I've only seen this proposed once (not here). And, I'm not necessarily endorsing this since it doesn't really solve anything but, instead, exacerbates an already perplexing problem. But, the idea does have some merit to those who truly hate the music industry and/or RIAA.
Due to the high cost of music CDs, even the most staunch supporters of the RIAA and music industry have taken steps to cut their bottom-line on music purchases. Put simply, they'll buy a CD from a retail store, copy it at home, then sell the CD to a used-CD store in exchange for either cash or credit on a future purchase. And, the RIAA has already tried to make selling used CDs illegal - and failed. Were they to succeed, it would have a ripple effect on the video industry which has, for years, sold used videotapes (Blockbuster, Hollywood Video, etc., etc.). And this precedent of legally selling used videotapes has been around for such a long time it would be hard to challenge in court.
Bottom line? Instead of boycotting the music industry, many people are starting to boycott only the retail side of the music industry. They'll buy all their music CDs from used-CD stores, copy them at home, then return the CDs to the same store for credit on future purchases. And people who don't have used-CD stores in their area who at least have internet access can do the same thing vis a vis the online used-CD stores -- including http://SecondSpin.com which claims to be the largest used-CD buyer/seller on the web.
Buying/selling to such stores is under the RIAA's radar screen. Sure, you have to pay some money for the music. But, you won't be getting a knock at the door nor a subpoena in the mail for doing it. And, the practice would hurt the industry in a direct and demonstrable way ... since used-CD stores pay no royalties on the CDs they sell.
CD sales are not the only venue the RIAA has to make $$. there is a whole bigger picture, people either refuse to see or they simply cant see it.
I'm all ears ... please expand on this. To my knowledge, CD-sales are the RIAA's cash-cow ... which explains why they've been so vigorous in mounting an offensive against P2P use. But if there's a bigger cash-cow, let me know.Originally Posted by Ea$y_E
Actually a good idea. The only cd's I've been buying (other than blank ones) have been used.
I would like to hear about that too. If there is another way to boycott them, I'm all for it!!
Once again, I argue that it does not involve money by itself. Money is the end product, but the real intent of the R.I.A.A. is control of distribution. They want to be sure that, collectively and ideally, they are the only source of music to people in the world. If they so had the choice, they would burn independent labels at the stake, shut down used CD stores, and force everyone on earth to purchase their inferior product at a significant premium.
You couldn't offer them enough money to give up control. This is why multibilliondollar deals have failed in the past. This is why current pay sites and services are limited in their selection. They want multiplatinum sales on the next big thing. They have the means and methods to lead people into what the next big "artist" will be, at least to a degree. With enough preplay and hype, they can guarantee consistent big sales on whatever they choose.
Open up the coffers on the past, however, and things become much less predictable. You can't always hype old music and expect significant return. It's like investment. Speculate, and you can get fast cash. Buy mutual funds and index funds, however, and you can make money over the long-term. I personally believe that the RIAA would ban music more than a few years old if they could, if only to keep people buying more curent music at that premium.
The RIAA is still stuck in fast cash mode, and this is what is going to run them into the ground. Change or die. That's capitalism.
Always lived my live alone
Been searching for a place called home
I know that Iīve been cold as ice
Ignore the dreams too many lies
Somewhere deep inside
Somewhere deep inside me
I found the child I used to be, and I know that itīs not too late
Never too late...
~Scooter, Nessaja
I agree absolutely. But the present-day reality (cash-wise) is that they can't control distribution until they can control their cash-cow ... the sale of music CDs. This is why the used-CD scenario would stifle them ... since they've already tried and failed to control the distribution of used CDs.
do you own a sony Tv, camcorder, PS2, sony cd burner?........congratulations!! you have just indirectly funded the RIAA!!.....use AOL?...your providing funds to the RIAA!.......use roadrunner cable? its owned by time-warner...you provide funds for the RIAA!.....have cable channel HBO? once again thats time-warner. you see its not just CD's thier are many different areas of interest that directly/indirectly provide funds to them.
So what else is new (grin). The RIAA is an industry association, nothing more. And the industry they represent is the music industry. The conglomerates you mention are pervasive in society and there is no way of escaping them. But, there is a way of escaping the royalty-payment scenario for music CDs ... which was the subject of my original post to this topic.
I judt did some checking. All of my electronics are:
Dell
Lexmark
RCA
Sanyo
G.E.
Emerson
Philips
Cyber Acoustics
and so on. No Sony. Cable tv does not even exist here. And I refuse to use AOL. So without even being fully aware of it, I've already been boycotting these products!!
the only way to boycott the RIAA completely is to go and live in the mountains and be a transcendetalist, tree-hugger. Large corporations will one day, dictate to us how we live our lives and what we should enjoy; everyone comforms eventually. untill then lets boycott our asses off .
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Back from a long break and it seems I'm missing some posts.
the "boycott" obviously does not exist. if it were results would have been seen by now.
You're correct. It will either start or it won't start. But I was merely bringing up the "un-boycott" idea since I'd not seen it discussed very much or in very many places. But, to those who truly hate the industry and/or RIAA, it does have merit ... and it does have the virtue of never having been tried en-masse ... yet.
However, as to seeing results "by now," I have to remind you that P2P has only been around (as a popular venue) since Napster was launched in July, 1999 -- just 4 years ago. And the RIAA vendetta against individual file-sharers has been around for less than a year. So, I think that "seeing results by now" comments are a tad bit premature.
_
i see we have another influx of these type of idiotic posts again
nobody cares about you or your ideas
you won't change anything here, since most of us don't pay for music anyway, and believe it or not, the people that matter, congresspeople, senators etc don't read this site, and do take wads and wads of PAC money from the media companies
the people who are behind the boycott are in it to sell tshirts and coffee mugs--they know it's a futile battle, so at least they'll make a buck off of it
I don't care if nobody cares. But I suspect that some people do ... maybe many people.
Of course they're making a buck off of it. But I don't believe they think it's a futile battle. BTW, I just post here - and have no association with any boycott-this or boycott-that entity. But unlike you, I do pay for some music and not for others. Depends upon whether I'm being sold a good CD or a bad CD with only one or two good songs on it. And no, I haven't yet bought a single CD from a used-CD store ... but I have given it some thought. And, I think my "un-boycott" post may give other people the same thought. If you disagree, it's fine by me. Enjoy.the people who are behind the boycott are in it to sell tshirts and coffee mugs--they know it's a futile battle, so at least they'll make a buck off of it
:mellow
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