Comments on: Gene Simmons shows his age (and ignorance)

Gene Simmons wants to sue college kids off the face of Earth. Don Reisinger has a few choice words for the leader of KISS.

[dpi5004]

Yes, Gene, young people are downloading (and, yes, stealing) music illegally.
But no, Gene, the stuff they are downloading probably isn't your crappy music. I'm pretty sure that last I checked, the 70's are over. So you want to talk about destroying the lives of 11-year olds by suing them off the planet, so you'll feel better about releasing another album that none of those kids would ever want to listen to anyway? What a greedy, old scumbag.

And to swiggins, you have a good point that controversy often leads to money. But this is not good for KISS. Fans are the what give bands purpose and when you start attacking consumers, they aren't going to want to buy your product.

[Poddy Mon]

That's a nice rant you got there fella.

I don't support illegal DLs (I don't need to) but the fact is that maintaining unrealistic pricing models in the face of an easily accessible, and cheap (albeit illegal) alternatives such as ripping and copying is just bad business.

I now buy most of my music on the basis of free downloads found on music.download.com and other free sites like Stereogum and 3hive. I listen to the songs on my MP3 player for a while, decide whether I love or hate them, then buy the CDs or pay to download the albums of those I love.

Funnily enough, some of my favourite artists (including mainstream ones) seem to be adopting the free track model. They either release a few free DLs from their back catalog or one from their new album. It is a great way to boost sales from old CDs or boost interest in new ones. Either way, the artist/s and the customer win.

I'm buying music from artists I'd never have been exposed to, but for the free (legal) DLs. Here's to alternative business models, and the artists and bands willing to try them. They'll get my money.

[soundman45]

How bad is the music industry hurting these days due to illegal downloads ? Let's look at the distribution side for a moment. In the past couple of years you've had Tower Records, one of the largest retail record distributors fold. Mom and pop record stores are pretty much a dying entity as well. CD sales are way down. Superior playback formats like SACD and DVD audio are pretty much dead. (unless you listen to classical music), and who's to blame ? We are. It's a sad day for the music industry when you look for your favorite artists new CD, and the only distributor you can purchase it from is Wal Mart.

[thelivingdaylights]

Mr. Sound Engineer, tell me how the cost of producing a completely digital track that only exists as code compares to mass production of CD/SACD/DVD audio tracks. The music industry has an extremely viable, and ultimately more profitiable, venue for selling music: the internet. iTunes sold its 5 billionth song just recently, which should be more than evidence enough that many are willing to pay for their music.

The cost of producing and distributing music is a fraction of what it used to be: a band can produce an album with just a mixer and a laptop, distribute it on Itunes, and advertise it on Myspace, Facebook, blogs, as well as LIVE SHOWS--the most important cash cow for any artists.

The smartest artists know that the bulk of their revenue comes from live shows; this has always been the case . Record companies, instead of mourning the loss of selling overpriced physical music in a brick and mortar store, should be using the funds to:

1. Expose the artists they represent via radio, internet, and live venues
2. Set up an affordable and convenient digital download service for consumers to get music (selling through iTunes)

The market needs to shift from the product being purely the music recording itself to using the recording as a means of gaining an audience for live shows. This doesn't mean "giving your music away" (though some do that), but rather giving consumers a viable and convenient alternative to stealing that makes the benefits of stealing obviously not worth the risk and building a fan-base willing to pay to go see you live; if your music is worth hearing and buying, then you will always have an audience willing to pay for a live venue.

[smartmuffin]

Talk about pandering to your audience. I can't tell whether this article is trying to suggest that stealing music is OK because they do it overseas, or that stealing music is OK because other people steal much more of it.

There's a really simple way this works, it's the same way it works when you're thinking of purchasing almost anything else. You look at a product, you look at it's price, and if you deem it to be worth the cost, you buy it. Otherwise, you don't. Personally, I think Milk is pretty overpriced, but you don't see me constantly stealing it from grocery stores then blaming the Milk industry for "unrealistic prices"

[Lerianis]

Maybe if that happened more, the price of milk would go down. There comes a time when you have to say that our capitalistic society is no longer working correctly and has morphed into a predatory capitalistic system.... I think we are there or very close to there right now.

