HOW TO OFFLOAD A DOWNLOAD?

I’ve been following the ‘I have seen rock’n’roll future – and it’s name is Steve-I-know-what’s-right-and-if-onlyyou’d- listen-we-could-rule-the-world- Islip’ debate with interest. I have no problem with formats, and own music on all of them, but I have found that, ironically, it’s fans of the ‘new’ virtual/ download format who are the most blinkered and narrow-minded in their attitude – a very ‘if you’re not with me, you’re against me’ kind of thing.

I’d like to raise another point about this which seems to have been overlooked. That is, what you are actually getting for your money? Seems to me, you’re getting nothing, nada, zip. I realised this when I (as a hip, groovy Dad embracing the new technology!) took up my son’s suggestion of the cheaper, quicker download of Dylan’s Modern Times. Excellent I thought, no waiting for Saturday morning, no driving to the shops, no parking, queuing, crowds, what could be better? Listened to the music (five days earlier than going to buy the CD) and was really pleased. But, a few weeks later, someone gave me the Modern Times Special Edition as a gift. Really nice, with a 100-page album cover booklet and all – great!

So, what to do with my download? Can’t sell it, can’t swap it, can’t stall out at a boot fair or record fair with it! Legally, I can’t even give it away. And that’s when the lightbulb went on over my head. It’s the ultimate con! I’ve paid to ‘receive’ nothing!

When CDs came in I was working in a record shop and was bemused to see people buying stuff on CD that they already had on vinyl and thought how clever the record companies were to re-sell the same stuff all over again, but in a smaller, cheaper (to produce!) format but at a higher price to the consumer – brilliant!

Now we have the ultimate con – give us your money, we give you some ‘information’, you can burn it to a CD-R if you want (luddite!), you can print off a cover if you have to (dinosaur!) but at the end of the day, you don’t actually have anything! Brilliant!

Now, we all know it’s all about the music (maaaan!) but we all know it’s not really all about the music don’t we? Record fairs/boot fairs are going to be very sparse affairs soon, with each stall empty save for an iPod in the middle of the table!

I love my iPod and it’s been a great addition to my music listening/ collecting arsenal, but anyone who thinks downloads are the only way to go has so missed the point! I think downloads are great for bands/tracks that I can’t actually find in shops or at fairs etc, and downloads certainly enhance my music listening, but for Steve to describe CDs/vinyl as ‘overpriced anachronistic formats’ is to miss the point that, at any price, at least buyers of those formats have actually bought something! I look forward to Record Collector’s future change of name to Nothing Collector – but not very much! Oh, and by the way – more Who please!

by Bob Frazer
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