I think I agree with Bill. I think we do need some kind of mechanism that allows the writer and artist to get paid for what they do, but while ASCAP may have their hearts in the right place, they seem to routinely comes across as bullies of the same stripe as the IRS agents who confiscate little kids' piggy banks.

At this point, the Internet is not something that anybody has any control over. Attempting to police the download of *.mp3 files by teenagers is the equivalent (my opinion) of King Canute telling a storm it has to obey British traffic laws. Nice idea, but I think it won't work.

At this point, the main advantage I see us writers and artists having is that *.mp3 files are reportedly (I can't tell, but I'm tone deaf) audibly poorer quality than what you get on a CD, and kids especially seem to be aware of it. We can therefore tell the *.mp3 downloaders if they want to hear what it *really* sounds like, they can buy the CD. I don't know if that'll work, either, but it seems like the best shot we've got, right now.

The Artist Formerly Known as Moonless Joe

www.soundclick.com/joewrabek
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The Writer's Blog: http://nakedspacehamsters.blogspot.com