[thelivingdaylights]

Mr. Sound Engineer, tell me how the cost of producing a completely digital track that only exists as code compares to mass production of CD/SACD/DVD audio tracks. The music industry has an extremely viable, and ultimately more profitiable, venue for selling music: the internet. iTunes sold its 5 billionth song just recently, which should be more than evidence enough that many are willing to pay for their music. The cost of producing and distributing music is a fraction of what it used to be: a band can produce an album with just a mixer and a laptop, distribute it on Itunes, and advertise it on Myspace, Facebook, blogs, as well as LIVE SHOWS--the most important cash cow for any artists.

The smartest artists know that the bulk of their revenue comes from live shows; this has always been the case . Record companies, instead of mourning the loss of selling overpriced physical music in a brick and mortar store, should be using the funds to:
1. Expose the artists they represent via radio, internet, and live venues
2. Set up an affordable and convenient digital download service for consumers to get music (selling through iTunes)
The market needs to shift from the product being purely the music recording itself to using the recording as a means of gaining an audience for live shows. This doesn't mean "giving your music away" (though some do that), but rather giving consumers a viable and convenient alternative to stealing that makes the benefits of stealing obviously not worth the risk and building a fan-base willing to pay to go see you live; if your music is worth hearing and buying, then you will always have an audience willing to pay for a live venue.

[RunSilent23]

So what makes stealing not worth the risk if there are no consequences? If we can't stand the thought of kids being held accountables for illegal behavior then what makes us think they will start to use I-Tunes and begin paying for something they used to get for free.

[Gerrylives]

Simmons is a jerk.. All anyone needs to do is look at the Grateful Dead. They encouraged taping at their concerts and the sharing of their music.. and Gerry died with a 200 million dollar estate. Its all greed. bulls win, bears win, Pigs get slaughtered... and frankly.. Does anyone really care if Simons records any more music?

[WilliamRLBaker]

Hmmm seems to me like don is the one looking to make a name for himself *id never even heard of this guy till i clicked a link on gamespot*
Don't really think gene simmons needs to remind any one hes still around since most kids these days still know who kiss was and is.

as for that sry but you cannot tell me the majority of americans are geting their music from overseas asian bootlegging operations no the majority are downloading it online, cause sry its not a matter of its too much, its a matter that people think it should be free.

Cause trust me most people if they can get it for free will get it for free they wont pay money if they dont have too.

[WilliamRLBaker]

As well i must add its obvious your point isn't strong enough so you have to add in personal insults againest gene simmons such as wannabe, old..ect an argument that can stand on its own feet doesn't need insults.

As tuxcat said labels inability, or unwillingness to deal with counterfeiting on a larger scale to justify p2p thievery is just bizarre you obviously dont know how hard it is to deal with and get rid of piracy in other countries, Pirateybay case in point they continue to offer a easy place to find any torrent you want and while not directly hosting those files what they do is in essence a guy on a street corner pointing to the drug dealer down the alley, and they get sued and serve cease and desist orders constantly and because of what i believe swedish? law is the webmasters just sit back and laugh.

When dealing with counterfeiters in other countries is as easy to handle as p2p file sharers in america then you'll have a point, till then your argument is obviously full of holes that your trying to patch with insults.

[mark3960]

"Oh, Gene. I know old age gets to you and sometimes it's easier to be cranky than apply logic to things you don't understand, but can't you try just this one time? You've not only made yourself look like a fool, but your gross misrepresentation of the facts shows us how little you know."
<<correction>>
Gene Simmons made himself look like a fool the first time he donned the ridiculous costume.

This article just shows how out of touch they must be to assume that the world even wants another Kiss album!!

Signed, Never a fan.

[mark3960]

The entire recording industry is upset because they realise that with the advent of the internet they simply are not needed anymore. What band needs to spend $50,000 to record a cd? For a couple thouseand bucks you can buy most of the software you need to make stellar recordings on PC. Then take that $50,000 and put it into marketing your sound and the band makes all the profit instead of some fat twit behind a desk. The world is full of middlemen who gladly profit from someone elses talent or expertise. When music goes straight from band to consumer I'll start buying again.

[jeepngrl89]

Wow you obviously never watched Gene Simmon's reality show. You are overthinking way too much. Anything that Gene says shouldn't be taken so seriously. He isn't an antichrist like you are making him out to be. He just mouths off a lot because... he's Gene Simmons. Get a clue and don't take anything Gene says so seriously. He says stuff to get a rise out of people like you. You fed right into his hands.

