Comment The problem here is TPB, not filesharing. (Score 1) 458
TPB is first and foremost a torrent-link site, not a community.
Years ago, I belonged to a filesharing BBS that did introduce me to tons of new music, all of it indie, because it was populated by people that were particularly interested in indie bands.
TPB is a "mainstream" torrent site, and therefore reflects those interests. If you saw the lawsuits stop tomorrow, guaranteed there would be plenty of targeted-interest sites out there.
I personally don't like recco systems (computer or vote-driven), because hearing someone talk about *why* they like a particular album, a person who's opinion I trust based on past successes, is far more valuable to me, and often results in my listening to music I wouldn't otherwise be exposed to. As said at other points in the thread, free downloads are only half the answer.
I'm a hobbyist indie artist, and the last place I'd offer anything would be TPB, because no one would ever see it. Instead I post to forums of my influences, under the appropriate "user created music" sections. It's a campaign that provides fewer listeners, but extremely targeted ones. YMMV.
Years ago, I belonged to a filesharing BBS that did introduce me to tons of new music, all of it indie, because it was populated by people that were particularly interested in indie bands.
TPB is a "mainstream" torrent site, and therefore reflects those interests. If you saw the lawsuits stop tomorrow, guaranteed there would be plenty of targeted-interest sites out there.
I personally don't like recco systems (computer or vote-driven), because hearing someone talk about *why* they like a particular album, a person who's opinion I trust based on past successes, is far more valuable to me, and often results in my listening to music I wouldn't otherwise be exposed to. As said at other points in the thread, free downloads are only half the answer.
I'm a hobbyist indie artist, and the last place I'd offer anything would be TPB, because no one would ever see it. Instead I post to forums of my influences, under the appropriate "user created music" sections. It's a campaign that provides fewer listeners, but extremely targeted ones. YMMV.