Submitted by ~XxShadowxX~

In the wake of the RIAA's recent activity, up to and including the "sue 'em all" campaign, many of us have decided not to waste our hard earned money to support the RIAA's greed. As such, we're not buying their CDs, and encouraging friends and relatives to follow our example.

As is to be expected, CD sales have fallen - again. Obviously, this is not solely due to our boycotts, but we're nonetheless a contributor (albeit a small one) to this decline.

This may indicate that our efforts thus far have been successful - more and more of us are not buying RIAA member CDs, and their profits keep falling.

However, in my opinion, there's a crucial fact that's been overlooked: the RIAA thinks they're infaillible. Don't believe me? Look at their reactions to the "rapping grandma" and "crazyface" incidents - 2 examples of innocent people getting accused of "wholesale piracy", as the RIAA so blatantly describes it. They never admitted they were wrong, and obviously never apologized to either of them.

I digress. My point is this - do you actually think the RIAA will admit our boycotts have anything to do with their decline in sales? I don't think so. The RIAA needs a scapegoat - they always have, they always will. (Remember - they like to use the, "It's not us, it's you" philosophy) What will the RIAA attack if they don't admit that their CDs are being boycotted? Yep - you guessed it. p2p applications (and their users!).

They'll just "happen" not to notice p2p usage has decreased somewhat, and will undoubtedly continue their "p2p usage is up, sales are down, ergo increased p2p use = decreased sales" tripe...

What they SHOULD be saying (or at least thinking to themselves) is, "Hey! People are boycotting our CDs! Maybe we've got a problem..." Of course, that will never happen, as it requires honesty on the RIAA's part ;)

Long story short, boycotting RIAA CDs is undoubtedly affecting them, but what if in their infinite naiivity the RIAA doesn't realize (or admit) what's really going on?

Having said that, don't think that I am trying to discourage boycotting RIAA CDs... That's not the case. In fact it's just the opposite - it's not that we shouldn't be boycotting RIAA CDs, it's that we should be doing it more!

Above all else, all of us need to try and be more vocal about our boycotts. That way, the RIAA will see it from more than just the perspective of lost sales...

(Any suggestions how?)

Print the "Truth" section of this Website out. Hang it on Grocery Store/Community Bulletin Boards. If you have a Web page, link to this site. Register on community Discussion Forums, tell the story, talk up the boycott. Discuss this with your family, friends, co-workers. Make sure the word is getting out. We will evgentually force them to acknowledge that there are really simpler answers to their dilemma than the knee-jerk "p2p" rhetoric that is tired, and old, and should be dead by now.

Actually we should be boycotting more than just RIAA CD's. We should send a real message and boycott all RIAA music. That means we should NOT download ANY RIAA music either!

How is the RIAA going to explain to anyone when they get the false impression that they are winning the fight against downloading because P2P file trading is down, but their own sales STAY DOWN? If P2P was the reason for their sales decline, if P2P is down, their sales should be up.

The best message Americans can send comes right at this time of the year! Let them know this holiday season that their sue 'em all tactics STINK! Boycott the RIAA, boycott eveything they say and do. Boycott CD's, boycott RIAA downloads, boycott RIAA TV programs like MTV and VH1 and make sure you don't give up a little around the holidays.

the RIAA knows about the boycott.
They visit this site. They will not publicly acknowlege the boycott, because just doing that will put the idea in the heads of people who are not already boycotting, plus, inherent in acknowledging it, at the same time,
acknowledges that the consumer has power over them, and since they are power control freaks, this would be horrible in their eyes, i.e. to admit that the consumer is their ultimate benefactor, no matter how obvious this is even to the least perspicacious of observers.
-bulkeraser

yes they know about the boycott. i have sent the RIAA emails telling them how i feel , and that i was boycotting them.

I propose that we start mass emailing CBS News. I was really upset about the last story I saw on the CBS Nightly News about the sue-em all campaign. The story was obviously biased. They went as far as calling us “pirates”, said were stealing music, and directly implied that P2P programs were illegal. So I really think that we need to start using our media against these evil corporations.

If we are nice, gentle and direct, I think we’ll get something out of it. I also think we need to bring the news to them, since I don’t think they are the “real” journalists anymore. The reason for mass emailing CBS news, rather than say Fox, is because more people can see CBS since it’s not a cable only station.

I propose the subject line of the email should be:

Please Tell It How It Really Is.

I propose some of the topics should be:

- P2P is NOT illegal.
- One reason for the fall in sales is because of the boycott.
- Millions of American citizens nationwide are taking part in the boycott.
- RIAA is targeting the middle class.
- Copyright reform is the only solution.


Not only do I think that we should do this, but we should reach out to others that are not affiliated with boycott-riaa dot com, and ask them to take part in this as well. The more people involved, the better the chances we have of obtaining our goal.

The email address for CBS Nightly News is: evening@cbsnews.com

Maybe John, Bill, or Larry would be willing to make a template email that we could all fallow?

