http://www.gearbits.com/archives/000535.html

By Mitchell Hamm

This evening I was loading up some things from my storage unit and noticed my 120-tape cassette organizer over in the corner. Years ago before CDs, I spent lots of hard earned gas station wages on 8-tracks and cassette tapes. I didn't own a good turntable until much later so never really got into albums. Twenty-five years later, a lot of my cassettes are junk having lost the battle against time. My first CD (Talk Talk - It's My Life) sounds as good now as the day I bought it. Here's where the RIAA comes in...

I know that the majority of the money I paid for those cassettes and 8-tracks didn't go into media costs. I paid for the licensing of the music recorded on the media, the record company's profits, the distributor's profits and the music store's profits. So how do I recoup my licensing fees on these hundreds of junk cassettes? I think I should be able to trade them in for CDs of the same title for a nominal media fee; a buck a disc ought to do it.

How about it RIAA? Take a break from grousing about lost profits and give something back to the consumers who have fueled your Learjets for all these years. We pay good money to license your music. Put some permanence into the licenses and support media mobility for anything we buy legitimately. I'll be holding my breath.


~ Mitchell Hamm is a mechanical engineer by trade and spends his days managing the engineering activities of a very successful manufacturing facility near Cincinnati.

Back then you actually bought the music, now they just use the word "licenced" as a weapon against filetraders.

they ought to pay me for all the old shit I have that doesn't work. I have a couple of crates of cassettes and 8 tracks that are no longer playable not to mention the fact that hey just don't make a whole lot of 8 track players anymore.

This, in my opinion is one of the most important arguments for fair use.

You paid for those cassettes, and those 8 tracks, some of those artists and albums no longer available .. period. You should be able to have a useable copy of anything you own. Sometimes, the only way to get that IS to Dl from p2p. If you get sued, bring your unplayable , legally purchased 8 tracks and cassettes into court with you. We assume that everyone that is on p2p actually owns a copy of what they are sharing, and those that dl own a copy of what they dl. The RIAA assumes criminality.
Countersue them for an equal amount of money per allegation.

What about those of us that replaced LP's with CD's? Where's my refund?? The music industry THRIVES on the changing of media. So, it amazes me that the industry didn't push MiniDisc harder in our country. There would have been ANOTHER media to sell their product.

The next step is to find a replacement for the CD. One that is secure, and sure to sell. But I think the industry will be in for a BIG SURPRISE. We just won't be buying anymore. Why? Because we're sick of paying HIGH PRICES for the same crap over and over again.

Besides, as long as they continue to sue 12-year-old girls, they won't get a dime from me.

The RIAA will never go for the "trade-in" idea, according to Mitch Glazier. And why should they?

Not to say that the idea doesn't have merit, but reselling the same music over and over in different formats has been the lifeblood of the industry for several decades now.

The current problem is that the last 3 formats introduced really went nowhere -- Music videos, DVD music videos and now SACD/DVD Audio.

We're supposed to be replacing our CDs right now with "better" audio that no one cares about.

I've just spent a fortune buying "Better" audio with the CD. Now they want me to buy "Better" again? I don't think so!

I realize technology is a contantly improving thing, but replacing CD with SACD just doesn't make sense to me right now. Not to mention, in order to enjoy the SACD, I'd have to buy special equipment to hear the difference.

Not till the next TRUE technologoical breakthrough happens, I'm keeping my CD's and not wasteing a fortune for "better". Why should I?

Just another example of why it hurts consumers to give publishers intellectual property rights.

"This, in my opinion is one of the most important arguments for fair use. "

Another excellent point.

I just buy used CDs $4-6 each, rip them, sell them back to the used music store at $2-4, avg cost is $2 a disc.

Oh, BTW, keep the receipts just in case!

"I just buy used CDs $4-6 each, rip them, sell them back to the used music store at $2-4, avg cost is $2 a disc.

Oh, BTW, keep the receipts just in case!"

LOL! I was thinking that this is cheaper than downloading from mp3 pay sites. I just buy the CD used, rip the tracks and sell it to someone else. Why would anybody pay $9 a CD for mp3s?

Hi Everyone,

I've been lurking and reading for quite some time now and I have to say that I totally agree with this cause. These greedy companies are and HAVE been ripping people off for some time. There is no reason for anyone to pay for the licence to listen to an album over and over. Heck, I've purchased Back in Black by ACDC 4 times. Never again!!

I'm a recording engineer for a major Canadian radio station and I have to say that this industry sickens me. We play the same old crap day in and day out. Indie bands have no chance, even though their music may be superior. Payola is a major part of this business...maybe not in the direct sense, but certainly it's a factor in the amount of trips and swag that we give away.
I've discovered many bands through P2P and from now on I'm going to send money directly to the bands that I dig. Screw the CRIA!!

Another problem for the RIAA right now is that cd's are virtually a perfect audio copy of an artist (unless you're a real hard core audiofile) but for 99% of us cd's are fine, even mp3s are fine.. so that said, "what next"? The RIAA has run out of audio formats in which they can repackage the same shit over and over again while making massive profits.. They are basically selling you the album over again and making double on the same artist when you trade in those tapes for cd's. No more of that.. Unless they make a disc that projects a hologram of the band playing for you live, I would say I will never upgrade my cd collection, so screw you RIAA.. it's the end of the road for you bastards!

Welcome aboard SCREWTHECRIA. GLAD to have you join up for the cause FREE the MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best line on this subject:

"Awww, you mean I gotta buy The Beatles White Album, again!!!!!!!"