RIAA's Rosen addresses Janis Ian's USA Today editorial:
- Janis Ian's USA TODAY column (Oct 23rd, "Music industry spins falsehood") so blatantly mischaracterizes both the RIAA position as well as that of most record company executives that I know on several different issues that a response is merited.
First, I must say that I am a huge fan of Janis Ian's music. Her music has meant so much to me and hundreds of thousands of fans over the years. She is also a thoughtful and creative writer and an admirably impressive businesswoman. It is unfortunate that during this new, and extremely successful, phase of her career she chooses to attack and demean those who have chosen a different path - say for instance, artists and executives who work with major record companies.
All of the enforcement efforts that the RIAA has engaged in over the years have been focused on two goals: to foster the development of a new, legitimate on-line music business to serve fans and to give artists and copyright owners a choice about how their music is distributed. If Janis wants to give her music away because, in her view, it furthers her career goals, more power to her. But artists deserve the choice. And under the current scenario of so-called "file sharing" P-2-P networks, they don’t have that choice. The music is just taken freely.
It was not the choice of the more than 120 artists - of all genres, niches and styles - who joined the "Who Really Cares About Illegal Downloading" education campaign to have their music offered up for free on unauthorized peer-to-peer networks. Yes, of course they give away their music for promotional purposes - but they want to decide how.
I'm sorry Janis, but you can't have it both ways. You can't pledge fealty to the importance of the artist's choice on one hand, then on the other hand criticize the artists and music groups - who include, by the way, organizations representing singers, songwriters and small record labels as well as the majors - who want to publicize how illegal downloading is harmful because it robs them of that choice.
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Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
Hilary Rosen and her organization are so full of it . The continued use of twisted logic is nauseating. I'm not sure what's worse, the fact that they get this stuff so wrong...or the fact that the major media outlets swallow it whole.
2 - Kenan Hebert
Carefully read Ian's screed, and then carefully notice how many of Ian's concerns Rosen adresses. Answer: zero. She evades, twists words, wheedles, and apparently tries to use psychology on Ian herself, as if making her feel bad would be satisfaction enough.
I'd like to grab Hillary Rosen by the fat under her chin and shake her to death.
3 - Mike Arvin
I just have to respond to one comment by Hilary Rosen. She blames all of the drop in CD sales on file sharing. I can tell you why my purchases have dropped off. There isn't anything available that I'd like to buy.
I think that covers most of the sales drop.....
4 - Jane
Poooor Hillary and RIAA...so hard done by. The RIAA has had what, three or more years to fix this problem by offering their product over the net? And have they? Why no...the industry has persisted in believing that we'd love to shell out 19.95 USD for one or two decent cuts.
Tough.
5 - cephusj
Nice words Hilary. Long essay. Unfortunately its pointless. Regardless of your values or the beautiful explanation of the how's and why's of peer to peer, consumers see you and those in your industry as greedy monopolists. People love music and dont consider sharing music stealing. Its just like taping a song off the radio and giving a friend the tape only the quality is better. You lost this battle honey. You have absolutely no idea how advanced and elaborate sharing schemes have become. Maybe its time for a career change. In this economy - you wont be alone ...