WIFE: I know you are big on this boycott-riaa thing and you don't want me or the family to support the "industry" in any way, but there is a new CD by (insert RIAA artist here) that just came out. Is there a download service like Kazaa or Limewire that I can get the tunes from?

HUSBAND: (Sigh) Can't you just find a nice indie artist instead?

WIFE: But I want (RIAA artist)! I heard a great tune on the radio from that album and I saw a video on (insert crappy video channel like eMTv or VH1)! I want it!

HUSBAND: (Sighs again) What are you doing listening to the radio and watching that crap on TV for? I told you a million times not do do so. What's the matter, don't I beat you enough? (silly smile, but with pain behind it)

WIFE: Stop saying such stupid things you ass! (giggles) You are a kind and reasonable man and have never laid a finger on me. Besides, if you ever did, I'd blow your brains out! But seriously, I want (RIAA artists') tunes. What service should I use to go about getting them?

HUSBAND: Even when you are not hosting the file for others to upload, you know I frown upon using p2p and bitTorrents for RIAA stuff. I am a purist in my boycott of the industry. We can't change things if we continue providing a demand.

WIFE: (Pouty face)

HUSBAND: (sighs) Well, I can't tell you what to do. If you must, go buy the damn CD, but please get it used. P2p is not a good option for non-indie stuff. Also, only the more computer savvy can safely find usable non-corrupt RIAA files using p2p ...and since you and the kids are not as up to speed, I don't want you messing around with it. I could find the tunes for ya, but I will be damned if I am gonna do such a thing!

WIFE: (Bats pretty eyes)

HUSBAND: (sighs) Try secondspin.com or something. Get it used if you must. But don't you DARE play it on my computer/audio set-up! Newer CD's from the RIAA are full of copy-protection, DRM, and God only knows what else to f**k up
your life.

------

MORAL: We can only try and convince others to do as we ask, we unfortunately can't force anyone to do so.

Burn her a copy.

I know your point and all, but it's not the Artist's fault the way the record companies are run. If the music is good and it does something for you, I don't think it's right to deny yourself the joy of listening.

My

who's life is this based on?

It's a mix/mash of events and situations of several people, some of whom I know personally.

"I know you are big on this boycott-riaa thing" --comes from my own life.

"I know your point and all, but it's not the Artist's fault the way the record companies are run. "

OH YES IT IS!!!

The artists have the power to make changes by forcing their hand to the record labels. After all, the record labels wouldn't have anything to sell if the artists did something about it together, now would they? But they don't. They prefer to be cowards, tow the company line, and not risk losing that new Mercedes they would be able to purchase by playing nice with their RIAA record label. And there always seems to be an endless stream of new artists willing to sign on an RIAA dotted line.

How many artists can you name that spew the RIAA rhetoric like gospel? Metallica? Sheryl Crow?? Don Henley???
"Downloading is stealing", "Piracy is killing the music industry", need I go on??? What they are really saying is "I Need more money because my record label has me hostage".

Artists can unite and force a change. They don't. So it is partly their fault the way RIAA record labels do business, because the artist lets them do it.

"What they are really saying is "I Need more money because my record label has me hostage"."

...don't forget to add "and I don't want any competition"

But nevertheless it is NOT ultimately the artitst's fault. Artists, for the most part, want to play music and be FAIRLY compensated. The RIAA and labels have created a culture where only a very few have hope for that compensation, and they make those few get on their knees to do so.

We at Boycott-Riaa are all about changing things in this regard, even if it requires a bit of "tough love."

("tough love" in regards to the artists ...the labels can rot in hell!

The RIAA are the 'drug pushers' who hooked our children on dope.

I agree its not ULTIMATELY the artist's fault. Your points are very well taken, thanks! Corporate greed has much to do with the problem for sure. And you are right, the RIAA pushes music like drugs, and use the artists for their own gain.

While there may be many artists that want to play music and be fairly compensated, as long as they are willing to sign on the dotted line, give up their copyrights to the record labels, and not make important changes to the contracts they are signing, nothing will change until the corporations ultimately fail (we could all hope).

It's also the buying publics fault. We elect politicians that make laws to benefit corporations blindly. I used to blindly think I was supporting my favorite artists by buying their CD's. I used to think the artists DID get a large percent of my money that way. Learning what I have through sites like this one have awakened me to the reality that is today's music business. I only hope more people would likewise awaken.

We have a LOT of myth to dispell in regards to "fame and fortune" if you are an artist and think you gotta sign on the dotted line to get it.

...in the meantime, I am sorry for those who already have made that deal with the devil, but I'm afraid they are just gonna have to "pay the price" and be Boycotted for their actions. Sure, these signed artists were duped, and I feel for most of them, but that's just the way it is.
(I am a FAN of many of them myself too! But I won't be buying their RIAA product, nor sharing it via p2p or any other means to help promote them so long as they are enslaved. Doing so would only further that practice of slavery.)

Riaa enslaved artists:

FREE YOUR BONDS!

"So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key "

Why is it when people hear a song they like, it's like crack to them?? Have a little self-control for gawds sake!! Ebay is a good place to look too!

"...WIFE: Besides, if you ever did, I'd blow your brains out!..."

if this is the resulting action from using p2p software, then i just don't see the problem.

I hope i didn't miss the point but i like indy music as well as that garbage popular music that everyone listens to. But i still will not buy any cds, i break them in a few weeks anyway.

eBay - but frankly I think auctions are a hassle.

amazon.com - usually fair prices on used CDs. compare with secondspin. I sold a whole bunch of my CDs to secondspin. I wish I had them now. I think I could have sold them for a higher price on amazon.com.

allofmp3.com has all the latest RIAA shlock. Their MP3s sound as good as anybody else's. You can even get your tunes in ogg, and sometimes FLAC or WAV (more expensive, though)

maybe check out the album at the local library first. It may turn out that after hearing it, you decide you don't have to have it after all.

Half.com - that's the place to be!

That is really badly written... personally, I would have used a father-daughter model rather than husband-wife.

autodidact is right!! Use the library, and listen to it over and over and over, then don't buy it because you'll be sick of it by then...RIAA eat sh1t.