I was watching some video on YouTube today that had a Band of Horses song in it, and at the bottom of it they listed the name of the song and the band’s MySpace. I thought to myself “Why did they do that? Are they afraid they’re going to get sued?”
I liked the song a lot so I went and got the album and then I thought to myself “Why would Band of Horses, or any band for that matter, sue anyone for using their songs?” I almost feel like bands should let people use their songs for free as long as they list the band and their website, because it is unparalleled exposure. I’m sure to get a licensing fee this guy would’ve had to pay $5,000 or whatever, but what if instead of charging him and getting this one lump sum of money, they let him use the song for free and got exposure and potential new fans?
This particular video had over 5 million viewers. That’s 5 million people who might go buy their CD or go to their next show. Even if only 3% of the people that watched that video went to iTunes and bought that one song that is still $150,000 versus the $5,000 they might have charged him to use it.
I think the big mistake that the music industry makes and the reason why it’s in such shambles is because musicians view their songs as their product. A band views their songs the same way a baker views his bread, they get money from selling individual songs. That’s not how things are working anymore, people aren’t going and buying CD’s anymore. So bands need to find other ways to make money (tours, merchandise, sponsors) and quit rejecting these incredible avenues of exposure.
They should allow people, beg people, to use their songs for free in YouTube videos and films. How many times have you gone to a movie and heard a song you liked and went and downloaded it when you got home? How many people has Wes Anderson turned onto The Kinks? How much of Frou Frou’s success does she owe to Garden State?
Bottom line: please let me use your music for free in my film.
An excellent rhetorical structure
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steampoweredmedia reblogged this from balltillifall and added:
An excellent rhetorical structure
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