BBC "devalues" music by releasing free Beethoven tracks

SirFozzie · 07-13-2005, 01:57 AM

Link to Article (pay for download) from English Paper "The Independent"

The BBC has been lambasted by classical music labels for making all nine of Beethoven's symphonies available for free download over the Internet.

This week the BBC will announce there have been more than a million downloads of the symphonies during the month-long scheme. But the initiative has infuriated the bosses of leading classical record companies who argue the offer undermines the value of music and that any further offers would be unfair competition.

In other words.. By releasing public domain workand (gasp) ENCOURAGING people to download it for free, EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO IT (Beethoven is of course, long since dead, and his symphonies are in the public domain, and the BBC Philarmonic Orchestra recorded these symphonies for the BBC).. IS WRONG AND UNFAIR TO BIG BUSINESS.

What fucking twits.

SirFozzie · 07-13-2005, 02:02 AM

Dola: This is proof that should one day, free or low pay independent artists/musicians/sites threaten the monopoly position of the Record Cartel represented by the RIAA, they will seek to have them banned as a threat to the time honored traditions of gouging the customer, utter control of what they listen to, and how they listen to it.

I may not have agreed with some of author Robert Heinlein's views on government.. but he had a quote that usually gets mangled by folks on my side.. but is no less true.

* There has grown up in the minds of certain groups in this country the notion that because a man or corporation has made a profit out of the public for a number of years, the government and the courts are charged with the duty of guaranteeing such profit in the future, even in the face of changing circumstances and contrary to public interest. This strange doctrine is not supported by statute or common law. Neither individuals nor corporations have any right to come into court and ask that the clock of history be stopped, or turned back.
o Life Line, 1939

SirFozzie · 07-13-2005, 02:16 AM

Here's a WONDERFUL quote from one of the record label heads who are yelling their head off about the BBC

There is the obvious issue that it is devaluing the perceived value of music. You are also leading the public to think that it is fine to download and own these files for nothing."

ThunderingHERD · 07-13-2005, 02:23 AM

"The Beethoven Symphonies downloads service has now finished. Thank you for your interest and feedback.

There are currently no plans to make the Beethoven Symphony downloads available again in the future."

SirFozzie · 07-13-2005, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderingHERD

"The Beethoven Symphonies downloads service has now finished. Thank you for your interest and feedback.

There are currently no plans to make the Beethoven Symphony downloads available again in the future."

Rumor has it that they will do so again with a Bach series later in the year.

hukarez · 07-13-2005, 09:50 PM

If it's free....

...it's for me!

sterlingice · 07-14-2005, 02:38 AM

Very cool.

(tho, comparing this to file sharing of modern songs is completely null and void since this is public domain)

SI

SirFozzie · 07-14-2005, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Very cool.

(tho, comparing this to file sharing of modern songs is completely null and void since this is public domain)

SI

to you and me, yes.. but to the labels? Anything that competes with them.. BAD!

07-13-2005, 02:02 AM	#2
SirFozzie Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: The State of Insanity	Dola: This is proof that should one day, free or low pay independent artists/musicians/sites threaten the monopoly position of the Record Cartel represented by the RIAA, they will seek to have them banned as a threat to the time honored traditions of gouging the customer, utter control of what they listen to, and how they listen to it. I may not have agreed with some of author Robert Heinlein's views on government.. but he had a quote that usually gets mangled by folks on my side.. but is no less true. * There has grown up in the minds of certain groups in this country the notion that because a man or corporation has made a profit out of the public for a number of years, the government and the courts are charged with the duty of guaranteeing such profit in the future, even in the face of changing circumstances and contrary to public interest. This strange doctrine is not supported by statute or common law. Neither individuals nor corporations have any right to come into court and ask that the clock of history be stopped, or turned back. o Life Line, 1939 __________________ Check out Foz's New Video Game Site, An 8-bit Mind in an 8GB world! http://an8bitmind.com

07-13-2005, 02:16 AM	#3
SirFozzie Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: The State of Insanity	Here's a WONDERFUL quote from one of the record label heads who are yelling their head off about the BBC There is the obvious issue that it is devaluing the perceived value of music. You are also leading the public to think that it is fine to download and own these files for nothing." __________________ Check out Foz's New Video Game Site, An 8-bit Mind in an 8GB world! http://an8bitmind.com

07-13-2005, 02:23 AM	#4
ThunderingHERD College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Carolina	"The Beethoven Symphonies downloads service has now finished. Thank you for your interest and feedback. There are currently no plans to make the Beethoven Symphony downloads available again in the future." __________________ "I'm losing my edge--to better looking people... with better ideas... and more talent. And who are actually really, really nice." "Everyone's a voyeurist--they're watching me watch them watch me right now."

07-13-2005, 09:50 PM	#6
hukarez College Starter Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Chula Vista, CA	If it's free.... ...it's for me! __________________ ...what we have here is a man who looks like Tarzan, but fights like Jane! My VG collection \| Xbox 360 Gamertag: ManThol \| PS3 Network ID: hukarez Doce Pares International - San Diego Council Filipino Martial Arts Digest tweet tweet twitter

07-14-2005, 02:38 AM	#7
sterlingice Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Back in Houston!	Very cool. (tho, comparing this to file sharing of modern songs is completely null and void since this is public domain) SI __________________ Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!"

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