OPINION
Corning Thursday, October 25.
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2007
PAGE 9A
Internet release is refreshing, new form for music industry
Radiohead's new album challenges former music industry methods and restores power to individual, music-savvy consumer
Dominated by greedy record labels and challenged by subversive file sharers, the music industry is in need of serious reform.
The term "music industry" in itself is depressing. In general, music making has had art stripped off from it and replaced
by capitalist impulsions. Record producing concentrates on creating that catchy single and an image that will drive CD sales. As Ani DiFranco sings in her song, "Fuel," "Now everything is cross-marketing/it's about sunglasses and shoes/or guns and drugs/you choose/wet it rehashed/we got it half-assed."
Indeed, it's a really bleak industry.
However, a recent record released has sparked some hope of liberation.
On Sept. 30, Radioadie released their album, "In Rain"
bows," online. The price? Whatever you want to pay. It can be 50 cents or $50. This has caused some significant turmoil. Radiohead, one of the world's most innovative and influential bands, has gotten rid of the middleman and established the commercial relationship directly with the fans. This means that no longer is the price arbitrarily instituted, but that the value is directly attached to the quality of the music, which, like all art, is relative to each individual's opinion. It also means that Radiohead can now exercise all the creative freedom they want. No more music executives, who care only about returns, insisting on more marketable songs. This novel enterprise should satisfy
both artists and fans, which are the only ones that really matter
It's interesting that in the music industry all CDs cost about the same price, regardless of the quality of the music or the effort put into it. Crappy music, good music, it's all in the same price range. The value paid is not a direct reflection of the music itself, but of promotional efforts, image packaging and herd mentality. We no longer pay for the music, but for a product, and there is a big difference between the two. Contemporary music has ceased to be a form of art and transformed into meaningless recreation.
The mainstream music industry has strayed away from the real beauty of music. The creation and popularization of songs is no longer an organic, grassroots and communal project. It has become a top-down approach in which record labels dictate what gets air space and impose what are supposed to be the popular songs. However, there is still resistance. Some of the most dynamic, creative and influential segments of music, such as jam bands and the electronic scene, exercise this communal spirit. The sharing of live recordings and mixed tapes are common practice, and an intrinsic part of these scenes.
The Internet is a great channel to restore the democratic
spirit of music. It challenges the power structure in which record labels control the channels, and people are able to explore new artists through file sharing and forums. The fact that Radiohead is acknowledging and contributing to this experience shouldn't be taken lightly, and they should be praised for it. So, feel free to continue file sharing, but if you're going to get "In Rainbows," at least acknowledge Radiohead's enterprise and do it through their Web site.
De Oliveira is a Belo Horizonte, Brazil junior in journalism, history and peace and conflict studies.
DRAWING BOARD
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
Having recently read Zach White's article in today's Kansan,
In today's Kansan,
"A draft would make people reconsider support for war." I have to say that I am less than pleased. I served in the United States Navy for 6 years, and to be honest, the idea that the draft should be used as a means by which to indoctrinate people into a more liberal, or any political viewpoint for that matter, is offensive. I can understand the point of having a draft to ensure national security, but to suggest that it should be reintroduced to "scare" people into pacifism, whether the pacifism is warranted or not, is unacceptable. And to be honest, the threat of death to change one's political view smacks of Stalin's purges.
MAY RINKFI
Perhaps the numerous movies of kids burning their draft cards during Vietnam has furthered the notion that reinstating a draft would bring about some grand resurgence in political activism. I would have to say that if people studied their history a bit more in depth, then they would realize that there were many more issues in the
1960's besides the draft that had people enraged. Does anyone remember civil rights?
There shouldn't have to be threats to make people politically active or to worry about right or wrong. The protests in the past weren't about the draft per se, they were about inequality and governmental unresponsiveness. The draft was merely a symptom of the times, especially since it took more than its fair share of low income and minority men to fight. The solution to today's political problems is not the absurd. People risking their lives for us is not a joke, whether or not you agree with the politics of the government that sends them in harm's way. No one has been drafted, and because of our professional military, I doubt anyone will. At a time when more students know the name of Paris Hilton's dog than the significance of Darfur, we perhaps would be better served by a more serious discussion of world events.
Sincerely, Ted Peterson Lawrence graduate student School of Education
FREE FORALL: 864-0500 OR KANSAN.COM/FACEBOOK
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
on 23rd.
Silver? Or do you mean silver?
Like a shoe? Or do you mean the phone? Guess you shouldn't have been drinking that much! Neither should I, apparently.
