Week 6: Music Sociology

Kevin Kelly wrote an article about free music and what the different meanings of free music are in his article: "Where Music Will Be Coming From". The on going discussion about free music downloads is not a new thing. In fact, free music downloads have been discussed since Napster first came out in the '90s when music file sharing become a new phenomenon. However, Kelly brings up some good points about you get what you pay for.

The argument that Kelly brings up is a good one. Just because music is free it doesn't always mean that it is top quality. So, when people start to expect free music are they just expecting low quality because that is what they are used to? Or are people simply expecting a free sample of an artists work? I mean it makes sense when you go to an art gallery to be able to view the painting before you buy it, right?

I think that the concept of free sample music is excellent. I mean it is pretty much true that a majority of us have listened to free music and in my experience I have had songs cut off at the end or even the wrong song under the wrong title. Like Kelly argues you are going to get what you pay for and if you do no pay anything you should not expect anything. On the other hand, if you are going to pay for something you want your money's worth. So, new artists are beginning to add second discs into their albums when you buy the physical copy. I recently bought a Sounds album in which came a free poster and a DVD to watch some of their videos.

Consumers are looking for more. So, whether it be a free poster or a free sample of an artist's music, consumers want more! Maybe this is just one way of oeople saying record labels charge too much and they need to get off of their stacks of cash and contribute more to either the artists (who are most of the time being robbed by the record company) or to the fans. Some fans devote entire websites and blogs to artists, promoting and marketing for the band at no cost. What do these fans get in return? A free poster from the record company! Not exactly fair or worth what a consumer has paid.

So, where does this leave fans and musicians? Well, fans either become more devoted and visit bands on tour for live music or fans just simply become free music downloaders and hurt record sales. Hopefully this will create some notice in the eyes for music business execs and either offer more free posters or lower their prices and pay musicians their fair share.