Criticizes Pharrell Williams’ stance on illegal file-sharing, and insists that it can be stopped if only we would “take the gloves off.”
Yesterday I mentioned how Pharrell Williams, Billboards’ just declared producer of the decade, and Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, told an audience at MIDEM (short for Marché International du Disque et de l’Edition Musicale), the world’s largest music industry trade fair, questioned the harm that illegal file-sharing is supposedly causing music artists.
“Is it really hurting you if a person really loves you and they really love what you do,” he asked.
His then described illegal downloading as “just taste-testing,” comparing it to the hors d’oeuvres handed outside restaurants to entice people inside, and that it doesn’t stop you from buying, but instead gives you a “taste of what could be so great by buying.”
“People have so many options and choices, we should allow them to taste-test, to decide if that’s something they wanna be involved with – from technology to products to food,” he said.
Well, those comments didn’t sit well with Gorillaz manager Chris Morrison. Speaking on a panel as part of MIDEM’s Manager Summit, he said that he didn’t care about P2P one way or another until it affected him with the recent leak of Gorillaz’s new single “Stylo.”
“I was ambivalent about illegal downloading until someone stuck our record up illegally,” he said. “They don’t have any interest in it, they don’t even make money off it but they undo all that work.”
Morrison said that although leaks may have some positives, like generating a certain amount of buzz for example, the net effect is to discourage investment by both record labels and artists for fear of diminished returns.
As for Williams comment that P2P is like “taste-testing” he strongly disagrees.
“It’s not like taste-testing,” he said. “It’s like inviting them into your restaurant and telling them to eat all the food you’ve got. It’s not getting a taste any longer.”
His solution? An all out offensive on illegal file-sharing.
“Piracy could be stopped and I think we should take the gloves off and say it has to be stopped,” he continued.
Too bad “taking the gloves off” means taking away things like right to privacy and protection from unreasonable search and seizures. It means things like inspecting each and every email attachment, picture, video clip, or song that travels across an ISP’s network. Is that something Morrison feels is justified simply because he hasn’t figured out a way to make money in the digital music age?
He needs to take Williams’ advice and figure out a way to harness technology rather than try fight it. For I’d bet on technology winning every time.
Stay tuned.
I won’t be buying any Gorillaz albums, I used to be a fan of theirs – but this guy is a douche. I make write and release music and fully support my fans having a taste first. If you don’t like my music, don’t buy it and make sure to tell your friends how crap it was. That’s how much I don’t care about downloading.
Artists make money from concerts and labels make money from record sales.
For an artist like pharrell, a download is a ‘taste’ of the real good, a concert performance.
For a record label, a download is eating their lunch.
Artists don’t need labels like they used to. This is a last-ditch effort for labels to continue to grab money for a service that doesn’t add value.
I love how you can just compare mug shots of the two and it just says it all.
Young budding artist likes the idea of P2P. A mugshot of him: http://images.askmen.com/galleries/men/pharrell/pictures/pharrell-picture-3.jpg
Band manager and obviously old fogie thinks p2p can be switched off if only we try (look at the mugshot above)
Says it all.
you beat me to it, lol. I had the exact same thought haha…
if p2p is stopped then people will buy and return , copy and return cds and possibly even sell them at yard sales and ebay.
That’s just the beginning. Not only buy and return, but blanks and postage, MP3 player and hard drive parties, LAN parties, etc.
That’s over top of VPNs, UseNet, one click hosting, etc.
Who are you really hurting by doing this though? ….isn’t it the very artists you love listening to?
I don’t think P2P is a huge enemy, but I also don’t think your solution is fair in any way
Of course the GORILLAZ would want to take the gloves off and start an all-out offensive on something they don’t like. Look at their jeep, they’re ready for Guerrilla warfare.
This is one of the CD’s I planned to buy this year. Was looking forward to it.
Now I won’t because I don’t want you to profit from me.
just goes to show that managers like chris morrison dont have alot to offer consumers. it also is unfortunate that people think the answer to problems is to strip away dignity and privacy.