Help! Saturday night I lost my pink silver outside or around the Wheel/Hawk. Please, please, if anyone knows where it is return it to Naismith Hall or the AT&T store
Can't sleep? Don't count sheep, talk to the shepherd!
All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish a candle, but a single candle can banish the darkness. Insightful, yes?
Are little pumpkins actually gourds? Or are they just baby pumpkins?
To the owner of the very small red car in the Templin parking lot that always makes you think there is a parking space when there is not, i really don't like your car.
I want to marry you!
To my roommate! I really hope you find that "perfect dick." And when you do, be sure to tell us all about it.
Take the gay guy to the dance!
No worries there!
Your name has now been permanently changed to "DamnThat-ShitBugly"
I learned what "just the tip" was this last weekend. I can believe people actually do that. College is a trio!
Just give her the tie-dye coffee mug back. She misses it. She doesn't miss you, though.
My boyfriend lives 11 hours away. Should I just take a gay guy to the dance? I can't go by myself. That's lame. But I need a non-threatening date. Sigh.
I just spent $500 on glass. What happen to the day of cheap glasses with frames and lens for
You are a mean girl
under $100?
I hope that piece burns to the ground. This year's KU/MU game could be the biggest game in our history, and you want to boycott it, then go to your bar to watch the same team you are boycotting?
Nothing's more annoying than Naismith/Oliver girls who miss their stop because they're too blonde to know how to signal to get off.
Do a barrel roll.
Who's going to see Minus the Bear on Wednesday? Not me. I spent all my money on Drugs.
I slept less when I was a baby.
Dear Free For All. I'm sitting here in the library patiently awaiting the "10/23 School Shooting." What should I do?
What ever happened to Gary Glitter? Hay.
I want snow.
Answer me this: why would you try to ride your bike up a hill, one handed, with a back pack and a giant box? It just doesn't seem like a good idea, but that Asian guy sure thought he could do it.
he could do it.
They both will.
Free for all, I have a math equation for you. Two girls are walking to you. Class. One is wearing her Ugg boots outside of her pants. One is wearing them tucked into her pants. Which one won't get made fun of for looking stupid? Trick question.
You know, I almost forgot how cold it was today when I saw a sorority girl walking to class with Ugg boots and a miniskirt.
What is the point of an 11 page English paper, when everyone is assigned the same topic. Is the professor so board that reading the same thing over and over again is now fun,
and over again is how run or worse, insightful?
Vegetarians are funny because they think they are saving animals by not eating them... they still eat their by-products which is raping them.
The smartest thing I ever heard was from a vegetarian. He said, sometimes we do things only because they taste good. Look what came of Chewbacca when he thought with his stomach
with his stomach.
Famous Dave's is not a Kansas City Barbecue restaurant. It is a nationwide chain.
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were all vegetarians. But they are nothing.
No one can ever be like Dorothy.
Can I be like Dorothy and clap my heels together three times and come back to Kansas so I can escape the San Diego Fire?2
You say, "What's up my western civ pal?" I say in my head, "Ask me out already."
Dear Free For All, I've decided that if there was an ocean completely filled with lemonade, I would go swimming all the time.
I just realized how desperate I actually am. I'm going back to Topeka to just hang out with this girl. Shame...
Wahoo.. another recruit committed!
Dear Free For All, my baby's momma is smoking!
To the man in the red car wearing the camo miniskirt with nothing underneath, thanks for showing the goods, but is that all you've got?
I want you to meet my parents Free for All. It's time.
Kansas weather..YOU TEASE!
TALK TO US
Erick R. Schmidt, editor
864-4810 or eschmidt@kansan.com
Daria Slipke, managing editor
864-4810 or dslipke@kansan.com
Eric Jorgensen, managing editor 864-4810 or ejorgensen@kansan.com
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Kelsey Hayes, opinion editor 864-4324 or khayes@kansan.com
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864-4924 or dykman@kansan.com
Katie Abrahamson, sales manager
864-4477 or katiea@kansan.com
Malealom Gibson, general manager, news adviser
844-7867 or malson@kansap.com
Jon Schitt, sales and marketing adviser
864-7686 or jschitt@kansan.com
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by students, faculty and alums.
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or Bryan Dykman at 864-4810 or e-mail
opinion@kanas.com.
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The Editorial Board
Erick R. Schmidt, Eric Jorgensen,
Darla Slipe, Kelsey Hayes, Bryan
Dykman, Brandon T. Minister, Angelique
McNaughton and Benjamin R. Smith
b