Comments on: Artists to music labels: Where's our Napster money?

Napster and Kazaa were forced to pay record companies $370 million, but some artists wonder when the money will trickle down to them.

[dascha1]

It's a 'little' like the Software Industry

I mean, you have all these talented folks running around, speaking,
producing and engineering the hit solution, but the $$$$$$$$
instead builds the CORP and the top tier wind up owning the
world's largest yachts and planes.

[maciekjed]

Music Labels vs. Artists

Unfortunately Artists are on the bottom of the food chain. The industry the labels are the ones who are making real money... That is sad.
http://www.fusedworld.com

[oldguytoo]

labels vs. artists = management vs. labor

just like every other industry...it's management versus labor.
What else is new?

[pbg3445]

bilking is STEALING

Is this any different from what the P2P pirates are doing?
Well, yes. It's worse: the money from the file sharers is
theoretical--doesn't actually exist.
While this is real money, extorted by tear-stained evocations of
the poor, poor artists--and then pocketed by the legal
department.
It's STEALING.

[oldguytoo]

Bilking= stealing

True. But remember, the original Napster opened the door to the masses for stealing music thru downloads. P2P theorotical money translates to real money in the real world. Illegal downloading is stealing regardless of your excuses. Just because it can be done doesn't make it right. Plus, if you didn't like buying label produced CDs, don't buy them. Pursue other interests that are not morally wrong, and those that don't take food out of the mouths of artists, label employees, retailers, and industry linked citizens.

[Hoodgrown_Magazine]

Have the labels ever really cared about the artists?

Come on. We know the labels are out to only protect THEIR bottom line not the interest of the artists. That's old news. Is there really artists that thought THEY were going to see some of that money?

[jharrisofkansas]

rip off record companies

It has never been about the artist.....they will rip off the artist while they complain people are doing that to them...As I have posted before the music industry is the only industry where the creator of something does not have the ability to have full control and rights to their creation to sell and market as they see fit...Every other industry gets protection from our own Federal government in the form of anti trust laws that prevent large companies from doing any thing to limit your ability to sell and market your product....I am a composer and musician with a business background in manufacturing so I do know what I am talking about...Composers should look at the net as a new way to do business and finally have the ability to sell their product and keep all rights and control of it.

[zincmann]

The artists should sue the Record Companies now..

Hell now that youre in a Sue-A-Thon against the music buying public, why dont you turn around and sue the RIAA and the record companies. Its amazing how the shoe now is on the other foot, I will love to see what happens with that.

[troppp]

Sue for Defamation

The artists might be able to sue the RIAA for misrepresentation - just count the number of customers (old and new)that the RIAA scared away with their Orwellian business tactics. When I listen to music on the radio, I can't help but think of how the RIAA treats people. Then I don't even feel like listening to music, let alone buy it.

[Stephen Russell]

Lawyer fees

After the lawyers are paid off do you think that there would be much left?

Stupid artists.

[jsargent]

The logic

When an award is made it is supposed to include all the lawyers' fees. The details of the settlement will also include a breakdown of how much the lawyers get and how much the actual payment the artists should get. Out of $370 mil I would expect the artists to get $270 mil ($100 mil is a heck of a lot to give to lawyers).

[Vegaman_Dan]

RIAA wasn't about representing artists

The RIAA was only meant to extract money and distribute it amongst themselves and their legal attack dogs. The idea that they would represent the artists for whom they are suing small children and grandmosthers for is ludicrous.

It's all about the money.

[oldguytoo]

RIAA is the Labels group - not artists

Of course it's all about the money. This is America durn it. Capitalism. For napster and its users it was all about the money too. They didn't want spend their money to pay for music. They found a loophole via the internet to get music for free and have since justified their actions at the expense of the creative people, both artists and label people.
The record industry has alway been the black sheep of American entertainment. Notice, the video and video game industries are beginning to get real backing from Washington.

[sadchild]

the check's in the mail....

"file sharing hurts the artists! the poor artists! napster, pay us $270 million!"

years later....

(artist:) um, where is our money for all the suffering we went through?

(record label on cell phone from new yacht:) sorry, i'm going under a tunnel i can't hear you *click*

[Zaunto]

Declining CD sales...

Exactly.

And they wonder why there is a continuous decline in CD sales. Fewer people are going to brick and mortar stores and buying CD's. They are buying and downloading their favorite artists albums over the web and burning their own CD's.

[Zaunto]

Labels and RIAA

The artists will be lucky to ever see any of that Naptster and Kazaa money. You'll note that artists are not suing file sharer's, the RIAA is. I'm happy to be an independent artist selling my music directly to the public. The RIAA won't be suing anyone on my behalf.

[Jefferyslpalmer]

"A source within the music industry"? Names please.