On why there is no new KISS album: On people who download music illegally: Reas the whole article here What a prick this guy is. He seems to think it's now impossible for new bands to get contracts. Sure enough it's hard but it's always been hard, Gene. What a pillock. Also what the fuck? He's comparing his band to the same calibre of The Beatles??? Is this guy on drugs?
Someone's misinformed Mr. Simmons. Bands make almost all their money from touring and merchandise sales.
Psh, I think he's right. Shoot me for being all conservative here, but it isn't a charity. It is the music business, however corrupt as any business is. He's not a dick. He's telling people to stop fucking stealing music, and I don't think that he's mean or deserves to be hated at all for that opinion. It's expected from someone who marketed the way they did, and is now richer than all ya muthafuckas.
I think most bands don't just make music for money though...they do it because they actually ENJOY it. Gene is pretty much giving the finger to all his fans, and saying he'll only do what he is supposed to be passionate about if people pay him millions of dollars. It's like if you said you wouldn't have sex with your girlfriend unless she paid you a million dollars...it is something you're supposed to want to do anyway . As was said above, most bands money comes from touring and the like. There have been studies showing downloaded didn't hurt music sales that much (and may even help them). Look at a band like AFI, who made 5 CDs before making it into the mainstream at all...they actually care about their music. They don't just try to create a good business model for a nice transaction. I'm not insisting file sharing is moral or anything, but I still think a band with any dedication to their music wouldn't need to be getting paid to make it.
There's an entire business outside of the bands, personally, that I think is a very genuine deal that people are stealing from. There's no denying that when you download an album, you are taking something you're supposed to be paying for. If the artist just wanted to make music, they'd drop from their label and just make music. Well, why can't they do that? As an artist, I also feel like it's better to be heard than to be paid, but the fact is both the bands and the music industry needs to be paid to live very comfortably, like they should, in this fucked up world we live in. I'm not saying that the music industry isn't corrupt and greedy, but what can you do? People are corrupt and greedy.
I've said it onnce and I'll say it again. Downloading doesn't affect what an artist makes. They get next to nothing for album sales. The industry is killing itself by trying to stop downloading which essentially giving bands more exposure
I think the industry deserves to be paid along with the artists, though, too. The band can make good music, tour, put on a good show, and make money that way, and the label can market them commercially by selling their albums, putting them on TV, etc. People downloading the music takes away a HUGE thing for the music industry, and that's album sales. The label is supposed to have the rights to distribute that which they own, and the internet makes that impossible for them anymore. EDIT: Another note: I think that the record industry would rather do things the old-fashioned way than get that extra exposure from the internet, anyway. Anyone who has been keeping up with it knows that the industry reluctantly went to the internet. They didn't think the internet was going to be a threat, but it turned out to be, and it's a major kill for them. That little exposure, more people going to tours, etc. doesn't help the label much, if they're all new fans who just download the album. The conclusion is simple. If a band is attached to a label, that label has been given the rights to that label to distribute their studio releases, merch, etc, you know? By downloading an album they wanted you to pay for, you are stealing from them, and they have the right to sue you.
He's right, downloading doesn't affect KISS, it affects new bands. By helping them spread their music all over the world. If I was in a band, I'd rather tour and get some money from tickets and merchandise, than sell out to the label and work like a dog so they can make ten times the band's profit. Fuck millionaires who whine about royalties.
