In case you haven’t heard it already, the RIAA sucks.
They don’t seem to get the concept that not everyone who downloads MP3s is a thief, and that some of us actually use what we download to fine-tune our shopping lists; as a result, they enjoy going onto various blogs and unnecessarily raising cain when fine upstanding individuals try to offer up a sample from an album that they think you might like.
As a result, the website Gizmodo.com is suggesting that we boycott the RIAA during March.
It’s not that hard to do, really. As the site reminds us in their posting on the matter, there are tons of great unsigned bands out there, not to mention bands on indie labels, that have absolutely no affiliation with the RIAA. I myself subscribe to eMusic.com, which has tons and tons of indie music at a very reasonable price. (Read, “Cheaper than iTunes.”) And if you still want to support a band who IS affiliated with the RIAA, then go see them in concert or buy their merchandise; they get more money out of those things, anyway.
C’mon, you can do it. I know, I can talk the talk much easier as a music journalist who gets a lot of music for free…but first and foremost, I’m a music geek, and I still buy albums all the time. It’s just that this month, I’m going to try and make a statement with what I’m not buying.
