On Wed, 3 May 2000 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Dear Metallica INC.
>
> I would like to address the issue that you are
> having with Napster. When I first heard about your lawsuit, I was
> astonished that you would be against your music being traded.
You mean stolen.
> Why did you not choose to sell audio tape manufactures too?
What?
> I have recorded songs from the radio and that didn't seem to bother anyone
That's because the radio stations already paid your licensing fee silly.
> ....No one is selling the mp3's...it's a free service.
So is my copying music CD's using computer equipment (meaning that those
CD's don't pay the licensing fee) however that doesn't change the fact
that it is theft. If my friend buys a book and I copy it using a copy
machine onto yellow paper or overhead projector film doesn't effect the
fact that I am in possession of a unlicensed copy.
The fact that it's on mp3 isn't really the issue, the issue is that all
those people who like Metallica music but don't want to pay for it are now
getting their comeupance. Trying to cast Metallica as the baddie in this
is a disservice to all music lovers (especialy those of us who have worked
with bands and understand how hard it is to make a living if everyone is
stealing your material).
The fact is that there is a large group of music fans out there that want
to listen to the music but don't give a damn that their free access means
that there won't be another album to steal. For those of us who don't mind
paying for using others sweat this is an additional insult.
> In fact most people down load the music, listen to it, if they like it
> they buy it, now I am not saying everyone does that but most of the
> people that I have been in contact with have.
Simple BULLSHIT. The fact is that the vast majority of mp3 users don't own
enough CD's to shake a stick at yet they'll go out and buy Gig's of drive
space so they can save dozens if not hundreds of CD's worth of music
purchase. As far as trying before you buy, that's why the radio station
you alluded too above pays the licensing fee so you can record it (even to
mp3's).
So, the next question is, do most mp3 users record off the air? No, they
don't. They either buy a CD and then return it for exchange (notice the
nice infinite loop there) or else borrow CD's from other people.
And let's not even look at the fact that the site where you download your
sample from hasn't paid any license fee either.
> Then today I was listening to the CD ( Which I bought ) Ride the
> lightning when I heard that you were going after the end users who were
> down loading the songs. Have you guys looked at napster? Have you
> noticed that 90% of the songs listed are from albums including and after
> the black album? I know that there are alot of people that still like
> and respect you...unfortunatly you lost me and alot of other loyal metallica
> fans after the black album, if in fact you have seen your profits
> declining well maybe it's not napster....maybe your music isn't as good
> as it used to be....I admit that I have Downloaded quite a few metallica
> songs from Napster along with scores of others, but not once have I made
> a profit from any of them...and if it wasn't for napster i would have
> never heard the new albums of yours....I wouldn't buy them EVER!!! It's
> just sad that you, who make more money than I will ever see, are trying
> to sue the same people who listen to the music. "It is therefore
> sickening to know that our art is being traded like a commodity rather
> than the art that it is" This is a direct qoute from your web
> sight...and now for anouthr qoute "No other occupation provides its
> services for free that we know of. Do mechanics, contractors, plumbers,
> machinists, doctors, etc. provide their services in exchange for no
> compensation?" so your music is compared to the art of mechanics? the
> art of contractors? the art of plumbers?.....I would kill if I had a chance
> to display my artwork somewhere and it would please me much more to know
> people liked it than to get paid for it....Metallica you just don't
> remember how lucky you are."We are using our legal right to go to court
> to determine whether or not the Napster system is engaging in the act of
> copyright infringement" yes you do have that right....unfortunatly we
> live in a society where the almighty dollar is more impotant than
> artistic exspression....
Jesus, what a rambling off-topic issue.
I'd bet that if you got to display your art (it might help if you'd get
off your lazy ass and instead of stealing other peoples work actualy go
out and hit the occasional gallery...Then you'd find out what 'luck' is.
> Personally I am not a fan of limp bizkit but they have alot more guts than
> you by giving free concerts to the fans...maybe that is your
> problem..you have lost touch with your fans...do you know how much they
> wanted for metallica tickets last time you were in town?
And how much did they get from the ticket? Not a damn cent most likely.
The reality is that even top draw bands make their money on ancillaries
like t-shirts and memorabilia. The cost of licensing and executing a large
scale concert is astronomical.
> Probably not but it was a whole days pay for me....needless to say I didn't
> go....but I did attend the santana concert that cost me a third of your
> ticket and drove 4 hours to see him...I went to that effort because I know
> that he is very fan oriented and not a money machine like Metallica INC.
Bullshit. I've been listening to Carlos Santana since he started in the
60's and the reality is that a Santana show is nothing like a Metallica
show and neither are the majority of fans (I happen to listen to both but
prefer Skinny Puppy and Newlydeads myself, but I digress). Trying to
compare a half dozen musicians on stage with a road show including effects
and such like Metallica's is simply silly.
Oh, that album you sampled and listen to probably dozens of times but
never bought represents the bands paycheck. How do you feel when you work
a week and then find out somebody is going to reduce your pay because of
theft? Probably not the happiest camper in the woods I suspect.
One of the reasons for the staggering increase in concert ticket price is
to make enough money to even pay for the show in the first place because
of decreased album sales (some of which is directly attributable to mp3
sampling theft).
So, it's worth noting that while you justify the theft with your poverty
you are actualy only dragging others down with you. That's a real
neighborly view.
> I am sure that you guys put in alot of work on your new albums but when you
> say 'hard work'...I highly doubt it....when is the last time you worked
> a ten hour shift and then came home to work on your art
I can say you've never stepped one foot into a sound studio or been
involved in any sort of album production.
> ....when is the
> last time you couldn't afford to buy a new album?......it's probably
> been awhile. You know what, I invite any member of metallica to hang
> with me for an entire week and see how lucky you have it. I know that I
> will not even get a response to this letter....I'll be lucky if someone
> reads it....but then again that is the type of band that you have
> become...."who cares about the fans as long as they give us their
> money"....well that was kinda mean but damn it I am pissed off. I am
> sure that it is nice to get paid for you art but once the money is more
> important, it's no longer art, it's a commodity...to conclude I would
> like to tell you that I love every album upto and including METALLICA
> and own them all....I have downloaded mp3's from all these
> albums...mainly because I do not want to bring my cd's into work because
> of theft or misplacement....I just feel sorry for the real fans of
> metallica....
Oh god, what a whiner.
____________________________________________________________________
The future is downloading. Can you hear the impact?
O[rphan] D[rift>]
Cyber Positive
The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate
Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ [EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087
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