Last Tuesday, I (along with my buddy Torres) drove out to Jones Beach to see my first Phish show in 13 years. In addition to the weather (we even got a rainbow!), venue, and music itself being fantastic, I was reminded just how great the whole Phish scene and vibe were. I will try my best to get something up about that night at some point, but we all know how that goes. Anyhoo: I was so thrilled by the experience (and the general ease with which Torres's friend Scotty scored 5 tickets in 15 minutes for 50% of face value) that, despite my yakking never amounting to anything, I talked about going to either one of both of their two remaining nights out in Wantagh, LI, NY. I even considered going down to see them in Camden, NJ last night, but I guess I am just not enough of a fan to make it happen.
Despite my disappointment in both myself and the fact that I likely blew my only chances to see Phish live more than once this summer, I was sated in one regard. As a result of the combinaition of cunning, the tradition of "taping" at Phish shows, and the lighting speed at which digital and mobile technology has evolved in recent years, someone (and on two nights more than one person!) was streaming video of the show live via his or her iPhone. I KNOW! The video and audio quality was only passable, but it was thrilling to even have the opportunity to watch a Phish that I was not otherwise able to attend from the comfort of my own couch!
Due to Phish and their fanbase's long tradition of taping shows and then trading said tapes, this seemed to me like the next step in a rather logical progression. Recently, Phish themselves started offering high quality audio recordings of their shows direct from the soundboard to your PC via download a mere few hours after the end of a show. They even offer an exhaustive audio and video archive - all of which can be downloaded for prices similar to those of iTunes. So I was shocked to read somewhere online (I feel somewhat irresponsible for not remembering exactly what or where it was. I have tried multiple Google searches and have come up with nothing) that Phish seemed none too pleased with this. While their taping policy has always allowed only for audio recording and specifically states that streaming audio is not cool, I would like to believe that with the advent of both livephish.com and the technology that could allow for such a cool opportunity would make the decision to either endorse this or provide an "official" avenue for video streaming something of a no-brainer. Phish has not released an official statement concerning the matter and rumor has it that the stream will be back up for tomorrow night's show, so there's no telling where we're headed on this one.
I know that the Allman Bros. Band did something similar to this for their annual run of shows at the Beacon Theatre this past March. Fans paid x$ in order to watch live streaming video of the entire series of 14 shows. I think it was something to the tune of $110 - which seems reasonable to me - and while the Allmans are certainly not your average baby boomers, it would only make sense that a jam band from a later generation (I dunno, maybe... Phish!) would be even more likely to offer a similar opportunity to its fans. My fingers are crossed - and apparently so are those of many other on the web. There is currently an online petition requesting that Phish provide a live video stream of their shows. I have signed it, and I urge you to do the same. Be you a Phish-head, a casual fan, or even just a lover of live music, this petition is the beginning of what is bound to be yet another chapter in the ongoing discussion about the inevitable meeting of antiquated copyright legislation and the developing technologies that force us to reconsider the connection, or lack thereof, between intellectual property and artistic commodities. While I do believe that this is a large scale discussion well worth engaging in, I also really wanna watch Phish shows live on my computer, so please click through and sign the petition.
Click here to sign it.
If you need any extra convincing, here's some video from the show I was at:
03 June 2009
The little guy goes "social climber" even in the digital world. (or: Why emusic is pissing me off right now)
I have a few massive posts on the way. I am hoping to find the time this weekend and early next week to roll out a few days worth of reading for y'all, but, in the meantime, I need to blow off a little steam.
For more than three years, I have not only been a loyal user of Emusic (link intentionally not provided) for many of my music purchases, but I have often trumpeted it to friends and family and even gotten a few people to sign up. They have offered a wide array of independent pop music and a healthy dose of classic jazz, blues, and fold recordings on a track-by-track basis for (depending on your monthly plan) as little as twenty-four cents a song. They have been able to maintain this price model by dealing exclusively independent (and mostly small independent ones at that) record companies. You had no chance of getting the new Jonas Bros. or even Springsteen record there, but I always found a way to wisely spend my 65 downloads a month (for $14.99!) by using their recommendation section or by reading other customer reviews. Between the prices, the less than flashy site design, and the knowledgeable and discerning customer base, it was really the digital equivalent of going to a local record store.
Alas it appears that even in the digital world of the web, the quick and the dead are getting separated all to quickly. Just a few minutes ago I went on over to my ex-favourite online outpost for new music to see how many downloads I had left this month and found out that things are about to change there. Apparently, Emusic has struck a deal with one of the big bad wolves of the recording industry (Sony) and will be drastically altering its pricing plan, user interface, and (obviously) catalog.
