I don't think that there is a simple answer.
I can understand people that they download stuff simply because they don't have to pay for it, although I'm well aware that it also ricochets to the artist as well.
A confession, although I might have mentioned it before:
I too download.
Not enormously much, far from that but still.
Sorry, but it's the plain truth.
And trust me, I really don't like it as well, since I'm a sucker for the real thing.
Want to have it in my hands.
But I make a habbit out of it to either buy the album that I've downloaded or kick it from my harddrive if I don't like it.It may take some time, I know but eventually I buy the album, whoever the artist is.
There are so many progressive bands and/or artists that I like.
You just can't say 'buy the album' because in my case and I believe many others as well, I have a rather extensive variety of music to choose from.
On the other hand. ...
I'm practically live in the same situation as Andreas Blomqvist and partners with the exception that I don't play in a band (be grateful for that
).
I work 40 to 45 hours a week (three shifts mind you), have to drive about 20000km's a year to get there which means gasoline, own a house which means mortgage, have two children, the prices for almost everything a normal human being need (groceries, electricity, gas, house insurances etc etc etc) has gone berserk in the last ten years.
For instance, 10 years ago I paid 59 guilders for my health insurance which converted to euro is about give or take 27 euro, but currently I pay 129 euro. And that's only me. My wife pays the same.
Add all those costs together and a large bit of my salary is gone down the drain.
I'm not trying to let you feel sorry for me because given the circumstances, I do really okay in life, financially speaking, but to come back to this matter, the prices of cd's and dvd's are really high, although fortunately I found quite a few sites all over the world where you can buy the same cd, for a lesser price. Sometimes even half less than I had to pay for over here in the Netherlands.
I can afford it to buy about 60 cd's a year but I can imagine that someone who don't have that luxury, is willing to go for downloading alone.
Dreadful for the artists, but essential for the listener who can't afford it.
It is an expensive hobby.
But I'm well aware that it goes the same for the artists.
A paradox.
Although I also believe that there are people who can afford it, but can't care less about the artists.
A lot of artists/bands are doing their best to 'lure' the listener, the
fan with lots of goodies, great artwork, bonusses you can only see and hear or anything if you buy the actual cd and the bands that has just begun playing frequently give the cd's for free download to the listener, while hoping that the listener will go about and buy the cd (I even came across a few bands that let
you decide how much you are willing to pay for it.)
Dream Theater has always believed in bootlegs and even encouraged fans to buy
and record them.
And trust me, bootlegs aren't that crappy anymore as they were in the old days.
Pendragon have came up with another crazy, daring but highly original idea to have to Mega Daze concerts where there is also a talent scout (don't know if I say it right) where you can participate in the auditions. And if you're the best, then you will sing
with the band the next day, in front of the audience!!!
And man, it was sold out in days not in the usual months. Classy stuff from the pendies.
All of this is a good thing, but I have this fear that in the long run it won't be enough.
There are already a few artists who threw the towel in the ring, like that keyboardist form IQ among others, which is imaginable, but I can only pray that others won't do that as well.
Music is my life!
The fact remains that progressive rock and the likes is a corner in the musical universe that don't get the proper attention of the media.
The only thing you hear on the radio is the music the radio is giving to you.
And mostly that is pop music. Hiphop, beat-thingy whatever.
I'm delighted to see and hear that youngsters know and are willing to listen to music that lies beyond the standard pop-overdose that you get from the radio. It's hard to hear new stuff when you're in a circle of MTV's and the likes.
And that makes it harder for the artists as well.
If you're not Lady GaGa, then you have to work your ass off to make a living, especially because our 'circle' is in no comparison to the pop-music industry.
My...eh... quite a few pennies.
Hope it's worth something.
Oh and Peter?
It's a great ambition!
That goes to show how deeply fans are moved, touched and love the music they hold so dear.
