" We at Go-Kart Records want to make it perfectly clear that the RIAA does not represent the views of all record labels."

We feel that only by embracing technology can we gain from it, and that a battle like the one that the RIAA is fighting can simply not be won.

We do not believe that online downloads are all that is hurting the music industry. It is a combination of problems, CD burning being the most injurious. Of course, major labels will never take action against the manufacturers of burnable CDs, since in some cases they would then have to sue themselves (why would Sony sue Sony?) Instead they are going after the music fans, whom they hope to intimidate and extort.

We also feel that the lack of original and meaningful music is part of the major labels' problem. Simply put, if there is better music, people will spend money to own it instead of downloading or burning it. The success of Itunes proves that people are willing to buy music online if it is delivered in an intelligent way that is respectful of the consumer.

The major labels control almost all the means of exposure available today. How can you sell records without exposure? Radio is controlled through payola (or its modern form, consultants), the print media is controlled through quid-pro-quo agreements of ads for coverage and vice versa, retail is controlled by co-op dollars (which also includes in-store play for videos), and they even buy their artists' way onto opening slots on tours. So, with a few exceptions, the new music that most people are exposed to is controlled by the five major labels. But they CAN'T control what people download. All they can try to do is control people's access to MP3s, or scare them out of downloading music altogether!

So, we are putting our music where our mouth is to prove a point. We believe that if you like the music you hear you will support it by going to shows, telling your friends, and buying the bands CDs. With this in mind, we are allowing people to download some of our current releases AT NO CHARGE. In other words, we are essentially GIVING these albums away!

These songs are all RIAA safe! If you like what you hear, please make a donation (see the PayPal button), check out the bands' shows, and spread the word. If you don't, what have you lost? "

http://www.gokartrecords.com/freedownload/riaa.php

awsome. lets support these guys. Where was this statement released by the way? not in the main stream press I bet

Damn GoKart tryin to steal our idea! Good luck to them.

Shmoo, of Electric Gypsy
http://electricgypsy.iuma.com
(Free downloads AND free CD)

My compliments to Go-Kart records, you have just entered the "buy zone". Looks like there just might be music for Christmas after all...

I totally agree 100%. I also wanna let you guys know that recently my ISP sent me some information regarding my privacy rights in pertaining the RIAA subpeonas and the brochure basically said on it that in the event that my information is ever requested, they will notify me first before handing it over them. I'm not sharing anything on Kazaa or any type of file-sharing software at all and never did, but at least I know who's side that they are on. And one more thing, the RIAA does read what people have to say on here and the X-MAS season is coming and we'll see how the record companies are gonna do. They've pissed off a lot of people including me.

i have to say something here, what the hell?Kazaa is definatly gay now. ive been using it for about a year now and have been getting pissed at it, but that does it, im deleting Kazaa off of my computer and burning cd's from friends that already have the cd.i wonder how long this RIAA thing is going to go on for? i mean, do you think that in a few years they will still be bitching or finally give up? im willing to bet that inside a year from now, they will give upon sueing people for downloading music and the world will be grand again. yay!

oops, put my reply in the wrong section, i dont know how, but i did, sorry, lol. im an idiot i know.

Let's see, "The major labels control almost all the means of exposure available today." And this eliminates exposure for fledging independent artists and labels. Sounds like a neat way to eliminate your competition.... but oh, isn't THAT illegal? Sure is, its a violation of the Sherman AntiTrust Act. Yet no one is DOING ANYTHING about it! I say we write all our legislators and ask them why nothing is being done about the illegal actions taken by the RIAA labels to eliminate competition. Maybe someone in our government will actually DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

interview with Greg Ross is at

http://www.openp2p.com/pub/a/p2p/2003/09/25/gokart.html

The SHERMAN Anti-Trust Act? Uh...wouldn't be any of Carey-sue's kinfolk, would it?

What I find is interesting and laughable is that Go Kart Records issued a press release. I've been keeping an eye on all the major news media (CNN,Fox, MSNBC,USA Today etc) didn't see it anywhere. yet let the RIAA issue a release about going after the public and it's all over the headlines

Greg: Appropriately enough, the idea came about during an online conversation with David, our tech guru and marketing guy. We were discussing compilations when he suggested that we release an MP3-only compilation. I was concerned about quality, because like most people I had heard terrible-sounding MP3s. He assured me that if we did that at 192kpbs the sound would be as good as a CD. I knew that there would be some resistance from people if we didn't make this amazing. So we did the math and figured that would could fit about 150 MP3s on a disc. I decided to make it a two-CD set so we could have 300 songs form 150 bands. I wanted to make sure that even the people who would have usually been resistant to something like this (especially the people at retail) would have no choice but to go along

i will be buying this CD set if i can find some one to let me use thair credit card for an online transaction with that prolly wont happin even if i pay the inrest the the folks i know wont buy stuff online :0(

Now if only I could get 'my guys' to do something similar.

Metropolis Records - another one of the great independant labels (who you definitely know of, if you listen to Industrial or Synth here in the US,) who also doesn't support the RIAA and feels that "they are going a little over the top with the
lawsuits." (Hey, you have to say diplomatic in emails.)

I wish more of the non-RIAA labels would go routes similar to this.

This is very cool! I've actually heard of Go-Kart before (I think the Lunachicks were on that label at one point), so I will check out the site when I get home from work. (It seems to be a bit bogged down at the moment -- gee, I wonder why?)

BTW: Another worthwhile label to support is Not Lame Recordings -- http://www.notlame.com I just like their style.

PunkTiger - great name too Not Lame hehe

Step in the right direction, but...

"major labels will never take action against the manufacturers of burnable CDs"

This annoys the hell out of me. Burning my own CDs is the only way to release a CD without some kind of DRM built in. Everyone in the bulk CD printing business is supporting "digital fingerprints" and other such useless nonsense,

The manufacturers of burnable CDs (CD-Rs) are no more guilty of anything than the manufacturers of blank video tape.

The site is currently unavailable (8:40 PM easter time)

still unavailable 10:15pm central

access forbidden at the GoKart site. Farked? Or hacked by RIAA terrorists?

I saw this message at the GoKart Records front page:

GoKartRecords.com gets flooded
A wonderful flood attack hit us yesterday. Therefore we had to take down the website for a while. As of now, we cannot grant you access to the free-download section. We hope that we can open it up by the end of the day. Sorry for any inconveniences.

Maybe they're experiencing something similar to the Slashdot effect

I also have my CD free on my site - http://www.roliva.com/store.html. I've sold 100 or so even though I have it for free so that proves people enjoy supporting the artists they like.