Audiogalaxy... Gone!?!

[bleedingskeptic]

so, let me ask some of you who criticise people like me who used audiogalaxy as a way to check a band out by downloading an mp3 or two how the hell i'm supposed to make an educated decision on buying a cd? trust reviewers? buy it blindly and hope i don't end up wasting 20 bucks? i can't turn on the radio and hear some at the gates or edge of sanity and decide i might want to pick up a cd...so let me think...how did i find out what they sound like? could it be *gasp* and mp3! how fucking inconsiderate of me to do what linkin park and staind fans do and get a glimpse of a band's sound without buying the cd.

here's what the bands and corporate labels need to do...release a song or two onto the internet so people can hear it. i mean, we can't turn on a radio and hear any band we want, so i'm sure many of us just use mp3's as a way to test bands.

and why should i have to buy a cd on pure speculation of reviewers? why should some shitty band i don't enjoy after many listens get my money? i want to hear for myself, not trust some concieted reviewer.

when movies come out you get a glimpse of them, why can't we get a glimpse at a cd that comes out? i disagree with being able to download an artist's work and not have to pay them, but we need some way to know that we aren't wasting our money.

 

[Claire's Horror]

Originally posted by Jim LotFP


I just erased a giant tirade on this, but I decided to have people not ROARINGLY hate me any more than they do... so I'll keep it short and not so inflammatory.

I don't believe in welfare.

So I don't believe your situation, unfortunate that it may be, gives you the right to have something for free that is being sold.

If music is THAT important to you, you'd get yourself somewhere you can get it honestly.

dammit, I almost fell to the floor when I read this. seriously.

jesus fuck, why do they let out these people?

 

[Jim LotFP]

Originally posted by Claire's Horror

jesus fuck, why do they let out these people?

At this rate, hell, I'm wondering if I'll ever see an intelligent post out of Mexico.

If you guys think it's so funny, why don't you say why?

 

[Jim LotFP]

Originally posted by bleedingskeptic
here's what the bands and corporate labels need to do...release a song or two onto the internet so people can hear it.

How many label/band web sites have you been to that don't have things to listen to?

Originally posted by bleedingskeptic
and why should i have to buy a cd on pure speculation of reviewers?

Why do you think reviewers lie?

Originally posted by bleedingskeptic
why should some shitty band i don't enjoy after many listens get my money?

So music should work on an HONOR system?

Originally posted by bleedingskeptic
when movies come out you get a glimpse of them, why can't we get a glimpse at a cd that comes out?

So you don't trust conceited reviewers, but you trust movie trailers that have been gone over with a fine tooth comb by marketing weasels. I see the sense in that, yup.

 

[blakmetalemp]

Originally posted by Jim LotFP
Why do you think reviewers lie?

Maybe not lie but most are biased in their opinions. ie: Metal-Rules.com. I havent been there in awhile but it used to be any thing "power metal" kicks ass, anything else that wasnt power metal usually got crappy review. Thats why you should read reviews for the same cd on three or four sites, then you get a better assumption IMO.

edit: I also dont like dloading samples from band sites. Its always my luck the sample is in Real Media or encoded at a low bitrate. If I cant hear EVERYTHING in a song Im not gonna dload it. Just my preferrence though. If I hadnt dloaded Arcturus-The Sham Mirrors I never would have bothered to buy it as there are NO stores in Tennessee that carry anything good.

 

[bleedingskeptic]

So you don't trust conceited reviewers, but you trust movie trailers that have been gone over with a fine tooth comb by marketing weasels. I see the sense in that, yup.

maybe i'll move somehwere where they'll advertise movies honestly.

i'm not saying that i trust movie trailers, i'm just saying that popular culture is advertised and tv and is on the radio so those who like that shit get bombarded by information by it everyday, when those who look for "underground" stuff have to look a lot harder. we can't just turn on the tv and be told a new opeth album is coming out.

So music should work on an HONOR system?

it shouldn't, that's my point. that's why we should be able to hear what we're getting first.

Why do you think reviewers lie?

i don't think they lie, i just don't trust them all to think the same way i do. i mean, i've seen five star reviews for hoobastank and linkin park, so obviously everyone has there own idea of what makes a good cd.

