be in the cards right now. Democracy does not necessarily mean a country's citizens will embrace our world view.
Like it or not, the rest of the world is not necessarily going to embrace American values and we don't have it in our budget or wherewithal to force them to do so. So understanding other cultures probably is going to be necessary to find some diplomatic solutions.
On the post: Of Clotheslines, Black Swans And Bad Measurements
The problem with economics as a whole
Someone just posted this on Facebook and it seems relevant here. From a speech over 40 years ago.
Robert F. Kennedy challenges Gross Domestic Product - YouTube
On the post: Syrian Activist Arrested By Secret Police Merely For Having Livestreaming App Installed On His Phone
Re: Re:
What do you do, though, if the will of the people is to elect a conservative religious government?
Cultural Clash Fuels Muslims Raging at Film - NYTimes.com: "When the protests against an American-made online video mocking the Prophet Muhammad exploded in about 20 countries, the source of the rage was more than just religious sensitivity, political demagogy or resentment of Washington, protesters and their sympathizers here said. It was also a demand that many of them described with the word 'freedom,' although in a context very different from the term’s use in the individualistic West: the right of a community, whether Muslim, Christian or Jewish, to be free from grave insult to its identity and values."
On the post: White House Goes Too Far In Asking Google To Pull Controversial Video
Cultures and definitions of freedom collide
On the post: White House Goes Too Far In Asking Google To Pull Controversial Video
Re: Doesn't Google take down other offensive videos?
On Web, a Fine Line on Free Speech Across the Globe - NYTimes.com
On the post: White House Goes Too Far In Asking Google To Pull Controversial Video
Re:
It might have something to do with this.
'Innocence of Muslims' Filmmaker Was on Probation, Restricted From Internet (Updated) | The Wrap Media: Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, reportedly the filmmaker behind the incendiary trailer "The Innocence of Muslims," is on probation following a conviction for bank fraud which restricts him from using the Internet without official approval, court documents obtained by TheWrap show.
On the post: White House Goes Too Far In Asking Google To Pull Controversial Video
Doesn't Google take down other offensive videos?
On the post: Don't Quit Your Day Job: Creativity Is About Passion, Not Paychecks
I always tell people in creative fields they won't make any money at it
I do this because
(1) For most people this will be true.
(2) To get into creative fields as a way to make money is the wrong reason to do it (there are easier ways to make money).
(3) If people feel they MUST do something creative, whether or not they make any money at it, that is a sign they are probably making the right decision for themselves. Let me paint a picture of all the sacrifices you will have to make to live the life of a full-time creative, and if you still want to do it, then I will help you develop business plans.
I've been a critical of all the conferences, consultants, etc. encouraging hopeful creatives to believe the Internet has bought forth a new opportunity for creatives to make money.
No, what it has done is allowed that many more people to share their creativity. But in the process. more people are competing for a fairly fixed pot of consumer dollars (if anything, disposable income has gone down as with the recession).
Creativity will always be with us. People will create. But making money at it doesn't necessarily follow. Sure, a few people will do so. But they won't necessarily be the most creative. They will simply be those who have best figured out to work the system to collect money from people or companies.
I think it is more honest to encourage everyone to be creative, whether or not they produce great art. It is the process itself that is rewarding. Play music with friends. Paint your own pictures to hang on the walls. Take videos and upload them. They don't have to be masterpieces. You don't have to make money. But your life will probably be better for it.
And keep your day job that pays the bills unless you can figure out how not to have any bills.
On the post: This Goes Beyond Tablets: Apple, Amazon & Google Are Betting On Economic Philosophies
Re: Apple is winning.
For the moment.
No company has ever remained the most valuable in the world indefinitely. The reason Apple is currently the most valuable is that the previously most valuable companies are no longer so. The same will happen with Apple, sooner or later.
On the post: This Goes Beyond Tablets: Apple, Amazon & Google Are Betting On Economic Philosophies
Re:
Yes, that's what I have figured too. Amazon Prime encourages people to start buying everything via Amazon. Fast delivery, no need to go to a store, etc.
________________
About Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime is an annual membership program that offers customers unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items, instant streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows and access to borrow a Kindle book every month, including New York Times Bestsellers, with no due dates -- all for just $79 a year. Eligible customers who purchase a Kindle Fire will be given a free month of Amazon Prime.
About the free month of Amazon Prime with Kindle Fire: Eligibility
Customers who have not used Prime instant videos over the past year will automatically be given a free month of Amazon Prime when they first activate their Kindle Fire. Eligible customers receiving free shipping benefits as an Amazon Mom, Amazon Student or as an invited guest of another Prime member will receive a month of Prime digital benefits, which includes Prime instant videos and Kindle Owners' Lending Library. If you're already a paid or free trial member of Prime when you register your device, you'll be able to seamlessly use your benefits without interruption or changes to your membership.
On the post: This Goes Beyond Tablets: Apple, Amazon & Google Are Betting On Economic Philosophies
Re: One other comment
That's why Apple is ultimately more at risk. It's an easier business to copy.
On the post: This Goes Beyond Tablets: Apple, Amazon & Google Are Betting On Economic Philosophies
I'm not sure about scarcities in either content or hardware
But what Amazon does have as a barrier to entry is a huge warehouse/delivery system that would be hard to quickly duplicate. Amazon is Amazon because of that, not because of its tablet.
On the post: Has The German Pirate Party Lost Its Way?
Re: Re: This probably doesn't help
Proves which point?
On the post: Has The German Pirate Party Lost Its Way?
This probably doesn't help
On the post: Your Cynicism About Lobbyists Only Helps The Lobbyists Win
Re:
I wish we could do something like this as well. Politics now is too much based on candidate personalities, backgrounds, and party affiliation. The issues themselves don't get as much coverage. And I think if voters were presented with issues without knowing the people associated with them, they might actually vote according to what they want to see happen rather than a kneejerk reaction to the politicians.
Next >>