i know for a fact that century media would whine and kick and scream if they ever got to read any public statement from their bands about liking p2p software and the likes. then again, i'm not the band.
my personal opinion is that there are very few cases when mp3 sharing really hurt the record sales of a band.
1. when a band has a lot of occasional listeners who buy mainstream music because it's cool to have it, then finding the songs on the net is actually a substitute for buying the album. i say: let's come down hard on these guys, they don't even deserve the music they listen to.
2. when a band's fake records have actually a chance of being sold on the black market, therefore "tricking" possible customers into buying copies that do not help the band or its label survive. i say: let's come down hard on the black market because that is theft.
but consider the remaining 90% of cases. i have to decide whether to buy a new record by dark tranquillity or not. what happens if i find the songs online?
well, for once i get to listen to the record and decide if i like it or not. if i don't, i won't buy it. is this wrong? how? am i supposed to buy stuff i don't like?
if i like it, well, it depends. i suppose if i like it a lot i go buy it anyway, but let's say i don't and compare this situation with me not finding the songs on the net anyway. if i couldn't reach the songs online for free, would i ever decide to go and buy it? no fucking way.
so i see no loss for the band at all. i personally download, and keep, and don't buy, wagonloads of stuff. if tomorrow i can't find any of it anymore, i won't go buy it anyway. the band would not get my money either way, they're not losing a single euro/penny/dollar on me.
i think the vast majority of underground bands know this perfectly well and actually sees p2p software as a way to spread their music and gain potential new customers: people who start thinking about a purchase only because they've heard your stuff online.
this said, i think my role as a mod here is fulfilled when i draw a line on direct links to copyrighted material without the agreement of its owner(s). this is not just for dt's songs, but anything: this is an official board for the band and whatever takes place here is somewhat under their responsibility. we don't want no trouble, so explicit links are out of the question. also, i personally find comments on new dark tranquillity material before it's officially out to be in bad taste, and slightly disrespectful towards the band. everyone is so kind as to not investigate anyone's p2p activity, and i think it's just normal to ask people not to hang huge big posters about it in return.
mirroring the band's opinion on both mp3 sharing and freedom of speech, though, i feel it perfectly safe to allow all sorts of suggestion about, reference to and discussion on the topic.
rahvin.