Roots Archives Forum

It is fair to download MP3
The following has been reproduced from another thread:

"Vinyl prices have just gotten out of hand. Ebay has caused vinyl prices to sky rocket. Are the original artists benefiting from this? I dont think so.

By purchasing reggae in its original format (tape, vinyl or cd) 90% of the time if not more the artist doesnt see a cent in royalties. The people making the money are the big record labels and crooked producers that ripped off the artist in the first place.

Everytime I sell, trade or give away a cd-r or mp3 of rare and out of print reggae I feel Iam keeping that artists name and music alive. Some artists would go unheard and forgotten if not for the trading and selling of recorded tapes, mp3's and so on.

I have spoken to artsists directly who themselves say they are just happy their music is being heard. Winston Hussey is one example. He's not making any money off of the repress of his albums on the live and learn label but as a result he is doing more shows (very good ones)and being requested. I think copyright laws in Jamaica started in 1993 I could be wrong. So i guess no laws were broken by the producers before then.

Bottom line the artists were ripped off and continue to be ripped off but on the other hand mp3's and cd-r's are keeping their music alive."

I couldn't agree more.

I respect the views here. I feel its fair to point out that not all download sites are illegal. Whilst i agree that many people will be stealing music, many are not. Blood and Fire's entire catalogue was recently added to I-tunes. You cannot tell me that this is not benificial to the Artists. We all know the deals that were cut in the Jamaican recording scene moons ago, but no-one can change that. Thanks to labels like Hot Pot, Auralux, Pressure Sounds and so on, the Artists are now seeing some reward for their work. If by putting them on i-tunes they sell a few more copies then its a good thing. As for 'down with I-Pods'. Tell that to Sly Dunbar, i understand he has the most mighty selection on his!

Yes, it's ok to download illegal MP3s. It's not the artists being affected by MP3s: ITS THE RECORD COMPANIES. How can they justify charging £9 for a CD that costs 14p (including the case and artwork) to produce? On top of that, the wretched government has to take their wretched VAT. Stuff them all!!

If the record companies charged a more resonable price for their products, then more people might be less inclined to download MP3s and more inclined to buy CDs.

Long Live MP3, Sharing, P2P networks, people copying CDs for each other. Let everyone have affordable access to music!!

Praise Jah for Reggae,
Brother Ignatius, Alpha School Originator

I agree with brother ignatious for me share is the only way to keep the fire burning of the real roots reggae artist out of print

"If the record companies charged a more resonable price for their products, then more people might be less inclined to download MP3s and more inclined to buy CDs.

Long Live MP3, Sharing, P2P networks, people copying CDs for each other. Let everyone have affordable access to music!!"

Huge record companies such as Sony or BMG aren't going to go out of business anytime soon. They have billions in the bank, and are a bunch of greedy bast-rds. Reggae record companies are another story. Reggae is a small market, and they have a hard time just staying afloat. If you want labels like Blood & Fire and Pressure Sounds to stay open and keeping the fantastic music coming, the you have to support them by BUYING their releases legally. Prefferably from a store which specializes in reggae, so that they can stay open too. It's a small community. Let's not sh-t in our own backyard.

record business was brought from babylon
reggae is a mission not a competition
spread the reggae reality
mp3 & p2p don't make money with reggae

i dont know if itz fair or not

but i buy original reggae secondhand and new

and i download reggae legally and illegally

i borrow and tape 4rm wherever i can
an i lend and tape 4 others whever i can

anyway i can to get my hands on
sweet reggae music

Of course it's fair!!

Unfair is things like bad health, drought, famine and war.

Get a grip guys, for God's sake!

I TRIED diligently to buy very old Telford Nelson (now with Culture) vinyl, but could not locate it anywhere.
Someone on this site emailed me the "choon" Rough Road. I do not feel like I stole it. I would have gladly paid to buy the vinyl.
I am still looking for his: "Colli Weed",& "Live as One", vinyl, but have concluded my diligent search.
I may have to get it through Anchor Records, the studio he deals with in Kingston~

Oras WAKE UP.
Business is normal way of life.
Without that people still life ina the Ghetto.
Wake up man

One Love and peace.

Vinyl