 There is a lot of opinion on this subject, and some slight exaggerations too. To answer the question, "Is piracy wrong?" then I think we need to dive into who came up with the term pirates. The term pirates is a label that the software, recording and movie industries have given to people who either host or illegally download and distribute intellectual property that hasn't been paid for. Pirates are the scum of the earth, bottom of the barrel individuals who are single-handedly ruining all of the entertainment industries. Well, at least that is what all the industries want us to think. I am not advocating piracy, of course I am not advocating the name pirate either. I think the name pirate is a bit harsh. The original definition of pirate (which was changed recently to include the digital age) is, "a person who robs or commits illegal violence at sea, or on the shores of the sea". So if a digital pirate has a ship, a drunk crew and is stealing the new Windows system by violence on the ocean (maybe in transport?) or on the shores of the sea, then they can legitimately be called pirates...ARGHHHHH!
The truth is that the software and entertainment industries wanted to label this activity in the most fearful low-handed way possible. I have met a few "pirates" in my time, not the ones dressed like Johnny Depp, but some of the people who "hack", and they were some of the nicest people. Like I said, I do not condone what they are doing, but I do not condone the way in which they have been labeled. Some of the hackers are doing it because they feel they are on a mission. A mission? Yes, a mission. A mission of justice and to "level the playing field" in the professional arena - and corporate profiteering. I am speaking more along the lines of creative ventures like music, graphic design and video creation -and not so much music or movies. What a lot of these hackers feel is that, like most things, companies cater to the rich and forget about the poor or up and coming. How can they think that? I will use one company as an example here - Waves. Waves is a plug in company that makes plug in software for digital audio workstations (DAWs). As of a little over a year ago their software suite called Waves Mercury Bundle cost an individual $10,000. For those of use who are professionals, and use a DAW called Pro Tools, it is almost a necessity to own the Mercury bundle to stay competitive in the music production world. The problem is that most people can not afford the $10, 000 price tag. Waves justifies their position saying that it costs them that much to program and market their product (which is laughable). One of Waves competitors offers a very similar package with, what I believe to be, better plug ins for around $2,000. If you do your math, that is an $8,000 difference in price. I always have said that Waves had better be including a good used car for the amount I am paying for their plug ins. Profiteering thinking is nothing new in an industry that is notorious for ripping of its customers (mostly studios and musicians). I have many examples of reverse piracy (that is manufacturers raping and pillaging its consumers) going on in this industry. The first example is that yesterday I needed to order cable ties for my studio. I have taken this summer to get my studio neatly organized from cords to rewiring- and everything in between. I went around and started checking prices through the usual music supply chains for my ties, and kept thinking, "Man, this a lot of money for twenty ties." - It was $30 for 20 ties. They are not made out of gold, they are Velcro for heaven's sake. I decided to think outside of the normal music mind set, and go to other industries to find my ties. I found the exact same ties, that I use, in another industry's listing, which would cost me $8.00 for (get this) 100 of them. That is quite the difference in price. The second example, is that I purchased a sample CD from a very well known company. Let me clarify this one by saying it was a while ago (think late 90's), and the internet was still moving at snail pace. Back then the company did not have any audio samples to hear, but had a description on their site. When the sample CD arrived, I opened it up, popped it into my computer and it wasn't like anything described on their site. I called the company asking to exchange it for something that I actually needed, and their reply was, "Once it is opened, you own it. No refunds." I told the company that it would be a long time before I did business with them again. On their end, the representative said, "We can't cater to everyone like you who complains. If you feel that way, then go to another company, and do business with them." In the twelve plus years since that time, I have only purchased one sample CD from them, and that was because I needed the sounds for one particular project. Even then, I watched for promo codes and got a 40% off discount. I believe that "pirates" actually keep companies honest and "on the ball". I liken them to a person who watches his neighbor mow his lawn with a new John Deere mower. The neighbor graciously allows the other neighbor to try out the mower to see if that neighbor wants to go and purchase a John Deere for himself. Pirates (in a way) do the exact same thing. They release cracked software for people to "try before they buy". All of the cracking