While I understand the sentiment and sympathize with BOTH ends of this argument, I find this letter extremely frustrating, because it's not TRULY acknowledging the realities of economy or the complexities of a wired society. Why not write about something of great importance on a global scale and that the majority of society can relate to? Why not write about how Japan happens to be one of the largest consumers of CP? Why not write about how Russia happens to be one of the largest producers of CP? Why not write about internet bullying? Anything better then some shit smeared on a fucking wordpress blog. Go post some cat pics on your tumblr and call yourself "cool".
I'm a graduate student, I'm attending an a first class school, but paying a shit ton of money for my education, which will hopefully, pay off in the long run. Virtually ALL my money goes towards food, transportation or education. I'm 24 and I live at fucking home, for chris'sakes. While I try to buy albums of student and up 'n' coming musicians, it really does not bother me when I rip a year-old album from a multi-platinum millionaire like Lady Gaga. Bitch makes a lot of regardless of money whether she sells shit on iTunes, Amazon, etc. CONCERTS. LIVE MUSIC. ENDORSEMENTS. It's like that South Park episode. Brittany Spears couldn't buy a new jet with a jacuzzi because of lost of sales to torrents and rapid-shits? Fuck, I'm still trying to figure out how to pay for my medical crap and wondering how I am going to pay off student loans when I graduate. If I can find it for free, I will download it for free, unless it is an artist I know who is struggling or I'm going to like the album artwork. Priorities in this media-saturated, pop-cultural wasteland of a country are FUCKED-UP. To quote Peter Griffin, "Land of the Free, Home of the Whooper."
While what I am saying could be considered hypocritical, I'm sure this open letter to NPR was written by some pompous-ass, trust fund baby hipster from Williamsburg, who has never really worked with the music industry, has not a feasible economic worry in the world other then when what time Daddy is going to pick up the tab at the local vintage thread boutique. People lie this will just take up a cause just to look trendy and because their roommate has a Moog. BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND HOW SOMETHING WORKS ON A HIERARCHAL ECONOMIC LEVEL, I'M OOOHHHHSOOOOOO DEEEEEEPPPPP. I bet you that kid started this blog to get some filthy NYU art student to suck him off. And I hope she gives him a bad case of Blue Waffle dick too. These ass-tartlets are just as bad as the mid-life crisis, corporate jerk-offs who signed Justin Bieber. Fuck the system, I'm going to listen to Devin Townsend and Regina Spektor.
Also, I'm drunk right now, but seriously. Honestly, I would probably have more respect for a letter written like this coming out of UltimateMetal, but the fact that it was addressed to "college student Emily White at NPR" makes it more likely that the writer faps to the guys from MGMT.