First of all, I don't believe in this stupid term 'illegal downloading'. I don't see it as illegal whatsoever. Artists get next to nothing compared to what the record labels make off of them anyway. Most record labels miss out on virtually fuck all. If anything they could stand to loose a little bit because to be quite honest paying £40+ to see one of my favorite bands play live in my own damn city is absurd. Secondly Gene Simmons need sit down and shut the fuck up with his constant bullshit. His band has been around for 30+ years and each member has become a multi-millionaire as a result. It's pure greed to ask for more than they already have. I don't know what the hell he's on about because since popular music came about, free music has been one of the key ways to promote bands. Does he actually think that every single person who came to his bands shows back in the 70s paid for their music? Fuck no they didn't. Also there are plenty of awesome bands coming through. You better believe that the majority will tell you that free downloading helps promote upcoming bands. Free music gives people a chance to listen to a band and see if its their cup of tea. It wouldn't be very nice if you baught a CD for like £12.99 in HMV and it was pure shite. If anything free downloading helps bands reputations. It's not like people are going to illegally buy tickets to their shows or something now is it? I get fed up with this whole argument. It's complete outragous greed on the part of self-righteous bastards like Gene Simmons who are complete and utter sellouts. It says something that I say that because I don't use that word often at all. Does he take into consideration that some people might not be able to afford some of the prices of music? No he probably doesn't because he's a rich cunt living in a mansion. Hopefully my project will bring an end to all this bollocks.
It's been statistically proven that bands don't make as much from album sales as they do from touring and merchandise sales.
And if there's one person out there that should know that from his own experience, it's him. KISS lunchboxes don't have anything to do with music, but with making money. He's just sad the world has forgotten about his tacky band.
Yes, but I'm saying that when a label has been given ownership over a recording and has the right to distribute it the way they choose, when you take that recording for free, a way they didn't want you to get it, you are stealing, and they lose money. Who cares if they could use the money or not? It's a rich, corrupt business. You're still stealing. They're still losing money. The internet is taking a large chunk out of the recording industry's pocket, and it's very scary for them. They're supposed to get the bands launched, so the bands are supposed to NEED the big guys, and the big guys are supposed to need the bands to sell. Due to the inconvenience, that is the internet, there is an entirely new independent industry. Now bands can get their names out there without going to a major label. Think about how scary that is for them. When bands can record themselves, launch themselves, and make money themselves, they no longer need the industry, and it fades away. That's why there's the panic and ridiculous behavior. They're freaking the fuck out. EDIT: I download music.
I'm... i'm speechless. I honestly can't wrap my head around the thoughts posted above. I know Zak is probably just playing devil's advocate, but... jesus christ. bands NEED labels? since when? Nine Inch Nails broke through into the mainstream on an independent label. Black Flag didn't need a Warners Bros. record contract to become one of punk's most recognized bands in the late 70s and 80s. Seriously... maybe i'm just extremely naive and I'm wrong about everything, but the only thing a band needs is: 1) their god given talent, and 2) people who will support their music. Might not get a band Rick Rubin to produce their album, but not every band on earth needs a Rick Rubin.
"The last time I checked, what we do isn't called charity, it's called the music business. " At the very least, I agree with this statement.
I'm not saying that they do need them, though. I think you misunderstood me slightly. I know that a very talented band can get out there by themselves if they really push it, but the industry doesn't want it to be that way. They want to make money off of the talent, and they can't when there's a new industry online that's constantly growing by millions of members and new albums are becoming easier and easier to get quickly for free. You have to admit that that is a huge problem, and anyone who downloads music is taking away from the old industry. I say support more independent artists and help them make it without labels, but those who are attached to a label and have given them permission to distribute a certain way, you are stealing from them when you take that music, and there's no denying that. I'm not telling anyone to stop, and I admit that I download lots of music, but I don't think Gene should be hated for his comments, especially since he has been involved in the old music industry for so long. It makes sense for him to say it.
yeah, but maybe it's time for the old industry to burn down. maybe the old industry died with the causalities of big label pressure (ie kurt cobain). in order for new and exciting things to emerge, some things have to die, obviously. we live in the technology age. we get our money from a computer. we talk on mini-house phones. the sooner the music industry accepts that the MP3 is more valuable than a compact disc, the better off they will be, and the more money they will make. piracy has been around long before Napster EVER existed. countless bands gained and maintained their name through things like this. the old industry supports talentless hacks that like to have their music played at the half-time superbowl show, or in a music video highlighted by guest appearances from porn and movie stars. fuck them and fuck their egos. they aren't willing to accept the change of the times, and if they don't start and try to keep up, we'll be seeing record labels crumble before our very eyes.