My first web experiences

All this talk about using the interwebs got me thinking about my early days... Naturally, I would squeeze in some internet time on our SE/30 before my folks came home. Before that, I'd steal time with friends on their old PC's, although my family never owned the old-skool phone cradle modems (we had an Apple ][ and Laser 128, but neither were connected with modems).

In college, we had Archie, Gopher, etc... and then the change happened. The sea change known as HTML hit the scene as I worked in the music library. Luckily, we had a room with Macs. Sure, I had my handy Prodigy account, but we downloaded something called Mosaic-- and things got easier. Suddenly I started learning code again (I was a journalism major at the time, and had left my Applesoft BASIC days behind). Having been an avid HyperCard user, the metaphor was easy to grasp. Pages connected by hyperlinks. Hell, the word "hyper" was in there! Remember that? Who says hyperlink any more?

Anyway, even before image support we were tinkering, clicking, playing and connecting. Lots of fun, and thank goodness I reported to work 3 times a week to a room with Macs and smart, inquisitive people.

Stealin' tha music pt. 2

I have a CD from the 2006 Macworld expo that I just never bothered opening. It's from Magnatune, who have the somewhat dire-sounding motto "we're not evil" (you know, Google isn't either, but they don't flaunt it like that). Anyway, the No Evil mantra comes from a fair licensing scheme, and, more importantly for us gray market rebels, they allow you to purchase DRM-free music. You won't find your Top 40 bands on here. These are true indies, so give a listen and support the artists. Magnatune seems like a decent service, and they have MP3's and WAV's for sale.

The important thing: They are not evil.

They're not threatened by the asinine CRB ruling either, but still... Point is, the RIAA doesn't want DRM to go away. By supporting Magnatune and the artists on it, you're supporting the destruction of the DRM system-- a system designed to enslave you, lock out competition, and ultimately screw the independent artists (because music marketing is LAAAAZZYYY).

Steal this music pt. 1.5

So let's start stealing back our music by giving power to choice. Pandora.com is just about the most amazing web service I've ever seen. Imagine the choice of Amazon, the depth of ebay, and the added bonus of real humans using their brains to recommend specific music you'd like. And you don't even have to sign in to try it!

Naturally there are plenty of web radios out there. Some even make suggestions of music. Pandora picks music based on a very intricate system, but it all boils down to listening analysis that was performed by actual musical experts-- not on some lame "genre" or bpm algorithm.

Is this stealing? Well, it's stealing power from the marketing departments I guess. I'm not against marketing, I just think that music marketing is kinda in the gutter. The labels should embrace Pandora because this is the absolute most targeted marketing they could ever hope to achieve. Google does great because it uses some of the best MATHEMATICAL ALGORITHMS on the planet.

But nothing, no circuit, no chip, no array, no cluster, holds a candle to the musical expertise of a real, live human. That is to say, there's a soul in Pandora's machine. Labels should work with Pandora to analyze usage patterns (not necessarily users, we can keep this private). They should enable more purchasing power, and frequent listener incentives. Get them hooked on the product, you dolts! Isn't that what marketing is about?

Instead, what I would call "fatcat" marketers appeal to the largest number of people because of course, there's a lot of money to be made in pimping one, hugenormous brand. Like Britney, or Flava, or whatever. NOTE: Flava Flav has real talent.

But for every Flav, there are 3 or 4 or more Britney's. Nothing wrong with bubble gum pop, but the reason growth isn't where you want it? You aren't targeting your customers. Pandora recommends stuff like a friend would, not a computer or a marketer.

Oh, and help "steal the music" by going to Save Our Internet Radio and spread the word. 30% tax on web radio = death of an industry. How is that good for anyone?

The smartest thing I heard today

Watching ABC news and they're talking about campus security. One option they discussed was an IM-based emergency messaging system. This is brilliant. Companies like AOL or Yahoo or Google or a decent carrier could even provide a free IM account for college students who sign up for the emergency system. It costs the school nothing.

