Break up with your favorite band

I had an epiphany this morning while showering at the gym. I had an idea on how to react civilly to the sort of idocity that drives people to lash out and accuse their own customers of breaking the law.; break up with your favorite band.

I will be going through UMG’s stable of labels and artists to compile a list of the artists that I genuinely like and respect. I will be composing a letter to them expressing my regret that, although I enjoy their music, I will no longer patronize their art or their label. I will explain that it’s not them, it’s their “daddy” that’s the problem. I will be clear to let them know that it’s the business practices of their parent label that is costing them both their livelyhood and fans. Though they don’t really hold any weight with UMG, if enough of them jump ship (not likely) or complain (more likely), perhaps we can get that moron to wake up.

Then, and this is the hard part, I will actually delete or destroy all copies of their music. Lots of us online talk big about “I’m never going to XXXX ever again.” or “I will purge my collection of all ill-gotten music.” But do we ever? Nah. Not really.

Mr. Morris will get exactly what he wants here, none of his music will be on my iPod. I hope he’s happy.

I’ll post this letter to my blog when it’s done so any one else who wants to do the same thing can. Maybe I’ll even come up with a Word template and XLS spreadsheet that will allow you do to a mail merge. Depends on how much effort I feel like putting into this.

Yes, Mike, this means you have to get rid of all your U2.

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Published:: 11.14.06 / 8am

Category:: Blog

Daniel 11.15.06 / 12pm

I’m very close to doing the same. This has gotten absurd.

About nine artists I like enough to own multiple records from have ongoing contracts with a UMG label. I hate to lose access to great music, but hate the way the industry treats artists and customers alike just as much. I really, really wish that there was a way to support good music without all of the middlemen.

Do I really have to say goodbye to Johnny Cash AND Beck?

Mike 11.15.06 / 6pm

Look, ultimately, this guy’s gonna get fired, or hit by a truck, or something, and someone with half-a-brain will take over. Let’s not rush and do anything rash. This is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Dan 11.16.06 / 2pm

Totally throwing the baby out with the bathwater–life is too short not to enjoy the music.

Here’s what I’ve been doing the last 3-4 years: I don’t buy any major label product new. I _try_ not to buy any RIAA afiliated music new, but it’s often hard to tell who is and who isn’t (the RIAA’s list includes lots of labels that are distributed by one of their dues paying members, even tho’ the label itself is not). I still buy tons of music and go see lots of shows as I’m not boycotting the artists here–many of them signed deals with these labels before any of this started (or at least became apparent). By only buying major label product used, I refuse to further fund the suing of the customers or DRM or any of the other stupid things these bozos are up to but I also don’t add to the filesharing numbers they use to justify their behavior. I’ll support the artist by attending a show and maybe buying a t-shirt, so that they actually get the money (unlike record sales for most artists). None of this applies to the truly indie of course (I buy new indie stuff quite often and direct from the artist if possible).

I’ll admit I’m lucky in that my tastes run more to indie stuff and I live in a town where used CDs are plentiful, but whenever I have to wait to find something used I just remember why I’m doing this…

Dan