Music Exec: ISPs Must Pay Up for Music-Swapping

ToshiroOC · Jan 19, 2003, 06:26 AM

A top music executive said on Saturday that telecommunications companies and Internet service providers (ISPs) will be asked to pay up for giving their customers access to free song-swapping sites.

The music industry is in a tailspin with global sales of CDs expected to fall six percent in 2003, its fourth consecutive annual decline. A major culprit, industry watchers say, is online piracy.

Now, the industry wants to hit the problem at its source -- Internet service providers.

"We will hold ISPs more accountable," said Hillary Rosen, chairman and CEO the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), in her keynote speech at the Midem music conference on the French Riviera.

"Let's face it. They know there's a lot of demand for broadband simply because of the availability (of file-sharing)," Rosen said.

As broadband access in homes has increased across the Western world, so has the activity on file-sharing services.

The RIAA is a powerful trade body that has taken a number of file-swapping services, including the now defunct Napster, to court in an effort to shut them down.

Rosen suggested one possible scenario for recouping lost sales from online piracy would be to impose a type of fee on ISPs that could be passed on to their customers who frequent these file-swapping services.

Mario Mariani, senior vice president of media and access at Tiscali, Europe's third largest ISP, dismissed the notion, calling it impossible to enforce.

--By Bernhard Warner, European Internet Correspondent, source: yahoo.com

Article can be read here.

nForcer · Jan 19, 2003, 07:02 AM

Paying for music swapping - isn't that a stupid idea. Kinda like paying for each time you go +1 over the speed limit. HOW ON EARTH are you going to enforcer that? Its easy, you can't. Where do these people come up with these ideas? I'm certainly not paying for them.

Zazzybud · Jan 19, 2003, 09:25 AM

I agree Nforcer,
How are they to hold responcible the ones only providing the server for us to connect over TCP/IP? I use my broadband for (yes, file swapping) but more so a way to see broadband content, listen to higher bitrate audio/video streamed, and business uses (web page uploads)
This will in the end up coming back on the end user if the USnot Assoc. says that everyone uses ISPs for music swapping!!! I know many people who don't know what this new rave even is! How is it fair to hurt them?? Or even the ISPs?? I only have one option in my little town; my cable company... if they have to be charged more for bandwidth then I will in the end.

I think:
1. Basic CDs should be under 10 dollars. You can almost be your own recording studio with the comsumer level tech out currently and at the level CDs are.. I know many local bands that produce many decent home made CDs...

2. (In the future) Why not make DVDs only audio?? And when I say this I mean compatible with current set top boxes people have at home not "DVD audio CDs" *** a "new" audio format

3. I only want one song, only one song... I don't like the band, they only produced ONE song that fits the style that will get them air play... and I want that one song.... where can I get for 1/13th the cost of the full album??

Sorry, a little drunk and overly speaking my mind!! Hope this makes sence.

Peace out!

DriveEuro · Jan 19, 2003, 05:43 PM

You're 3rd point TOTALLY makes sense. I don't know how many times I have heard of a band and JUST liked them for that one song.

Leechmo · Jan 19, 2003, 06:31 PM

and as for targeting specific users and charging fees...they will never be able to tell...if certain ports get labeled as file-sharing ports they'll change them ...if networks get too corrupted people can and will switch .... the question of prevention is over.... just now what are they going to do about the fact that it is happening and will continue to happen....record companies and musicians need to adapt to a new reality

Necrosis · Jan 19, 2003, 06:38 PM

If the recording industry wants to really do something about music swapping they should do this. Don't press charges, don't ask for money, don't shut down networks, and last but not least just shutup about it. What they should do is simply make the available quality of the music less. How many people would keep downloading music if they could only download it @ 64 kbs? I've downloaded my own share of music but everything I have been searching for I have found. I barely ever download any new music because I can never find it at the quality I want. If the music industry would put filters in place and lower the cost of CD's much of this whole spectacle would be over. I honestly think they are trying to use this as a way to raise prices on us as the consumer. Do you really think they care about the artists? It's all about big buisness folks.