You're sitting in class and 3 phones go off at the same time. These students look at each other. One of them steps up and informs the teacher... This is so simple and powerful, I hope all schools do it soon.

How to steal music, pt. 1: the Manifesto

You know, I really wanted to give the RIAA the benefit of the doubt. More importantly, I wanted to give due process and some judges the benefit... But the RIAA keeps forcing us into this.

The final straw came as I read the words of some RIAA "experts" on Techdirt:

“Well, we don't really model this as an industry with thousands of webcasters, we think it should be an industry with, you know, five or seven big players who can pay a high rate and it's a stable, predictable market.”

Um, call me crazy, but don't we live in a capitalist economy and society? Since when did we establish a Beaureau of Predictable Markets? How dare the RIAA set fiscal policy for an entire industry! Never mind the totalitarian, communist and frankly, borderline illegal nature of this policy-- this is the kind of shit that can screw up an economy. Let's face it, increasingly our greatest exports are creative content. Music, movies, even design are all very strong in our country and we export a lot of it to reap huge rewards domestically. It is positively un-American to hinder this progress, which is exactly what the narrow-minded buffoons at the RIAA wish to do. Their actions and their words are now laid bare for the world to see, if only it will open its eyes. My guess is the day Sally Lunchpail can't tune in to her web radio will be the day the outcry begins, but by then it will be too late.

So, as a patriotic person, and a man who believes in our economy and creative citizenry, I'm going to provide some details on how the average human can steal music. The RIAA leaves us no choice, as they would rather close the music industry down than allow us to experience music and BUY music on our own terms. RIAA, from hell's heart, I stab at thee.

More details to come...

UPDATE: Here's a nice list of the power brokers behind the RIAA.
And to be clear, I'm not advocating actual theft. When I say "steal" music, I'm referring to the theft as the RIAA defines it, not as the law of the land does. I don't want artists to get shafted. But the RIAA doesn't rep the artists, it reps the labels. Did we not learn our economic lessons regarding trickle-down economics? For proof that doesn't work, be sure to look at how the rich have gotten richer, and the middle class (your truly) has become poorer in the past 20 years.

I mean "steal music" like Abbie Hoffman meant "steal this book." It is a call to arms, and a call for discussion. I'd love to have a few minutes in front of anyone at the RIAA to plead the case of the average American-- this doesn't have to be a one-sided victory, after all.

Mr. Magoo's world

Well I happened to notice a little item on the front page of digg today: "Mac fans ready to gouge out their eyes due to Leopard delay" or something like that. The link goes to this story on Computerworld, a magazine published by tech industry publishing juggernaut IDG.

I've had issues with IDG in the past, but it's kinda funny to see the "outcry" quotes in this article. I understand culling liberally from another IDG rag: Macworld. But all the other quotes are from Macrumors (which gets a ton of love), AppleInsider (gets one), Macnn (one) and, uh, Business 2.0??? IDG, there are many more Apple blogs out there. Even Engadget covered this story, and the comments on that post are noteworthy. TUAW happens to be a little Apple blog too and it got a measly 76 comments. Not enough for IDG, I'm sure.

Look, IDG, we know you hate us, but won't you explain why? Or does this still fall under the (Frankenstein voice) "RRR, no undertand new media, RARRR! Blogs bring pain!" old-skool media empire blinders?

Trent Reznor: please lead the way in fighting the RIAA

It will take some very high-profile artists to step up and walk in front of the steam-powered monster truck that it the RIAA. And since the chuckleheads at RIAA have decided to quash a very clever viral marketing campaign for NIN maybe now is the time.

I don't see Jessica Simpson doing it. Trent might be one of those few artists with the clout, sales (uh, maybe), and certainly know-how to fight these guys. Look, I'm not against a protective body for artists. Of course they need protection from theft! Artists should be paid for their work, and believe me, far too many artists in our country are underserved. But the RIAA acting like the mafia isn't really called for.

Sadly this is going to get much worse before it gets better.