Political Penguin has introduced me to the excellent blog by Matthew Revell (who, I assume, is not the Matthew Revell I went to school with??), and also to an equally interesting post about David Cameron’s recent lecture to the music industry ponytails.
Matthew is not too taken with Cameron’s sycophantic pandering, and takes him to task. Old Friend PragueTory then makes the case in defence of slippery Dave - and this is where I come in. Below is my response in Matthew’s comments: -
Protection of property rights is a key part of conservatism and indeed a civilised society. ~ PragueTory
The problem the music and movie people have is that they have such a convoluted argument. What do they own? The product, the creative rights?
If it’s the product - then I have just paid for it. I bought it off them. It’s mine. If I choose to run my car of a cliff, that’s my beef, not the manufacturers. So don’t mind me if I send a friend a copy of this spiffing new Killers record.
Oh, it’s the intellectual property rights? Ok, then. I’ll pay £15.99 for that Shrek DVD. But wait, my little boy has just scratched it - making it unplayable. How much for a replacement? £15.99???? But I have already paid once for the “intellectual property rights?†So, if you don’t mind, I’ll not be paying for the content again - I already have rights to that film - just charge me for the disc. Here’s 99p. Ta!
The truth is, PragueTory, the music industry has screwed people for years. They have always fleeced the most ill-informed section of the market - the kids, and have raked it in for decades. The music market was always poisoned. It was never worth protecting.
The future of music is in smaller CD sales and more live performances. Music stars will hopefully make less money, and they’ll get a genuine chance to, “keep it real.â€
If conservatives want to protect property, they should ensure they have the moral and legal authority. If the music providers argument is *properly* tested, they’ll regret ever going to court.
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Spot on, Aaron. I think the only format I haven’t bought music on is the wax cylinder! And it’s not just the public that has been ripped off. The music industry is not good for artists (except the very small number of superstars) most of whom rely on income from concerts and merchandise rather than sales of CDs. ‘Poisoned music market’ is right. Talent gets strangled at birth by record companies attempting to protect their chosen artists by tying up competing bands with worthless contracts and a few grand. Truth is, musicians don’t need these corporations any more and the big boys are getting twitchy. A world without super-rich Sir Eltons? I can’t wait.
Hi Mike,
I’m all for property rights, but the music industry wants to maintain their monopoly across all fronts. The consumer matters little. Some conservatives want to protect every market, regardless of its worth. As far as I’m concerned the music market can collapse.
But Tyger, the music business brings us so much quality music… My life would be poorer without Gareth Gates and, and…
Oh who am I kidding.. You know why it’s called a ponytail?
Did you go to school with the blogging weirdo known as David Lindsay?
PT,
Have I missed something? Who the hell is David Lindsay?