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1.  

   no problem

   

   Rajio, Sep 9th, 2008 @ 7:48am

   
   

   they can just sue the cover bands. problem solved.
   
   
   ....right?

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2.  

   Re: no problem

   

   Anonymous Coward, Sep 9th, 2008 @ 7:52am

   
   

   Of course.... suing fixes everything!

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3.  

   

   Overcast, Sep 9th, 2008 @ 8:01am

   
   

   All of this in general encourages me to avoid the hassle altogether. The hassle of spending too much for too little music, as in a CD. And the Hassle of too much BS, even if I can pick what I want - digital downloads.
   
   I just find other hassle-free (or less hassle anyway) places to spend cash.

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4.  

   eMusic

   

   PaulT (profile), Sep 9th, 2008 @ 8:02am

   
   

   As a member of eMusic for several years now, one of the biggest issues is that people don't seem to notice the "independent music" aspect of the site before joining. So, they come in, download a bunch of tracks, then post some messages to the message boards about how the service sucks because it doesn't have the latest major label tunes. They feel misled, and usually cancel their account shortly afterwards, despite the fact that there's a lot of great original music there they could download instead.
   
   I wonder if iTunes users use the same complaints, since the prices there are several times higher than eMusic's? If so, they may believe they're being ripped off and refuse to buy from iTunes, but that won't necessarily translate to more sales elsewhere - they may simply return to P2P. Yay for idiotic music industry practices once again...

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5.  

   it's a scientific fact!

   

   shmengie, Sep 9th, 2008 @ 8:05am

   
   

   one instance = trend. i'm disappointed, mike, that you would pass along this highly questionable article. i think you add to the fud by giving an air of legitimacy to this fud-based article. it's early, i can't get my thoughts out. must...inject...coffee...into...veins...

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6.  

   Re: no problem

   

   Dave, Sep 9th, 2008 @ 8:07am

   
   

   they can just sue the cover bands. problem solved.
   
   I already patented that business model... you owe me $100

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7.  

   Re: Re: no problem

   

   Anonymous Coward, Sep 9th, 2008 @ 8:09am

   
   

   Only $100? Poor liscencing plan, dude.

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8.  

   Re: it's a scientific fact!

   

   Anonymous Coward, Sep 9th, 2008 @ 8:13am

   
   

   I miss where in this article or any linked articles one instance of anything is equated with a trend.

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9.  

   

   Anonymous Coward, Sep 9th, 2008 @ 8:51am

   
   

   They can sue the cover bands all they want but they'd lose every case due to the compulsory license. As long as the cover bands pay the applicable license fees, they're good. I don't know why any cover band would bother because those license fees are higher than what the cover band would make from iTunes sales. They can make some money on CD or vinyl sales as they can set their own price.

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10.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Sep 9th, 2008 @ 8:57am

    
    

    Bah, iTunes. I absolutely loathe the "we're only going to release bonus tracks on iTunes" garbage.

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11.  

    Re: no problem

    

    Wrong Answer, Sep 9th, 2008 @ 9:36am

    
    

    They can't sue the cover band, at least not in the US.
    
    US Law provides for compulsory licensing, whereby anyone is free to record a cover version of any song once it is released. The writers of the song would receive royalties (approx 9 cents per song) for each copy sold. If the original band were not themselves the writers of the song they would receive nothing.
    
    There is no real way of rpeventing cover bands from recording the song and selling it. Copyright protection for music is far different than say patent protection or even literary copyright.

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12.  

    Re: Re: it's a scientific fact!

    

    shmengie, Sep 9th, 2008 @ 9:46am

    
    

    the declarative nature of the the title states that it is a fact and it's happening, and does soin a very general way as to imply that it a standard practice.
    
    that;s how it reads to me, anyways.

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13.  

    Re: Re: Re: it's a scientific fact!

    

    Anonymous Coward, Sep 9th, 2008 @ 10:11am

    
    

    Well, it IS happening -- whether general or not I'd say is up for debate. But in theory, given what the premises are, it's a reasonable generalization to draw. If you plan to let a song get popular and then "cut off" the supply, anyone else offering a similar product (like a cover of the song) now benefits from the popularity you let grow. No, it's probably not very scientific (at least not in this form), but it's a rational conclusion.

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14.  

    Re: it's a scientific fact!

    

    Mike (profile), Sep 9th, 2008 @ 11:07am

    
    

    one instance = trend
    
    I wasn't saying it was a big trend, just pointing out what happened, and how it helped cover bands. I think, given the facts of the situation that it's also reasonable to assume that something similar would happen in other instances as well.
    
    A few months ago there was another article talking about how some cover bands are having tremendous success on iTunes by doing covers of all the popular tunes that bands refuse to sell on iTunes. So I think it's perfectly reasonable to suggest that's what would happen.

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15.  

    Re:

    

    Anonymous Coward, Sep 9th, 2008 @ 12:21pm

    
    

    Indeed. Went looking for a few songs from the 80's. iTunes has everything from that band except the few songs I wanted. Found them on PB. Problem solved.

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16.  

    Re: Re: no problem

    

    Blaise Alleyne (profile), Sep 9th, 2008 @ 11:48pm

    
    

    hehe they can try though, but yeah, not going to get very far

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17.  

    The Same Can Be Said For YouTube

    

    Davis Freeberg, Sep 10th, 2008 @ 10:37am

    
    

    I've seen a number of small indie bands use YouTube cover songs to get their career to take off because the media companies keep pulling their videos off the site and people are finding the covers instead. If bands want to ignore the promotional value of having all that traffic tuning in that's fine, but this trend doesn't seem confirm their claims about being harmed by the "piracy" on the site. When small bands are able to take cover songs and turn them into record contracts and sales, it's clear that the studios are leaving money on the table. I hope that this trend continues because hopefully, it will encourage more bands to distribute their content online, instead of letting the indie bands eat their lunch.

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18.  

    Re: no problem

    

    Brian, Oct 9th, 2008 @ 7:53pm

    
    

    Actually, as soon as an artist records a song into a fixed tangible median and distributes it, anyone can record it and the artist has no say. As long as whoever recorded it has gone through the Harry Fox Agency and payed the transcription license (which if the song is on iTunes, chances are, they have), it's fair game. Completely legal

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19.  

    

    Replica Fairings, Dec 2nd, 2008 @ 8:35am

    
    

    That is a war they would not win unless the prices of CD's get cheap enough to allow people to better buy the CD instead of an ITune.

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20.  

    Hot guitar solos

    

    Hannah, Jan 21st, 2010 @ 2:20pm

    
    

    What do you think of this YouTube video showcasing the nice guitar licks by Daniel Minteer off his ablum?

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