Metallica needs to use some common sense... (Score 1)

As an aging band of decreasing popularity struggling to keep up with newer, fresher artists, it seems to me quite foolish that Metallica is not exploiting the MP3 format, mp3.com, and Napster in general to expand their dwindling audience.

Streaming Internet music is probably one of the next big things (and no, I'm not talking about RealMedia, which is still quite primitive), and those who jump on the bandwagon early, much like the pioneers of the original dot-com craze, are going to make a lot of money because MP3's tend to lead to the actual purchase of the real CD. Sure Metallica may be insulted that people are using their music in illegal ways, but they would be better off making the best of things. Besides, they haven't lost any actual money, only potential profit.

And what is up with that Metallica chat? Talk about a bad PR move! Now those who sponsored it are trying to pass it off as a success? The moderators let only the weak questions through. Sort of makes you wonder if Metallica really can 'take it'.

As for more bad PR, exactly how did Metallica think most of their fans were going to respond when they announced their intention of "putting Napster out of business?" Metallica had best be careful whom they piss off. It only takes a few script-kiddies with chips on their shoulder to bring Metallica.com to its knees. Who gives these people advice? Where is their common sense? Does Metallica even use the Internet? Oh, wait... [e-mail] -- nevermind. ;-)

9 times out of 10, my MP3 habits will lead to a purchase for the bands and record labels. Typical MP3 scenario for me: I don't know about the rest of you MP3 collectors, but I use MP3's to listen to my music when I cannot for some reason use my CD player, like if another CD is occupying my drive, and my handheld is missing (which happens quite often). Now at 2.5MB (typical of my MP3's) a pop, downloading 12 tracks (a typical CD) would take, let's see... ((2.5 MB * 12 tracks) * 1,024 KB/MB) / 8 KBps typical 56Kbps modem speed = 3,840 seconds. In that amount of time (a little over an hour), I could spend 64 minutes downloading all those tracks (excluding lags, disconnects, and searching for the damn things), only to have 12 tracks in one location -- on my computer. But wait! My computer is running Photoshop and Painter! No memory for MP3 players! ;-) Well, I happen to use non-computer CD players (portable MP3 players that use ISO CD's aren't out yet, I don't think) more often, so I would want to convert the MP3's to AIFF, and make a CD out of them, monopolizing my CPU thanks to the !@#$ing burner. Add on another 72 minutes, minus prep and defects in the CD-R media. 136 minutes. Instead, I could run down to Tower Records, buy the CD, be back in time for Photoshop to catch up with my tremendous demands, and relax with a good book (purchased at the adjacent Tower Books) and new music on my break. Does the outrageous cost of music CD's outweigh the trouble I have to go through with the MP3's? You bet your /. ass it does. :-) If I had a digital line, it would shave, what, an hour off that time? Whoop-dee-doo. I could still have my break and eat it too.

My point is that MP3's, regardless of distribution methods, help the music industry, and musicians and the RIAA should be thanking Napster/Gnutella/FreeNet/irc/ICQ/HotLine/everyone else for spreading the word. Yes, most of the world's MP3's are illegal, but shutting down MP3.com/Napster/etc. isn't right because there is still some legal MP3's put there by desperate artists. Would you want to shut down the Web just because there is illegal content on some sites? It's all about the music until you're rich. Then it's all about the money. When musicians are poor, they just want their music distributed by whatever means necessary in an effort to gain popularity and a contract. Now that Metallica/Dr. Dre are rich, they have forgotten their roots. Heh, the mutha!@#$ing D-R-E ain't keepin' it real no more, I guess. Both bands' heads are ringing with bad advice from uninformed legal council.

Finally, one last bit of food for thought. Metallica encourages bootlegs. What would they say to concert recordings in MP3 format being distributed via Napster/MP3.com? Then, Lars wouldn't be able to dodge the questions that point out the hippocritical aspects of this whole thing.