Mr.Fork's Journal: Is RIAA out of touch with music fans? Ivory Towers maybe?

The recent conviction of RIAA vs. Jammie Thomas trial highlights the fact just how out of touch RIAA and the music labels are with their music fans. I could highlight the fact that the sole reason for her loss in court was her poor defence (highlights that the poor really don't have a chance in court - another issue). But this lady owned THOUSANDS of music CD's. Not a couple, THOUSANDS. She was a music fan. And like most music fans, they embrace it even with technology.

Music labels are coming to a hard lesson that individual recorded media is going the way of the dodo. CD sales are dropping BECAUSE online sales are increasing. No different than when Cassette sales plummeted when CD's went on sale. RIAA doesn't highlight that fact.

Artists are now in the drivers seat - no need for distribution of record labels, shoddy and shitty deals for them - they now have the power to sell directly to their fans. Radiohead's recent release of their new album 'In Rainbows' online highlights that fact. Prince's recent give-away of music - all are indicating that change is a-foot.

Now the question is - what was RIAA thinking with all of these court actions? Is it gaining the industry and labels respect? Actually, I think its forcing a lot of us to go online and hurt them. Purposefully. I haven't bought an album since they started this who debacle for that same fact. I hate RIAA for biting the hands that feed them - the music fans. In the end, with more music lovers going digital, the record labels could be a thing of the past in 5 years. That will be the true outcome of RIAA's action.