The whole thing is:
if one person says he/she has downloaded/listened to the promo then the word/discussion starts spreading. If it's a great album (when told by the person who mentioned it), others get interested or even
envious and want the thing themselves. Then the search on the net follows and the "sharing" starts.
I hardly download any stuff at all, only stuff I wanna listen to (because I am interested in it) or don't have on cd yet (for various reasons). If I happen to like what I heard, I check with people who have the cds and listen to the whole thing. Then I decide whether or not I'm gonna buy the album. There are bands/musicians I'll buy the albums of blindly, some bands I have to check first, yet I do not even have a burner at home yet (FACT!). I have burned albums at home, yes, like anybody else does, but I'm gonna buy those albums sooner or later anyways, because
those are my "must-have's".
After I got internet, I found it interesting to get so much stuff (others would say "for free"), yet I hardly downloaded like crazy or tried to get everything I could lay my hands on - simply because it is not the same. Like I said, I mainly downloaded for checking out stuff. I buy albums - I want the originals!
But I agree with those who say that it is so stupid to
openly ask at a band's board (especially if it's a known fact, the band is against filesharing) where there's a chance to download or if anyone would share the mp3's privately.
And as for the majority of people who say that they downloaded an album and then gonna buy the album as soon as it comes out: yeah, right! I bet,
most of them won't, unfortunately. It's just a phrase. And
that's where the band really lose money over!
This is actually my first time at a board experiencing a "leaked album" discussion (since I am not a regular poster), and I find it highly interesting following all the discussions.
It was nice to listen to an album
before its official release date, and as far as The Odyssey goes, I didn't wanna read any reviews or listen to anything from it BEFORE...yet I have done so anyway after all. I couldn't resist. I haven't downloaded it from the net, neither did I have any idea it has leaked already.
As far as the "true fan" factor is concerned, I had the chance to listen, so I took it and listened to the album BUT: 3 more weeks to go and I'll be able to BUY it. I am as impatient as hell, dammit! But I know that Symphony X are worth the whole wait! Then again, I love that band to death. Even if I wouldn't have had the chance to listen, I wouldn't go around asking for mp3's of it - even if tempted.
So, I guess, I am a rare species, by NOT going around downloading like crazy or desperately trying to get my hand on anything I can get,
just because I can't wait.
The official site has 2 songs to offer already - tasters of what to come! Great! That should be enough, and I hope they won't put up any more because of the sharing.
If a band decides to offer the majority (or even all) tracks already, then the band is going to support the filesharing thingie too
themselves: fans have downloaded the whole album, burn it, then..? Buy it anyway after all? Like I said, the majority won't, I guess. "Tasters" are okay, samples or full versions, but not a whole album.
Sometimes, when I drop by a band's website that has songs to check out/download, I must admit that I am a bit disappointed that those songs are only samples (
especially when the songs are great), yet on the other hand it's a good thing, because it keeps me wanting more or makes me hit the stores to listen to the album - if interested, of course.
Ramble blah yadda... Nov. 4...
Oh, and
DrumRman:
you don't have to blast out your opinion, just because your point has come across slowly. So, chill. The SX board is still a friendly one. Misunderstandings happen everywhere. I guess,
the divine wings of olympus got it.
Besides that, he's new to the board. And then the "impatience" factor, allright?
IT IS ABOUT ASKING TO GET THE CD FREE AND ILLEGALLY ON THE BANDS OWN MESSAGE BOARD!!
If you get the CD d/l off somewhere else or from someone thats fine. It is DISRESPECT to the band to ask so blantantly for FREE product from the band on there own board.
I agree with you.