The RIAA’s internet webpage, piratically my homepage, directed me to the IFPI’s (International Federation for the Phonographic Industry) annual report on digital music. Low expectations segued into mild outrage as I read. I’m not disputing their statistics about how many people download music a year. But what pisses the shit out of me is the underlying agenda, that “piracy” defeats art.

Why not just say it? Record companies are making less money. Artists are making more music. Included in the section on ISP Cooperation was a quote from an “independent label.”

“ The victim of online music piracy is the freedom of artistic expression.” — Yves Riesel, President,
Abeille Musique France, independent label

I checked out Abeillie Musique and found the feature releases to be up and coming artists like Dmitri Chostakovich and Joseph Haydn. Music piracy, not deceasment for 200 years, is surely the culprit for Haydn’s extended hiatus from the scene these days.

Furthering the agenda of police state ISPing, IFPI included a really poignant quote from the head of EMI.

“…As human beings we don’t like rules and regulations, but we don’t live in an ideal world and a free-for-all benefits nobody.” Chris Ancliff, General Counsel, EMI

I couldn’t agree more. We spend $720 million dollars a day in Iraq. The National Endowment for the Arts in the U.S. gets about $144.7 million a year.

So, as it was proposed in France, let’s let ISPs shut down citizens’ internet if they download. Let’s create an accusatory dynamic that assumes artists don’t want people to have their music. And let’s put it all under the noble umbrella of art making.

– Ben