How many label/band web sites have you been to that don't have things to listen to?

yeah, they have "things" to listen to. like little 30 second burps. perfect expample is the opeth site. they give you a 60 second clip. are you trying to tell me that 60 seconds of a 15 minute song is enough to truly get a feel for it? i'm talking a full length mp3, like how blackmetalamp mentioned how the arcturus had a *gasp* full length song available to download when the sham mirrors came out.

 

[Claire's Horror]

Originally posted by Jim LotFP


At this rate, hell, I'm wondering if I'll ever see an intelligent post out of Mexico.

really avant-garde thing to say from someone who likes to dress around on a Shredder costume.

 

[Misanthrope]

There's already a Shredder here and it sings with NightShades.

 

[Jim LotFP]

Originally posted by Silent Downfall
first of all, FUCK ALL YOU MP3 HATERS. seriously, you are as bad as the corporate music scene. if i had a band, i would WANT EVERYONE to download my music. sure whatever record company i was signed with will lose money but so fucking what?

Well, then the record company couldn't finance distribution, publicity, recording costs, manufacturing costs, tour support, merchandise...

Originally posted by Silent Downfall
i will have enough money from tours (due to my popularity through mp3 sharing) and i will make my own studio. i can already make decent mixes on my fucking computer for free.

You do realize in metal that tours are considered loss leaders?

How many bands are there out there releasing just internet music and are successful? Why do independent bands who will put every song they ever made on the internet not as well known as even the lowliest band on Nuclear Blast? Seriously, tell me.

Originally posted by Silent Downfall
the artist loses nothing with mp3s. the record labels are greedy fucks. most bands get their money from tours.

They do friggin not. Who's telling you this?

 

[Jim LotFP]

Originally posted by Claire's Horror
really avant-garde thing to say from someone who likes to dress around on a Shredder costume.

Note that you're still avoiding the issue at hand.

 

[Morningrise]

I don't think anyone should rely on a source such as this for COMPLETE (as most of you seem to be saying) introduction to bands. I often use Audiogalaxy, but it is definately not the only source for new bands. If you cared enough you would put the effort into looking.
Those that have very limited access to music, I can't even think about how hard of a blow this is. I deifnately sympathize, but as I said I don't think that something like Audiogalaxy is your only source.

 

[Ermz]

Well how else do you sample music that is totally inaccessible to you? I have to admit... I do download a band's whole discography, and if I find them deserving of my money, I will personally go out and PAY for their entire discrography... that's how the system works with me... I don't have enough money to PAY for every single act out there, but I still like to be able to hear it... and if it wasn't for AG I wouldn't even know about most of the bands in the first place.

 

[Slipknot_isn't_metal]

Originally posted by Moonlapse
Well how else do you sample music that is totally inaccessible to you? I have to admit... I do download a band's whole discography, and if I find them deserving of my money, I will personally go out and PAY for their entire discrography... that's how the system works with me... I don't have enough money to PAY for every single act out there, but I still like to be able to hear it... and if it wasn't for AG I wouldn't even know about most of the bands in the first place.

ditto

 

[phon1c]

I was reading Vintersorg's post on this over at his board, and he's totally against MP3 sharing, saying that if it didnt exist he'd be able to live off music. I'm sorry, but that's shit, i'd bet that he is in fact making *more* money due to MP3 sharing. heck if it wasn't for mp3 sharing in the first place id hardly be into music at all.

Most artists are just looking at this at face value, they think that every mp3 downloaded means they lose money. That's not true at all, or at least it definitely isnt for lesser known acts. For these underground acts, most of their fan base probably stumbled across them due to the internet. If no MP3 sharing existed at all, where would i get new music? MTV, radio? please.

 

[Opet]

Moonlapse
I do download a band's whole discography, and if I find them deserving of my money, I will personally go out and PAY for their entire discrography... that's how the system works with me... I don't have enough money to PAY for every single act out there, but I still like to be able to hear it... and if it wasn't for AG I wouldn't even know about most of the bands in the first place.

Slipknot Isn't Metal
ditto

Ditto and then some...plus, if you can't buy them now, if you've heard them and liked it, you'll know you want it down the road when you can afford it.