groups have that motto and, to be honest, it really isn't a bad way of functioning or thinking. Software companies have responded by allowing consumers the option of trying before you buy with restrictions and time limits. The restrictions I have seen are absolutely ridiculous. The software companies limit the feature set, so yo can't even try out the software with every feature or fully. What good does that do? That is like test driving a new car with a flat tire. Some companies require you to purchase a $50 iLok key before you can try it. No wonder hackers want to crack the software. On my end, I have had terrible luck with companies who claim that this piece of software will "revolutionize" your music making process. I get excited, buy the software or plug in, only to feel like I had just been ripped off. I have paid more than $500 for a plug in, only to find out that it crashes constantly, or that it isn't compatible with Windows Explorer blah blah version installed on your computer. Don't even think about trying to get your money back....it isn't going to happen. You open it, you own it - period. I am now a lot more cautious when purchasing any kind of software. This is a case where having hackers, pirates (add degrading name here) around is actually very good. Companies are quick to point the finger, and say that pirates are the cause of the decline in their businesses. The truth is, that they are the reason for their demise by releasing poor quality products then selling them at outrageous prices. The pirates have been very good for quality control (checks and balances). There was another company recently that made these crazy claims as to why they couldn't be more consumer friendly. It had to do with hardware, and forcing consumers to purchase their hardware to run the software. A cracking group got a hold of the software, and was able to crack it without having to use any hardware. The cracking group released a statement that this company had been dishonest all along, and they had proof via the code that the software company had built into the program. Within the year, the software company released a version that no longer needed its hardware to function. The hackers became the industry "police" that kept the company honest. Since that time, the cracking group has not released a new version due to them feeling their job was accomplished by keeping the software company honest and "on the level". So, is it wrong being a pirate? Yes, it is wrong to freely give away somebody's intellectual property, but it is also wrong for companies to be raping and pillaging consumers. It is also wrong for companies to be charging exuberant prices while providing sub par and buggy merchandise. Before a company or lawmaker decides to call other people (or persons) a pirate(s), they should look closely at themselves ridding their closet(s) of poet shirts and eye patches. ARGHHHH!
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 Recently I was in a talk with my wife and made the comment that I am finding something very alarming which is the lack of promotion amongst my friends and indie artists. When I talk with my friends or various musicians they all tell me how much they want to do the "music thing" for a living, how they get excited when they think about making music and how it is their passion or calling.
When I hear an artists talk like that I get excited and start dreaming with them about the present and future. After my talk, I will often start searching for my friend, the artist, band or musician online. Some I find on Soundcloud, others on Indaba or like places. I search for websites or YouTube channels...basically anything that will point me to the artists and their art. Then it all starts to hit me, many are not promoting themselves. In the technological age there is no excuse or reason not to promote your music or craft. Soundcloud has given anyone the opportunity to share their music with the world and what I have found on there is just plain sad. Out of all the friends and artists I know (which are hundreds of people), only three had anything to share on Soundcloud. Almost all of them had an account but when I went to listen to their music ....birds tweeting and tumbleweed blowing around their site. Of course there are other sites as well to promote your music on. Sites like YouTube, MySpace (yeah I know its so 2005 but still a place to point people to your music), Reverbnation, Indaba, Bandcamp and many more offer services so a person can promote their music. So the questions this...if you don't post your music, or promote yourself, how are venues or anyone else for that matter suppose to know who you are or what you are about? If I were running a venue and an artists didn't have anything "out there", I definitely wouldn't be having you play my venue. So, here are a few tips for promoting your music grassroots style:
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AuthorKevin "Danger" Jackson is a New York-based producer, engineer, composer, performer, educator and Berklee College of Music alumnus. He writes, produces and engineers music for a wide range of artists in the pop, hip-hop, rock, R&B, classical and electronic genres. His work can be heard daily on a multitude of albums, radio and television stations worldwide. Archives
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