Do you feel Napster as hurt or helped DT?

PuppyonAcid:

Hey Again
Im amazed on you commitment to your "Ask Mike" posts! they must take up some time.


I know Napster and file sharing involves copyright issues...and Steals money away from bands such as DT....but I would think there is a factor of "File Sharing promotion"? Many non-mainstream bands such as Progressive Metal bands (such as Ayreon) have benifited from the Internet's file sharing...."getting there name out there". I know DT doesnt need a introduction to Prog Fans....but like you said DT is not Mainstream.
Im curious to see how you feel File sharing has effected DT.
Do you feel that File Sharing has "Helped" or "Hurt" DT sales or promotions?

Your Thoughts?


Thanks Again,

Hey Pup,
I know this is a touchy subject for so many musicians out there (and there are even other DT members that would disagree with me), but I am totally 100% PRO-NAPSTER.

I could probably get into an hour long discussion with the reasons why, but my fingers just don't type fast enough....so I'll sum up my opinion to this:

I got into making music to make and share music....I didn't start a band to become a millionaire...
**I became a musician to have an artistic outlet that I wanted to share with as many people that would possibly listen**

The fact that I do happen to make a living off of it is a bonus and a blessing that I thank god for everyday.

I see Napster as being no different than radio or MTV....music is played on the radio (where you can tape it and make your own CD's if you choose) but the fans don't have to pay money to hear their favorite songs on the radio. (you don't hear bands bitching about being played on the radio or MTV without fans coughing up the bucks)

In fact, 95% of any downloading I do is stuff that is *not* available to buy in stores (live stuff, demos, etc)... and I get the feeling that most Napster users are the same.

Like with bootlegs, it all comes back to the simple fact that at the end of the day, the fans will ultimately want to have "the real thing" if they like the band.
And that most fans simply want to get everything they can from the artists they like.....That is surely the case with us.....


That said, I suppose I could picture a group like the Baha Men bitching with a song like "Who Let The Dogs Out" where you have millions of people that just want to hear "that one song" and now with Napster, can just download it instead of buying the whole CD....(although their multi-platinum sales might just very well disprove that theory altogether!)

On the other hand, I find it incredible that Metallica happens to be the band leading this crusade against Napster....first of all, they have more money than they or their future grandchildren will ever be able to spend in any of their lifetimes...
BUT money aside...this is the same band whose career began by little Lars Ulrich trading and giving away the "No Life Til Leather" demo tape to whoever would listen....
and in a bizarre twist of fate that I'm not so sure what to make of....this is also the same band whose 1st home video/DVD release ("Cliff em All") was made up entirely of bootleg video footage that the fans shot and traded....

Well, it's obviously something that there's always going to be disageements on and always 2 sides to the coin...

In closing - being I am a music fan, *I* love NAPSTER.....and in direct answer to your question and how it applies to DT, I do not think it has hurt DT in any way at all....
In fact, we may have even gained some fans as a result of it.....


But what the hell do I know???

MP

DaveH: