Introductions…

It is with great fear and trepidation that I accepted the offer from Jason to blog about the pros and cons of file sharing with special interest in looking at the issues in my own field of expertise of the music industry. This is because the last time I decided to talk about something remotely political I had to escape a near on riot through the cellar of a slightly grotty east end pub. Hopefully writing this blog will be slightly less life threatening, and involve a lot less alcohol before deciding to write it. No promises though.

The subject matter that fateful night (although at best the details are hazy) were pretty much as emotive as the subject I’ve been asked to write about here. It seems everybody has an opinion as to whether film makers and musicians are money grabbing parasites paid for doing little more than a hobby, producing something that deserves to be in the public domain, or are the cream of the crop in their field, deserving of the accolades both in fame and money that come from such industries.

I think right here and now, before we start exploring the opinions and hopefully cutting some facts from the propaganda from both parties, I should tell you a little about myself and where I am coming from in the argument. I am a signed musician and earn enough money that I don’t lose money in following what is essentially my dream job, but that’s about it. I also have a full-time job, a part time job and haven’t taken a holiday except to see my mum in 4 years. Certainly over the years of playing in bands, djing, being in orchestras and such I have spent more than I think I could ever expect to get back from the industry, without a lot of help and a lot more spending before seeing the profits of my work.

I am constantly asked about the issue of file sharing and which camp of thought I reside in. In truth I chop and change my mind constantly, swinging from the ‘stuff it I’d rather have people listening to my stuff rather than not’ through to ‘penny pinching gits all its costs is 79p’ so when asked to discuss the matters for Cosmodaddy I jumped at the chance of arguing both sides of the case, hopefully with the help of you, my friends, giving me some pointers and arguments in comments about what you have read and think. I’m not convinced there is a definitive answer to the question, but maybe by exploring the issues we can make some better informed judgements on what we do, and do not download rather than buy.

All being well there should be a new post on here at least once every two weeks so keep checking back from time to time to see where my meandering thoughts may lead me. Don’t forget to leave a comment or two if you feel so inclined, hopefully though you won’t feel the need to hunt me down to my usual east end haunts and chase me out of the pub!

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