[ferretboy88]

My friends kid is a college kid and she is getting sued for stealing music. Funny how people will steal someones work and think nothing of it. Its the culture of today. All the kids think they are owed everything.

[Bill Veik]

In an indirect way, Gene Simmons is EXACTLY right. Not about the exact situation about the root cause of the problem, but about the origins of the pirates.....

Do you know why piracy became so profitable? Because way back when a group of people decided that they wanted their favorite band's music, and they wanted it for free. And because culture taught them that what they wanted was always correct and they should always have it, and that they could do what they want, without standards, that's exactly what they did.

They created programs designed to get their favorite music, and get it for free. And share it for free. Everyone else joined in, and Napster was born. Record prices are ridiculous. But I am not one to feel that because I want someones music for free, I should get it for free.

Gene Simmons is an aging idiot. But consumers could have not participated in the piracy craze just as equally as the music unions could have taken steps to reduce the nonsense costs they charge. BOTH sides are gluttons, BOTH sides are at fault. And because of the "DO WHAT WE WANT AT ALL COSTS" edict we live by, the piracy people exist.

The "do what we want at all costs" culture fueled the thinking behind Columbine, VA Tech, and everything bad in this society. Every incident of someone doing wrong, despite it's wrongs, is someone living by the same credo. Society just makes it feel so acceptable.

[jpetrul]

Wow...what a ridiculous set of comments by gene simmons. I thought KISS was a lackljuster band and never really understood the popularity of the melodramatic face paint and leather outfits. Yes Mr. Simmons, sue little children who can't defend themselves. Seriously, NIN gave away (for free, completely and gloriously free) an entire album which i absolutely love and i would have paid 50 bucks for. That little show of good faith and generosity bolstered my respect for a band who probably has more illegal downloads by P2P users then KISS could ever dream of.

thanks to the author of this article for having some sense about him and being a voice of reason. i can think of something that gene simmins can KISS...(fill in the blank)

[webterractive]

The record industry is dead Gene, you don't have to look into the internet's open seas to see it. When major labels are looking to American Idol for the next big thing you know that you really have a problem.

[diadmer]

KISS isn't going to be putting out any material again? My day just keeps getting better!

Like Kodak still clutching desperately to the vestiges of the film-camera market just a few short years ago, the stodgy dinosaurs of the glory years of the music business will bravely go down with the ship while proclaiming the truth and virtue of their cause.

[harry_ness]

Right on...Lerianis is an idiot.

[jharrisofkansas]

Not every musician wants to or should have to go do live shows to make money . . .I am a composer myself and I think many are missing the boat here including Gene.....He should be looking for ways to make money with the net instead of going after his customers.He could have kiss.com sell his music/merchandise for half price and make twice as much money....He knows how record companies and so called collection agencies like ascap/bmi treat musicians and should be doing all he can to end that. Hey Gene open up a business school for young musicians that do not understand it isn't about art and you need to know how the business works.How many more composers do you want to see screwed just on the copyright vs publishing rights scam ? No one should be expected to work for free but the internet needs to be viewed as a forum to finally take control of your creations.The music business is the only industry where there is little or no protection to people creating and trying to sell/market their work.In any other industry the government will step in and protect small companies trying to market their creations. If large companies are using unfair tactics or violating anti trust laws you have a course of action to pursue that will work.Record companies have tied up distribution forever as means to control the industry...how that was not an anti trust violation is beyondme.The key now is that the net is OUR distribution method and if it cuts out the record companies too damn bad...I and others owe them nothing....How would developers feel if they could not market software they created because Bill Gates or any other giant in the industry would not allow the products of others in stores to be sold along side theirs ?

[J. Blow]

Those 'kids' are in reciept of stolen property dip sh*t. That's why they can be sued. The fact of the matter is the content wouldn't be available if someone didn't want it. That's why the pirates exist so please don't absolve the kids.

I think what he's saying is that he puts a lot of time and CAPITAL i.e. MONEY and he'd like to be paid for the product he produces if in fact there is consumer demand. I don't think that makes him "old" and I don't blame him for feeling that way.

[MariaG_2500]

Hey Don, your ageist slant invalidates your point...