Howdy everyone:
I’m glad to see that people already are beginning to expect Square Peg shows to make their way onto IndieRiver. I think that’s a good thing. Also, I’m aware that some people are finding that getting hooked up with bootlegs is a little bit of a challenge. I understand that there’s a learning curve to this and that it can be frustrating, but I and others are willing to do as much Q&A as we can to help people get started.
What I’m not willing to do is to get into the business of for-profit bootleg trading. Richard, Neil, and I make our recordings available to you for free, and the Pegs are all very much fine with that. But when money gets involved, we are in direct competition with the Square Pegs for your discretionary income. I absolutely refuse to do that. If I find that people are selling bootlegs for profit I will do the following:
- Take IndieRiver offline immediately.
- Report the buyer and seller to the Square Pegs.
- Report the buyer and seller to the FBI if necessary.
I’m sure that this seems harsh, but let me be very clear: I believe in bootleg trading in support of artists, not in competition with them. When money changes hands, we get into competition with them, and that’s where this stops.
Now, I don’t think that anyone is trying to do this now, and I think that folks are just looking for a way to relieve their technical frustration by paying someone else to do it. I understand. I just won’t be a party to it, because that violates the promises that I made to the Pegs before I started doing this.
Thanks for your time.
August 26th, 2006 at 10:17 am
Geof,
First, let me say I greatly appreciate the time and effort you are putting into recording and archiving the Peg’s concerts. It’s great to be able to hear this wonderful music, even when getting to a concert is not feasible.
Second, your statements are not harsh. The Square Pegs have been kind enough to let you make their music available at no charge. How many artists out there do this?
Regarding the technical aspect of acquiring the bootlegs, you guys have put together a very detailed FAQ and there is adequate documentation on the web to figure out how the torrent thing works.
Selling these bootlegs is really self-defeating: Take away from the Pegs income, severely limit their ability to continue to make great music available; sell bootlegs provided by Geof and Indieriver, ruin it for everyone else and maybe get arrested. It’s really that simple.
Geof, thanks again for your effort.
August 28th, 2006 at 11:31 pm
I say offering to buy a copy of a SPA artist’s CD for a person that is willing to compile a few shows would be a pretty perfect way to make the whole process legit.
August 28th, 2006 at 11:33 pm
It probably is, in the long run, but allowing that starts us down a dangerous path.
I’d far rather people ask questions. I can’t answer what doesn’t get asked.