RHYTHMIC CEREMONIAL RITUAL

EARLY SUMMER 2013

Here’s a playlist I put together that you can listen to while you are at the lake or at the beach or on vacation or you can listen at home if you are a shut-in. 

• 1 Jun 2013

LISTEN TO NEW MUSIC

I’ve listened to four brand new albums today and here’s some news…I haven’t actually purchased any of them…yet. I also didn’t illegally download them. I don’t do that. 

Here is a list of the albums I’ve listened to, in there entirety, for free today (click the link to see where I heard them): 

1. Unknown Mortal Orchestra “II”

2. Toro y Moi “Anything in Return”

3. FIDLAR - “FIDLAR”

4. Ducktails - “The Flower Lane”

I overheard a conversation at work today some folks were having about illegally downloading music and getting frustrated because the album art isn’t there or the artist’s name is wrong. This made me a little frustrated. 

These days I have a routine for how I obtain music. Normally, I will preview the music from an artist or band I’ve heard about, read about, or was recommended on some format or another (i.e. Spotify, NPR, or any blog source that has the music available to preview). Then if I feel like I want to buy the music I will (which I normally do). The operative word there is “buy”. Most of the artists I listen to make their music available on these sources, sometimes in advance of the record actually coming out, so that you can “try before you buy”. 

I do not steal (illegally download) music. I used to but I don’t any more. So many of my favorite artists put out music to make an actual living and create the art they want people to hear. They tour to promote their music and maybe make a few bucks selling merch. I’ve read articles about how the sales of actual music can be large but the piece the artists actually get can be small and how touring is really where you make your rent and I go see a lot of shows too but I love to buy music. 

The only way I get any music for free is if one of my favorite artists releases a track and says “here’s a free track for you to enjoy while I continue doing what I love and hopefully you will buy my music” or something like that. I like to buy music because it feels like I’m supporting the artist even if it’s only a little. 

A lot of folks own record players nowadays…

and the beauty of owning a record player is that you can get a physical copy of your favorite band’s music AND (BONUS) you will most likely get a digital download card! That means you have the beautiful artwork and packaging AND the digital copy to listen to on your “eyephone” or other form of technology.

ALSO, although I read somewhere the artist doesn’t get much cash from this, you can get Spotify Premium for only $9.99 a month and listen to unlimited music anywhere on any of your technologies you might have. I don’t know much about RDIO or those other sources of streaming music but I think they might be close to the same. Still supporting! Still kind of “purchasing” legally! 

Both of these examples are how I do it. You can do that too. Go do your own research and quit stealing music from some bored dude on the internet who doesn’t even care about anything and who is probably a massive jerk. 

In summation, with cool advances in music listening like the aformetioned, I don’t see a reason to ever steal music. So don’t steal music, BUY IT! It’s much cooler and you are doing something nice for someone who put their art out just for you. 

IT’S A WIN/WIN! 

• 22 Jan 2013
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