DriveEuro · Jan 19, 2003, 07:25 PM

How many people would download music if they could just download it at 5 kb/s like me? 56kbps modem. The growth of broadband has also had growth on the MP3 scene and file-swapping.

Vampyromaniac · Jan 19, 2003, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Necrosis
What they should do is simply make the available quality of the music less. How many people would keep downloading music if they could only download it @ 64 kbs?

But how would the music industry control what quality people are compressing their music at?

I agree the record companies just want money

I doubt they'll ever make prices more reasonable.
When people say they only like one song on an album, why can't they just buy that one song . . . the companies say OK, but that one song will cost $13 . . . .

Hehe DriveEuro, a friend of mine used to only have dial-up at 28.8k to 33.6k, and his family kept the computer on for hours, just downloading music

Wait a sec . . . you've never heard of people liking only one song on an album?

DriveEuro · Jan 19, 2003, 10:41 PM

I leave mine on 24/7 also......But I download anything....*COUGH*games*COUGH* and music.

nz_skater · Jan 20, 2003, 04:43 AM

I think the biggest issue with this is that most of the time it's only the recording industry that's complaining. The majority of artists either don't care or support it. Ask any major band and they will tell you that they make more money from concerts than selling CD's.

nForcer · Jan 20, 2003, 08:25 AM

Whoever is actually making the profits off of the product are the one's who complain the most. And in the end, there isn't anything they can do. But try teaching them that and they will look at you like 'huh?' knowing damn well its true.

Jan 19, 2003, 06:26 AM	#1
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Music Exec: ISPs Must Pay Up for Music-Swapping A top music executive said on Saturday that telecommunications companies and Internet service providers (ISPs) will be asked to pay up for giving their customers access to free song-swapping sites. The music industry is in a tailspin with global sales of CDs expected to fall six percent in 2003, its fourth consecutive annual decline. A major culprit, industry watchers say, is online piracy. Now, the industry wants to hit the problem at its source -- Internet service providers. "We will hold ISPs more accountable," said Hillary Rosen, chairman and CEO the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), in her keynote speech at the Midem music conference on the French Riviera. "Let's face it. They know there's a lot of demand for broadband simply because of the availability (of file-sharing)," Rosen said. As broadband access in homes has increased across the Western world, so has the activity on file-sharing services. The RIAA is a powerful trade body that has taken a number of file-swapping services, including the now defunct Napster, to court in an effort to shut them down. Rosen suggested one possible scenario for recouping lost sales from online piracy would be to impose a type of fee on ISPs that could be passed on to their customers who frequent these file-swapping services. Mario Mariani, senior vice president of media and access at Tiscali, Europe's third largest ISP, dismissed the notion, calling it impossible to enforce. --By Bernhard Warner, European Internet Correspondent, source: yahoo.com Article can be read here.

Jan 19, 2003, 09:25 AM	#3
Zazzybud DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 15 Rep Power: 0	Hello I agree Nforcer, How are they to hold responcible the ones only providing the server for us to connect over TCP/IP? I use my broadband for (yes, file swapping) but more so a way to see broadband content, listen to higher bitrate audio/video streamed, and business uses (web page uploads) This will in the end up coming back on the end user if the USnot Assoc. says that everyone uses ISPs for music swapping!!! I know many people who don't know what this new rave even is! How is it fair to hurt them?? Or even the ISPs?? I only have one option in my little town; my cable company... if they have to be charged more for bandwidth then I will in the end. I think: 1. Basic CDs should be under 10 dollars. You can almost be your own recording studio with the comsumer level tech out currently and at the level CDs are.. I know many local bands that produce many decent home made CDs... 2. (In the future) Why not make DVDs only audio?? And when I say this I mean compatible with current set top boxes people have at home not "DVD audio CDs" *** a "new" audio format 3. I only want one song, only one song... I don't like the band, they only produced ONE song that fits the style that will get them air play... and I want that one song.... where can I get for 1/13th the cost of the full album?? Sorry, a little drunk and overly speaking my mind!! Hope this makes sence. Peace out!