Just my thoughts.
~goingnova

ABSOFRIGGINLUTELY! I agree with this 1000 percent. We need to make the "sheep" more awake to this very idea and these issues. We can not win if all we do is hang around these boards and moan and groan to each other. It is just preaching to the pulpit. If you don't talk to folks in the "real" world, they will never know. We need the public to be more educated and informed. GET BUSY!
(Self included!)

Shmoo, of Electric Gypsy
http://electricgypsyband.iuma.com

Start emailing the news media in your area. I havent seen or heard any thing about any boycott in my area. If the news people get enough email about any given subject, they will do a story on it.

bulkeraser is right, the riaa does visit the website. When they released their notice on June 25 they were going to start suing people, they sent it through our contact script. (after the fact but it did come from one of the Press people at the RIAA) I found it interesting as they know my email address. I've communicated with them a time or two. (they still refuse to surrender)

I just took the time to contact WFAA in Dallas about doing a story on the boycott. Where ever you are in the country keep it up.

I think we are already sending the RIAA a message guys. I recently purchased a Boycott-RIAA shirt and was wearing it while i was doing errands all day and i was kinda surprised as just how many people stared, looked and many even came up and asked me where i got the shirt from. Public awareness is is heating up which the big 5 would like to keep quiet. I have a few friends who are musicians who are against what the RIAA is doing. Here's another question for you the really bugs me. Why arent the ISPs like Verizon and SBC Communications not publicly speaking out against what the RIAA is doing?

I've sent letters to newspapers and networks all around the country. doesn't seem to have any affect. what we need to do is have a ralley in a major area that can't be ignored with Indie bands performing for a free concert to bring in hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. There would be BoycottRIAA banners all around with flyers giving alternitives to the music. We should also empasize not to download RIAA music

What about the idea floated earlier of an action day on November 28, the day after Thanksgiving, to publicize the boycott. Stage a protest march in Washington from RIAA headquarters (listed at 1330 Connecticut Ave NW) to the Capitol.

Verizon and SBC are about making money as any buisness should be. They are only into the politics that help them make money. I'm impressed that they are at least fighting.

getting them to say that the boycott is hurting them is akin to turkeys saying when thnaksgiving comes people will switch over to chickens instead

Actually, I suspect the boycott made only a negligable effect on CD sales before the cur 'em all campaign started, through its probably grown by a few orders of magnitude since then. The RIAA, and the entire music industry is loseing its 'cool' image. Its only defence is that people dont always associate the Evil Empire with the CDs they buy.

P2P really is seriously harming CD sales. Thats a good thing through. If the profits are down, we should try to make sure they stay down.

carla60626- A day after thanksgiving public awareness campaign could work wonders. I think a pre-emptive strike could help out a lot too. Remember, the mindset of people who buy gifts on the now-second-busiest-shopping-day-of-the-year is to, no matter what, find that item that little Billy wants. So if we approach the hardcore shopper on that day itself it won't make much of an impact.

I propose a huge nationwide public demonstration, much like what happened the first weekend of august, the weekend before thanksgiving. Flyers, more letters, phone calls, requests for interviews- we should go all out the weekend before the shopping season kicks into high gear.

We DO need to be more vocal. Innocent people getting sued makes for excellent evening news material- and the RIAA has already received a black eye because of it- so now the media is looking at the RIAA with a skeptic eye. We can capitalize. It just takes some work.

Any thoughts/comments? Should there be another call to action the weekend before thanksgiving or the day after thanksgiving?

The word is getting out.... keep up the pressure

http://www.portlandphoenix.com/supplements/online_music/documents/03191130.asp

i found that link on CodeWarrior's site yesterday....
they quote lots of us!

Or maybe we should just buy a TON of RIAA CDs so sales go up and they leave p2p file sharers alone? Just kidding...

thats like a mirror site of this one pepe

Great site pepe512000, but the author forgot one variable in their equation.. BOYCOTT!:

BAD MUSIC + BAD ECONOMY + BOYCOTT = BAD SALES

But remember iostreamh, the RIAA doesn't acknowledge the boycott. Although - it's just like my Lincoln story - just because you call a tail a leg doesn't make it one. Just because they say there's no boycott doesn't mean there isn't one.

WAKE UP RIAA!!
You can't just close your eyes and hope it'll all go away!

I think it is a great idea to send emails to CBS. I have another question...how many of us are there? Let's get the email addresses of NBC and ABC and send stuff to them, too. And while we're at it, why neglect the cable guys at CNN and FOX? Let's just do it!!

Now we're talking. I'll incessantly email, call and write to all the media in and around denver. And I'm definitely going to email CBS.

And as always, if you want to reach thousands of people, and get media attention anonymously, check out my posts in the Action/Ideas forum.

Mass email is often viewed as Spam, churchkey; I've never thought of that as a good idea. Writing letters works better in my opinion, now thanks to Spam blocking and stuff. Of course, if they care about the customer more than than the $$$ they'll read the emails, but do they?

I just sent off emails to CBS, FOX news, and also Bill O'Reilly. How about some more addresses while my fingers are hot!

I used the subject recommended by Goingnova, of "please tell it like it is" and listed what he had for concerns. I was respectful and if many more of you just do it, we could be on the air.