I don't rely on reviews to decide on which CD I might like.. I use it as an opinion, but I'm always doubtful of the chance that the reviewer looks for the same things as I do. Sample clips don't cut it either. 30-second burps. Whatever you want to call them. I guess I'm spoiled now. That's what it really comes down to. I'm used to being able to download a song, an album even, to decide.

 

[Raven777]

What a mess...

If you ask me, Audiogalaxy at least had some honor because each song was seperated and renamed, so you could SAMPLE the artist's work. Whereas Napster, I remember typing 'Opeth Morningrise' and getting 16 full CDs worth of MP3's of the same album, ready to load and go.
On one hand it's staggaring to think of all the bands I've discovered through Audiogalaxy over the past 2 years... from Lacrimosa, to Arcturus, to Fields Of The Nephelim, I can honestly say that where I am now musically is because of Audiogalaxy. On the other hand, being a musician in a band myself, it bothers me to think that there ARE many people who get their entire CD collection 'for free' from these kinds of sources. I know because I used to be one of these people.
Ultimatley what I think will happen is that another file-sharing service will go up and thrive for about two years before the RIAA gets off its lazy ass and instead of blaming the 'record sale slump' on bullshit music and no artist development - they go after the new system. Napster and Audiogalaxy are pure scapegoats for the record industry to justify its crappy job.
Face it - Metal is not the most lucrative form of music there is. Each tour, each expense, comes out of the BAND MEMBERS' POCKET. Back in 1999 Dimmu Borgir had to turn down a tour with Morbid Angel because when they sat down and figured it out, they would have lost at least $50,000 in expenses. Playing this kind of music is a full-time job that doesn't pay the rent. My take on it is that file-sharing is at once a curse and a blessing. One could rip off your entire album that you worked hard on for a year and ended up taking 3 months mixing the thing, without a penny to show for it. Another could load a song, fall in love with it, and pursue your CD at a shop or online store. I know most metal fans look at people like us and call us 'greedy fucks', but come on guys...
My entire take on MP3's has to be this : load responsibly. Of course nobody is going to know or care if you load an entire album, I mean, God isn't going to kill a kitten or anything if you do. It's funny because the record industry really thinks they're being harmed by MP3's when, studies show CD buying has actually gone up in the past two years. But the record labels are actually so pissed off at themselves for marketing costs, CD price inflation, video costs, etc. that they need a scapegoat for their money loss. So they blame File Sharing. My final words would have to be... don't set an example for the record companies to use in court when they battle the next file-sharing messiah.

 

[Claire's Horror]

Originally posted by Jim LotFP


Note that you're still avoiding the issue at hand.

you're an insufferable idiot. underground music is affected in a minimal way through this, at least if we compare it to the benefits it actually brings.

you don't believe in welfare uh? hope you end up sleeping in some park, sorrounded by siphilic junkies. damn capitalist imbecile.

 

[Jim LotFP]

Originally posted by Claire's Horror
you're an insufferable idiot. underground music is affected in a minimal way through this, at least if we compare it to the benefits it actually brings.

I don't make any distinction between 'underground' and 'mainstream' music. There really can't be any legal distinction between the two. The same rules have to apply to everyone to succeed or fail under.

Originally posted by Claire's Horror
you don't believe in welfare uh? hope you end up sleeping in some park, sorrounded by siphilic junkies. damn capitalist imbecile.

mmmhmmm. Ever read Atlas Shrugged?

 

[bleedingskeptic]

i just realized something, i'm surprised no one thought of this before. no one actually used audiogalaxy as a way to find out a band. we used it to HEAR a band. you have to know the name of a band before you type it in the little search box. there's hundreds of ways to hear of a band, but only two ways to actually hear it.

artists should just have one or two full length mp3's released on their website or throught the distribution label and i'll be happy.

 

[Claire's Horror]

Originally posted by Jim LotFP


I don't make any distinction between 'underground' and 'mainstream' music. There really can't be any legal distinction between the two. The same rules have to apply to everyone to succeed or fail under.

who cares about laws? William Blake once said that virtue cannot exist without breaking them.

now, the corporate industries couldn't care less about the art. they are made up of businessmen, first and foremost, who in a global scale don't lose a considerable amount of dimes with pirated cds. I have no liable reason to respect them or any of their goddamned rights.



mmmhmmm. Ever read Atlas Shrugged?

ever read Leopold Kohr's "The Breakdown of Nations"?