Famous songwriter & artist Janis Ian against RIAA
 

http://www.janisian.com/article-internet_debacle.html

"Shortly after this article was turned in, Michael Greene resigned as president of NARAS"

"As artists, we have the ear of the masses. We have the trust of the masses. By speaking out in our concerts and in the press, we can do a great deal to damp this hysteria, and put the blame for the sad state of our industry right back where it belongs - in the laps of record companies, radio programmers, and our own apparent inability to organize ourselves in order to better our own lives - and those of our fans. If we don't take the reins, no one will."

Very good reading.
(and oh my god a Unregistered and BLOCKED user found this and contributed something, how can this be?)

http://www.spidereyeballs.com/os5/se..._r18_0761.html

for a laugh

[Soapbox]
Ms. Ian echoes my feelings exactly - I can attest that here in Nashville the radio selections suck with maybe three exceptions. CD's were to be cheaper years ago when they were introduced as manufacturing costs came down... that really never happened... even at that I have purchsed in the vicinity of 2,000 CDs.... I cannot find enough venues to discover music and, at one time, used to cruise CDNOW and MusicBoulevard.com in search on new stuff... where I could at least listened to 30seconds of a cut. I will still buy CDs... But at least this way I have a chance to experience more than a 'snippet' of an artists product before plunking down $16-$20 US for a CD that may wind up having very little on it that I care about. In my opinion the music industry has it's hands around it's own neck... and is choking itself to death.
[/Soapbox ]

This article coincides with what I've heard and experienced in the business. With regards to the RIAA the expression 'having their cake and eating it' doesn't quite cut it. More like: having a cake, eating it, regurgitating it and selling the acidic mess that remains it for a ridiculous price.

If you like to start this kind of threads, please register and post them in the right forum.

Ivan
"In the dark we make a brighter light"