Jan 19, 2003, 05:43 PM	#4
DriveEuro HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gurnee Illinois Posts: 4,677 Rep Power: 0	You're 3rd point TOTALLY makes sense. I don't know how many times I have heard of a band and JUST liked them for that one song. __________________ [color=orange]ASUS P4P800 Deluxe [color=black]-[/color] 2.4C --> 3300mhz [color=black]-[/color] Mushkin PC3200 at 220 5-2-2-2 (cpu limited) [color=black]-[/color] BBAti 9800Pro at 430/375 [/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]01[/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]03[/color] 16001200 12801024

Jan 19, 2003, 07:25 PM	#7
DriveEuro HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gurnee Illinois Posts: 4,677 Rep Power: 0	How many people would download music if they could just download it at 5 kb/s like me? 56kbps modem. The growth of broadband has also had growth on the MP3 scene and file-swapping. __________________ [color=orange]ASUS P4P800 Deluxe [color=black]-[/color] 2.4C --> 3300mhz [color=black]-[/color] Mushkin PC3200 at 220 5-2-2-2 (cpu limited) [color=black]-[/color] BBAti 9800Pro at 430/375 [/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]01[/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]03[/color] 16001200 12801024

Jan 19, 2003, 10:41 PM	#9
DriveEuro HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gurnee Illinois Posts: 4,677 Rep Power: 0	I leave mine on 24/7 also......But I download anything....COUGHgamesCOUGH and music. __________________ [color=orange]ASUS P4P800 Deluxe [color=black]-[/color] 2.4C --> 3300mhz [color=black]-[/color] Mushkin PC3200 at 220 5-2-2-2 (cpu limited) [color=black]-[/color] BBAti 9800Pro at 430/375 [/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]01[/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]03[/color] 16001200 12801024

Jan 19, 2003, 07:02 AM	#2
nForcer Twice the fun! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,404 Rep Power: 0	Paying for music swapping - isn't that a stupid idea. Kinda like paying for each time you go +1 over the speed limit. HOW ON EARTH are you going to enforcer that? Its easy, you can't. Where do these people come up with these ideas? I'm certainly not paying for them.

Jan 19, 2003, 06:31 PM	#5
Leechmo HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	and as for targeting specific users and charging fees...they will never be able to tell...if certain ports get labeled as file-sharing ports they'll change them ...if networks get too corrupted people can and will switch .... the question of prevention is over.... just now what are they going to do about the fact that it is happening and will continue to happen....record companies and musicians need to adapt to a new reality

Jan 19, 2003, 06:38 PM	#6
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	If the recording industry wants to really do something about music swapping they should do this. Don't press charges, don't ask for money, don't shut down networks, and last but not least just shutup about it. What they should do is simply make the available quality of the music less. How many people would keep downloading music if they could only download it @ 64 kbs? I've downloaded my own share of music but everything I have been searching for I have found. I barely ever download any new music because I can never find it at the quality I want. If the music industry would put filters in place and lower the cost of CD's much of this whole spectacle would be over. I honestly think they are trying to use this as a way to raise prices on us as the consumer. Do you really think they care about the artists? It's all about big buisness folks.

Jan 20, 2003, 04:43 AM	#10
nz_skater DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: NZ Posts: 33 Rep Power: 0	I think the biggest issue with this is that most of the time it's only the recording industry that's complaining. The majority of artists either don't care or support it. Ask any major band and they will tell you that they make more money from concerts than selling CD's.

Jan 20, 2003, 08:25 AM	#11
nForcer Twice the fun! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,404 Rep Power: 0	Whoever is actually making the profits off of the product are the one's who complain the most. And in the end, there isn't anything they can do. But try teaching them that and they will look at you like 'huh?' knowing damn well its true.