I'm not sure what this means, but since being on the site reading the posts I have got hit quite a few times by this...

Connection Rejected: 209.225.14.11 - fake files and p2p bots (cable and wireless server)- (10-06-2003 @ 18:27:45)

This is the only page I have open right now....makes me so mad , all the hits I get. Anyone know if somehow they are watching this site ? Sorry I was off-topic

even if the are watching this site, do you think their evidence will hold up in court?

i don't

WE have an idea!!!! Download our NEW Anti RIAA song called GENERATION D at http://www.soundclick.com/bands/6/thewebejaminbandmusic.htm upload on p2p sites or turn your friends on to it!!! Let the music speak for you

The RIAA and the media are one and the same. AOL Time Warner = AOL Time Magazine and Warner Bros. And Warner has a music arm too.

I like the boycott idea. We should have some people meet in Washington DC, New York, LA, and San Francisco. Make this a real media event. Maybe get the EFF and ACLU involved.

I'm just getting sick of seeing commercials on TV with all these pop stars on there giving they're two cents in on this. I'm also sick of the RIAA constantly protesting new technologies VCRs, Recordable Cassette tapes, CDRs, etc. Everything they've protested they've ended up losing but yet they are willing to go extremes to try and make themselves just a little richer. Greed is what drives this don't you ever wonder what they paid Britney Spears or Nelly to do those damn commercials. Then they say that downloading a song is the same as stealing the CD from the record store. Well no that's one of the dumbest things I've heard. When you download a song its more like the record store giving you the CD for free because someone paid for the music and now they are sharing it.
If I bought a candy bar and split down the middle and gave the other half to someone else should Mars Inc. some sue them for eating candy they didn't purchase?
Or if I let a friend borrow my vehicle should Chevy, or Ford sue them for driving a vehicle they didn't buy?
This is getting ridiculus. The modern music industry has been letting us listen to music for free all along with radio stations or if you have digital cable or satellite service there is music choice channels. So now that we can control what songs we want to listen to and how often they have a problem with it. My main problem with them pursuing this is when I buy a CD it's an investment meaning I can resell that CD or trade it whatever I want...get it autographed and sell it on Ebay for 3 times the price I paid. With a MP3 all I can do is listen to it and give it away. Nobody wants to buy my MP3's and if I get a virus or other computer problems all my MP3's are gone.

Just a message to all those artists out there with millions of dollars in the bank we gave you that money most of you didn't earn it it was given to you. You see MP3's as a danger because without them you can put out a CD with 2 good songs and 10 shitty songs and no one can listen to the entire CD before they decide to purchase it. Shame on all of you for stabbing your true fans in the back.

Well I believe I am doing something, like when I sent the BMG envelope with writing all over it saying I was boycotting them for everyone to see. I can say I hope it get's others attention

Not sure if everyone here knows this, but I've not kept it a secret. On sept 1 this year, I decided to have my own little "boycott call to action" if you will. I printed up 1000 fliers and put em out at two local strip malls, on windshields at a Kmart, and at major malls in two other cities I had to go to that day. I decided few days later that it was fun, and that I would keep doing it. So.. Oct 1, I did it again. Same thing. Printed up 1000 fliers to pass out and papered a few parking lots. I'm not sayin that what I"m doing is any better/worse than anyone else.. hell.. I'm not even sure I"m making a difference, but I know that I have gotten into some incredible conversations with "the man on the street", and I've enjoyed a day out in the sun. I'll be doing the same thing again on Nov1 etc, tho I'll skip Jan1 in hopes that I'll be toooo hung over to walk a few miles that day *smirk*.
I always wear my "substantial non-infringng.." baseball shirt and my NO RIAA cap when I do this stuff, and I don't know what else we CAN do to get the word out. I've been boycotting RIAA stuff for almost two years now, and I've passed out almost 5000 fliers in the past 8 months or so. I've put them in a few of the local used record stores, as well as at the entrances of two grocery stores (they have a table set up for "community notes" type stuff) and the fliers are always gone in about a week.
Okay, enough of my rant about what *I* am doing. I just felt the need to let people know WHAT I'm doing, and that I'll KEEP doing it. I'm not going to let the RIAA run rampant over me w/o a fight. I have rights in this country that are GUARANTEED, and I'll continue to use those rights to fight for what I believe in.
ttmmm

jlbr...
Verizon and SBC are doing their thing by suing and countersuing. Since we've not heard anything, we can assume that the mainstream media don't see it as a story. I have verizon for DSL and I've been on the phone a few dozen times with customer service about this very topic. Seems they are letting the lawsuits run, and aren't raising a stink about it. SBC just had it's day in court very recently if I remember right, so we should be hearing something about that in the mass media soon I hope.
Just because some company or conglomerat isn't making a lot of noise bout what's going on, doesn't mean they aren't DOING something. I have a few indie friends who are active, yet because they are new to the music scene and want a contract, they won't let me use their names or anything in my actions. I understand this. I don't APPROVE of it, but knowing the reason is because they don't want to "bite the hand that feeds them".. I support their decision.
just my 2 cents.
ttmmm