www.Ranticular.com

It just makes sense

Tim Sinnott is a highly respected person and thing, noted for his many hobbies, which include writing lists of his hobbies and stating the obvious. He lives in a strange place called the real world, which no one in Maynooth has ever visited. When he grows up he hopes to be a highly respected person and thing.

Yes, I’ve taken the road walked so much travelled it has turned to mud. The road of the piracy debate. Already I can hear people mutter “music Nazi wanker”. And why might that be?

Everyone downloads! Your friends, family, hell your dog is probably streaming the newest Cowboy X single right now! It’s no longer the realm of the elitist geek to find a song or film online and take it. Most music magazines recommend tracks under the slogan “Download These”! Suffering Jesus even I download from time to time when I can’t find the songs I want on this tiny island. So I respect I fight a losing battle to tackle this subject seriously. Having said that…I can’t honestly recall that ever stopping me before…

So here we are, piracy is ultimately a bad thing. I’ve said it.

Firstly it is stealing. Bands need cash, as despite all your hopes and fears most successful musicians are semi-humans who need money for things like cocaine and replacing all those hotel room TV’s. Money also helps for oh I don’t know making more albums and such… which can greatly help your favourite band continue their glittering career, or ruin it utterly really (Stand up and take a bow Libertines, Jet, The Vines and all you other one decent album pricks) Either way for reasons of musical genius or sad comedy bands getting money is not a bad thing. I agree that certain musicians with next to no talent (Blizzards cough I won’t trust you regardless of your medical qualifications cough) have far too much of a chord to income ratio. It’s worth noting that most musicians become fabulously wealthy through advertisement and endorsement. Music isn’t all that lucrative. Especially if every “loyal” fan doesn’t actually own any of your albums, merely a t-shirt.

Secondly, nothing beats owning an album or vinyl. Album sleeves, lyrics, band pictures, plus the fact you can just throw it on in your car without specialist I-pod equipment, well maybe not vinyl’s… unless you have one kick ass vehicle. But seriously, it does make a difference. What’s cooler, 5 shelves of CD’s or a hard drive? Honestly? And before you get smart a decent hard drive sets you back a few hundred, albums come at three for €20 for classics.

Lastly, downloading is really easy to track. Really easy. People are arrested and fined/jailed for it every year. And it’s treated as a serious crime, with major fines and excessive jail-time, all for the latest Justice single?

You don’t have to stop, probably wont. I probably wont. But think about it.