Ethics in a Digital Age Free Vs Fee

The music and film industries have undergone immense changes since the onslaught of the digital age.  At my age I prefer to purchase live music in the form of concert tickets as opposed to mp3 or cd compilations.  You cannot capture the organic sound of music by squashing and compressing it into an mp3 format.  Often times I listen to the music produced at the local and national levels and hear slight variations but to the untrained consumer ear most of the process is lost.  If I do decide to purchase music that I wanted to listen to over and over again, I use Amazon as an easy and affordable resource for single track downloads and I purchase cd’s from the artist directly as many artists retain their onsite sales proceeds above and beyond the number of discs that are pressed for retail outlets.

Local artists are often ecstatic when someone pirates their music as it means someone is listening.  National acts are however much more tied to the fiscal responsibilities of their label backing.  As investors in the projects they sign, labels have a much more legal take on the money lost from illegal downloads.  I do not see this issue ending, well, EVER.  With the decentralized nature and scope of the internet I see a few areas that will need improvement and a few key points to consider when establishing a viable business in digital media distribution. In the future the following measures will be taken within the industry:

*Internet Security protocol will have to be constantly updated on almost a daily basis.  

*Items in the cloud become lodged there unable to download and are only available through apps on all of your media, thus never really allowing you to play songs without the software.  

*Downloads will be structured so any additional duplication of the files corrupts the media and does not allow for transfer to other mediums more than once.  

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*Burning files will become obsolete and code can be written to disallow the tracks from being replicated without a license that may be purchased.

*Digital Uploading would be disallowed all together without the proper approval codes being embedded in the websites, which is simple and easy to do.  The media would basically have a failsafe implanted.

*Artists will take some of this into their own hands at lower levels. 

*Record Executives will have to take a pay cut in order to finance the cost of said programs.

*Educating the consumers as to why even downloading one song can exponentially contribute to the decline of the music industry.

 “Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000." (www.fbi.gov/ipr/)  My opinion is that this is rather steep for teenagers and should be placed in a tier system like all other crimes of passion (1^st-5^th degree).  Lets face it music is passionate and most consumers aren’t downloading songs they don’t like.  Most consumers don’t feel that these parameters apply to them.  The real villains are those producing forums for consumers to download free material.  

The “Illegal Download Dilemma” is one of both societal and consumer relevance.  One, it shows us all that the expendable income of most people is on the decline, as long as pirating is on the rise.  It also shows us that people are self-serving and in the midst of right and wrong it’s semantic!  Perspective is a very real issue and education is the only way to change the trend.

The importance of being Self-Interested

SELF-INTEREST

1

:  a concern for one's own advantage and well-being

 

I have for years worked like a dog to help others achieve their dreams and goals.  This is a lonely and selfless path and while many would say it is the "right" way to be I am going to call BullShit!  I have given and given and given of myself and finally realized in the last few months, that I was giving in the wrong direction.  I gave to musicians, parents, kids, artists, business partners, fans, producers, labels, promoters, venues, etc... and at the end of the day I was left standing on my own with everyone else happy and no recognition for what I had created, funded or developed.  And people only notice when things are going badly.  Depression over took me I attached myself to the wrong people, I flitted from opportunity to opportunity only to find that the opportunity was all inside of me. 

 

How often do we attach ourselves to those we feel have the answers?  I have done it a dozen times in my life only to find that my heart knows the truth and when I don't listen to it I get myself into trouble.  BIG Trouble!  Two weeks ago I went to the Doctor with heart palpitations and the symptoms that keep emerging are pointing to my Nervous System.   I have given so much externally that I have neglected my internal environment.  I don't just listen to music for enjoyment anymore, it is always an analysis of the verse the chorus and the bridge.   I don't find time to nourish my body and thus eat very little, while working out not at all and sit in front of a monitor most of my days for 14 hours.  This sedentary life style is normal for most of us in the Music Industry, or America, that actually work.  Is it, however, what we got involved in this industry for? 

 

Of course not.  I chose music because I am a vocalist.  I love to sing, I am good at it.  So why did I get so far from my path?  Because somewhere along the way someone told me I wasn't good enough, I was too fat or not pretty enough and I believed them.   I now realize that they were self-interested and saw no direct benefit to them.  As young women we often fall into these patterns, giving up on us to focus on others.  It happens at some point in our teens and grows to a deafening roar by the time our children are in their teens.  Giving to spouses and children and clients more than we give to ourselves.  Evaluating my life over the last two weeks I realize that I am not living my purpose, I am not listening to my instincts and I am overloading my nervous system.  The issues could potentially be Heart Failure, MS, or Hypo-Tension but I am on a heart monitor for another 23 days to determine diagnosis.  So how do I change these symptoms...

 

Well the first change is direction.  The focus out rather than the focus in is killing me, literally.

