Save the RIAA time and trouble? The recent RIAA letter to ISPs

What was the RIAA's motivation in writing a letter to the ISPs? What is the offer? How should victims respond if the ISPs do send the recommended notice? These questions are briefly but clearly covered in this concise story from DigitalMusicEye blog.



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Counting Crows Lead Singer, Adam Duritz, Launches Indie Label

Photo by Peggy Sirota


Signs Chicago–based Band, Blacktop Mourning and New York MC, Notar

February 16, 2007 – Counting Crows lead singer and Oscar-nominated songwriter, Adam Duritz, ventures into the label side of the music business with the launch of Tyrannosaurus Records (T-Recs). Starting a new label was not on Duritz’s to-do list, especially while he was busy writing new material and laying tracks for Counting Crows upcoming record (being recorded in NYC as we speak). But a trip to MySpace.com changed all that when he discovered two exceptional artists, Notar and Blacktop Mourning.

According to Duritz, “The talent of Notar and Blacktop Mourning just blew me away and I wanted to be a part of their evolution. But I know that when you start a label you’re responsible for the hopes and dreams of the artists you sign and that’s a big deal to me. We’re here to create a partnership with our artists, help them create great music and navigate the treacherous waters of the music business. Simple as that.”

“My vision for T-Recs is an intimate boutique label,” continues Duritz. “We’re in the studio with the bands, talking to them constantly about their careers and their music. We handle everything in-house and we’re taking on a very limited number of artists so that each band gets personal attention.”

Read about the recent letter the RIAA has sent to ISPs? Digg this response.

Read about the letter here and here.

Here is a website, p2plawsuitssuck.com to counter the attempts of the RIAA to lead its targets to an uninformed and perhaps unwise settlement facilitated by the ISPs letter sent at the request of the RIAA.



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No DRM Could Mean Cheaper Music

Even if Steve Jobs' essay last week -- in which the Apple chief questioned the wisdom of continuing to sell music wrapped in digital rights management -- was a negotiating tactic designed to give Apple an advantage during impending license renewal negotiations, as some have suggested, Jobs' proposal is still spurring lots of discussion.



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A little Valentine Jazz for you . . . You are free to download this DRM free mp3.

Download "That's What Lovers Do" (mp3)
from "Time Changes Everything"
by Anna Wilson
Transfer Records

• Buy at iTunes Music Store

More On This Album

NovemberStar finds a Star

The most recent featured artist at http://Novemberstar.com is a real find. Deblois is an indie artist making some really good music. Kind of a jazzy, folk, accustic sound - very unique. Well worth checking out.

Bad Week for Big Four

This has been a bad week for the Big Four Major Labels (and the RIAA in general).

First, the plaintiffs in Capitol v. Foster (one of the filesharing cases brought for alleged copyright infringement) were told they had to pay the innocent defendant's attorneys fees after dismissing the case. http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2007/02/judge-grants-debbie-fosters-attorneys.html

Second, Steve Jobs of Apple iTunes blasted them for insisting on DRM protection for digital music sold through iTunes. Jobs was passing the blame - pointing the finger at the big four recording labels as the only reason iTunes used DRM. Further, he suggested it was not a real bright move by the big four to do this. http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughtsonmusic/

So, its been a good week for those of us who support indie music!