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It seems to be becoming the central theme of the early 21st century. How do we keep the institutions that are supposedly created for our benefit from doing the

It seems to be becoming the central theme of the early 21st century. How do we keep the institutions that are supposedly created for our benefit from doing the opposite?

voidz 13y ago
We don't. We choose alternatives instead.
- beedogs 13y ago
  This is why artists release "mixtapes" all the time for free instead; can't sue someone who's released their tracks free of charge. I mean, I guess you could try, but you won't make much doing it.
kzrdude 13y ago
Reactive legislature. Preferably backed by visionaries.
samplonius 13y ago
Except that record companies were never created for anyone's benefit except their own. But also this article was written in 2006. It is now 2014, and hiphop has not been killed. In fact, this particular issue became a big nothing. Record company's are really just banks now. They finance the artists, and perform marketing. And once the music is for sale, they take a portion of the profits. And to do so, they have some rights over the work, just like a bank has over a property under a mortgage. Ideally, you wouldn't need outside financing to take your music to market. But if you do, you need to get the best deal. And if you are a nobody, that deal isn't going to include much for you. So bootstrap with small investors first and short term deals. Banks, errr... record company's need a big portion of the profits, because half of their investments will fail. Well, half is probably generous. But if the rate of return for being a record company was so great, there would be more people doing it. Actually that happened, and there are lots more record company's now than ever, because you no longer need to be big to fight for shelf space in HMV, as HMV is almost bankrupt.
- chrismcb 13y ago
  So, if you need outside financing, record companies benefit you? Most companies were created to benefit themselves. That is sort of the whole point of for profit organizations, to make a profit. As you pointed out, record companies do provide a benefit, financing and marketing.

It seems to be becoming the central theme of the early 21st century. How do we keep the institutions that are supposedly created for our benefit from doing the opposite?

voidz 13y ago

We don't. We choose alternatives instead.

beedogs 13y ago
This is why artists release "mixtapes" all the time for free instead; can't sue someone who's released their tracks free of charge. I mean, I guess you could try, but you won't make much doing it.

kzrdude 13y ago

Reactive legislature. Preferably backed by visionaries.

samplonius 13y ago

Except that record companies were never created for anyone's benefit except their own. But also this article was written in 2006. It is now 2014, and hiphop has not been killed. In fact, this particular issue became a big nothing. Record company's are really just banks now. They finance the artists, and perform marketing. And once the music is for sale, they take a portion of the profits. And to do so, they have some rights over the work, just like a bank has over a property under a mortgage. Ideally, you wouldn't need outside financing to take your music to market. But if you do, you need to get the best deal. And if you are a nobody, that deal isn't going to include much for you. So bootstrap with small investors first and short term deals. Banks, errr... record company's need a big portion of the profits, because half of their investments will fail. Well, half is probably generous. But if the rate of return for being a record company was so great, there would be more people doing it. Actually that happened, and there are lots more record company's now than ever, because you no longer need to be big to fight for shelf space in HMV, as HMV is almost bankrupt.

chrismcb 13y ago
So, if you need outside financing, record companies benefit you? Most companies were created to benefit themselves. That is sort of the whole point of for profit organizations, to make a profit. As you pointed out, record companies do provide a benefit, financing and marketing.