• Always keep moving but shift my direction constantly. 
• Reduce stress which means eliminate those that create it. 
• Focus on myself, my talents and skills.  Including singing.  

Finally there is exercise because healthy nerves need healthy muscles to be truly effective including the heart.  I downloaded an app called Argus by Azumio in the Apple Store.  It tracks my sleep, my heart rate, my steps, my food, my exercise/calories, my water intake and my caffeine intake.  It allows me to take the few minutes I need to continuously evaluate my activity level and reminds me to drink and eat.  They encourage a lifestyle where you eat 5-6 meals a day, walk 10,000 steps or burn 4000 calories a day.  It also allows you to track meditation.  I love it and the social media aspects of leading a healthy lifestyle with others who have the same goals. 

 

Join me on this journey of self interest and friend me on Argus!  We can all be the best versions of ourselves regardless of what our external environment tells us.  You will all get a first hand account of my journey through the industry as I step from behind the curtain and out into the lime light!  I am letting the business portions go for good with the exception of paid contract work and my families internal musical pursuits.  Life is too short to get backlash from the ungrateful and I thank you all for the support you have shown me over the years. 

Brand that Band

Despite the revenue increase from the digital arena, mechanical sales have yet to rise.  The one challenge that the music and film industries continue to face is the purchase of digital music.  Most of the revenue is coming from streaming sites such as Spotify and Pandora thanks to advertisers.  

The industry has had to change its model and now relies on business advertisers to carry the weight.  This may appear doomed to failure but advertising equals dollars.  Labels know it, software firms know it and bands must realize it too.   The times are changing.  By understanding the reports released on this trend artists can legitimize themselves by finding sponsorships and endorsements to cover the basic expenses.   

Some artists may decide they want to brand themselves environmentally conscious and work with a company to retro fit their tour bus to bio fuel, or maybe they are willing to promote the printer who is printing their flyers for the street team.  There are many ways to play in advertising and marketing if you don’t have the monetary label backing that many bands still covet.  Many options are available to artists seeking a connection with sponsors and brands but you must appear even more legitimate to advertisers before they will support you with products or cash. 

It starts with me: All Videos (playlist)

Times claims revenue up in digital but not in mechanicals! How artists can cash in on the new models.

Despite the revenue increase from the digital arena, mechanical sales have yet to rise.  The one challenge that the music and film industries continue to face is the purchase of digital media.  Most of the revenue is coming from streaming sites such as Spotify and Pandora thanks to advertisers.  

The industry has had to change its model and now relies on business advertisers to carry the weight.  This may appear doomed to failure but advertising equals dollars.  Labels know it, software firms know it and bands must realize it too.   The times are changing.  By understanding the reports released on this trend artists can legitimize themselves by finding sponsorships and endorsements to cover the basic expenses.   

Some artists may decide they want to brand themselves environmentally conscious and work with a company to retro fit their tour bus to bio fuel, or maybe they are willing to promote the printer who is printing their flyers for the street team.  There are many ways to play in advertising and marketing if you don’t have the monetary label backing that many bands still covet.  Many options are available to artists seeking a connection with sponsors and brands but you must appear even more legitimate to advertisers before they will support you with products or cash. 

To learn more about how WF Consulting can give you a professional edge and shop your project for endorsements and sponsorships send us an email.  info@whisperfiercely.com or visit our website today.  www.whisperfiercely.com

The New Normal!

As many of you may have noticed, there is a trend that has begun within our generation.  It isn't a negative trend, in fact most of us born to the tail end Baby Boomers themselves can attest to the consciousness that has emerged, sometimes by force, among us.   We know that life is not the idealistic portrayal attempted in the 50's and 60's to cover up the horrors that men had seen in the war.  Normalcy was an illusion for the next 20 years and then our parents tried to perpetuate that mentality through the 80's and 90's with too much coddling that turned into tough love programs.   Even today we see the generation of self entitled upper middle class suburban youth struggling within themselves.  Who are they and what is this world about and "Why am I not happy with NORMAL?"   We are anything but normal.

Many of this generation X and Y find themselves less satisfied with our military industrial complex than our parents who unfortunately had to deal with the draft.  We prefer fulfillment to money and a good burger to caviar.  Our children will grow up to be athletes, artists and musicians rather than lawyers and business  professionals because it is about what they want not what we want and we love them for their independence.  The belief being that life is so short and so precious that we must find the talents that truly define us and fill us with light.  Recently, I read an article that touched on the fact that our generation is taking on less responsibility in order to pursue their personal lives and hobbies.

The moments that we cherish are seldom found within our careers and for the few that find their fulfillment here, more power to you, literally.  Instead these generations are generations of activists and heroes, searching recklessly at times for the meaning of life.  We are constantly trying to invent ways to change the world as it is because we all know many things do not work socially.   Within these pages you will find many ways to contribute to the evolution of our global culture as well as opportunities to involve yourself in this evolving organization.