Yes: I get it - I could now have access to MORE music. Now I can get the new album by some obscure Finnish prog-pop band at the same place as the new Michael Jackson or Modest Mouse record... but this all makes me very sad. To be honest: it started out as anger. See: as someone who has been around for a while, I am currently covered under and older plan which has continued to be granted to me via grandfather-clause through a few pricing tier changes. Well, now that's over too. If I continue to download from emusic, I will now get LESS THAN HALF of the downloads I currently get for the same price. (the grammar of the last sentence is so sloppy, but I am too upset to fix it) But after stewing for a minute I realize that the money is an infintessimally small part of the problem. What it's really about is watching the online equivalent of my favourite local record shop get bought out by Borders or Best Buy or whoever else sells physical copies of music these days. It makes me deeply and profoundly sad. Yes, I buy Levi's and Converse and shop at Guitar Center and the Gap sometimes, but anyone who knows me also knows that I have spent a lot of dollars supporing local and small businesses since I have had the dollars to spend. I have also made a point of it to apply this principle more heavily to the world of music. For every $10 I spend at Guitar Center, I spend $50 or more at local independent music retailers. For every two albums I get through iTunes or Amazon MP3, I get 10 from emusic. I am not looking for a soapbox moment here (though this is my blog :) ), I am just looking for a way to deal with the fact that even in the near-imaginary world of the internet a "small local business" can't survive without selling out to the big boys.
I understand that there is a certain conceit here. I also am fully aware of the indie-elitist bullshit I am bringing to the table. That part of me is sad that now the customer album reviews (which I trust and rely on heavily)may read like the non-musical uninformed drivel you can find in the customer ratings and reviews at the iTunes store. Go ahead: call me an elitist, culturalist, classist dick; but if I wanna read the commentary of an 11 year old still suckling at the teet of the faceless douche bags that buy and sell art like it's hunk of tin, I have 500 students in my school that can give me their opinions. And while those kids opinions carry a lot of weight with me, something tells me my tastes are gonna be a little more similar to the guy or gal on emusic who has downloaded all the same shit that I have. I am getting off topic here...
I probably shouldn't click on the "publish post" button just yet, but I have a class coming in in a few minutes and i need to cool down and perk up before they get here. Please console me - or convince me somehow that I should keep my eMusic subscription, 'cos right now I am planning on writing and angry letter, and cancelling as soon I can without them taking any more of my little guy money for just another big box experience.
For more than three years, I have not only been a loyal user of Emusic (link intentionally not provided) for many of my music purchases, but I have often trumpeted it to friends and family and even gotten a few people to sign up. They have offered a wide array of independent pop music and a healthy dose of classic jazz, blues, and fold recordings on a track-by-track basis for (depending on your monthly plan) as little as twenty-four cents a song. They have been able to maintain this price model by dealing exclusively independent (and mostly small independent ones at that) record companies. You had no chance of getting the new Jonas Bros. or even Springsteen record there, but I always found a way to wisely spend my 65 downloads a month (for $14.99!) by using their recommendation section or by reading other customer reviews. Between the prices, the less than flashy site design, and the knowledgeable and discerning customer base, it was really the digital equivalent of going to a local record store.
Alas it appears that even in the digital world of the web, the quick and the dead are getting separated all to quickly. Just a few minutes ago I went on over to my ex-favourite online outpost for new music to see how many downloads I had left this month and found out that things are about to change there. Apparently, Emusic has struck a deal with one of the big bad wolves of the recording industry (Sony) and will be drastically altering its pricing plan, user interface, and (obviously) catalog.
Yes: I get it - I could now have access to MORE music. Now I can get the new album by some obscure Finnish prog-pop band at the same place as the new Michael Jackson or Modest Mouse record... but this all makes me very sad. To be honest: it started out as anger. See: as someone who has been around for a while, I am currently covered under and older plan which has continued to be granted to me via grandfather-clause through a few pricing tier changes. Well, now that's over too. If I continue to download from emusic, I will now get LESS THAN HALF of the downloads I currently get for the same price. (the grammar of the last sentence is so sloppy, but I am too upset to fix it) But after stewing for a minute I realize that the money is an infintessimally small part of the problem. What it's really about is watching the online equivalent of my favourite local record shop get bought out by Borders or Best Buy or whoever else sells physical copies of music these days. It makes me deeply and profoundly sad. Yes, I buy Levi's and Converse and shop at Guitar Center and the Gap sometimes, but anyone who knows me also knows that I have spent a lot of dollars supporing local and small businesses since I have had the dollars to spend. I have also made a point of it to apply this principle more heavily to the world of music. For every $10 I spend at Guitar Center, I spend $50 or more at local independent music retailers. For every two albums I get through iTunes or Amazon MP3, I get 10 from emusic. I am not looking for a soapbox moment here (though this is my blog :) ), I am just looking for a way to deal with the fact that even in the near-imaginary world of the internet a "small local business" can't survive without selling out to the big boys.
I understand that there is a certain conceit here. I also am fully aware of the indie-elitist bullshit I am bringing to the table. That part of me is sad that now the customer album reviews (which I trust and rely on heavily)may read like the non-musical uninformed drivel you can find in the customer ratings and reviews at the iTunes store. Go ahead: call me an elitist, culturalist, classist dick; but if I wanna read the commentary of an 11 year old still suckling at the teet of the faceless douche bags that buy and sell art like it's hunk of tin, I have 500 students in my school that can give me their opinions. And while those kids opinions carry a lot of weight with me, something tells me my tastes are gonna be a little more similar to the guy or gal on emusic who has downloaded all the same shit that I have. I am getting off topic here...
I probably shouldn't click on the "publish post" button just yet, but I have a class coming in in a few minutes and i need to cool down and perk up before they get here. Please console me - or convince me somehow that I should keep my eMusic subscription, 'cos right now I am planning on writing and angry letter, and cancelling as soon I can without them taking any more of my little guy money for just another big box experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
