I don't know that for someone who makes a living as a recording artist, that
it is so simple to reduce it to an academic argument of ethics and morality.
If Scott Herren chose to take the so-called moral high road and not license
the rights to his track for Foot Locker, Foot Locker would have hired a no
name artist to completely knock off his style and make something that sounds
almost identical. Herren in the end would be ripped off stylistically, a lot
of P73 might wonder "I've never heard that Prefuse 73 track before, did he
do something specific for Foot Locker?" and in the end Foot Locker would
most likely profit all the same. While I'm not necessarily a huge fan of
over-licensing music (Moby being the most extreme example, but even he has
justified his actions in a similar manner, take it or leave it of course), I
don't hold it against Herren for doing this. For starters, I like his music,
and if it hits an unknowing audience, then so be it. He can take the money
that he's received from this advertisement and do whatever he wants with it.
For all we know, he's donated it to charity. And if he hasn't, so what? He
is doing what he needs (or wants) to keep pursuing music as a career, not a
hobby.
So, while I agree with several of your points, I would agree more with Josh
that the corporate wrong-doings of Foot Locker and Nike are hardly
contingent upon the licensing of a Prefuse 73 track.
quoted 102 lines From: "robert stanton" <industrialrobot@hotmail.com>
>From: "robert stanton" <industrialrobot@hotmail.com>
>To: benelli3000@hotmail.com
>CC: idm@hyperreal.org
>Subject: [idm] re: give me a fucking break, leave scott alone
>Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 17:28:09 -0500
>
>>last time i checked, liberalism hasn't a flying fig to do with what
>> >you're talking about-but capitalism vs. socialism does.
>I'd suggest actually paying attention to what I had been talking about, and
>if you're confused, doing a general web-search for definitions of the terms
>or concepts. As I had said many times before, neoliberalism operates not
>only as an economic system but as a political and cultural system as well.
>Neoliberalism's core values are that consumerism, the market, and class
>inequality are natural and often benevolent, whereas political activity,
>civic values, and antimarket activities tend to be marginalized or
>denounced. Thus, neoliberalism works best when there is formal electoral
>democracy, but when the population is diverted from the information,
>access, and public forums necessary for meaningful participation in
>decision making.
>
>>if you're so vexed by capitalism then go live in china and ride a >bike,
>>eat hay and not own any of the music you make.
>Please. Have you ever studied anything about China or been there?
>Obviously not, judging by the crude comments you made. In terms of its
>economy and politics, it's just as poor a country, in the participatory
>sense, as the US. So I would have no reason to go there on terms of
>ideological values.
>
>>and caring? wake up man, do YOU care? what do YOU do to assuage the
>>bereavment of the world? next time i take a big capitalist style shit
>> >and it hurts, you better be there to prep-H my suffering butthole. or
>> >you shouldn't mind everyone's beezwax, eh?
>Yeah, I care. I'm involved with several activist committees as well as my
>local politics. This is the best I can do to attempt to help people. If
>you don't notice a big difference, it's because people (like you seem to
>be) are unaware or are indifferent to current situations, so they don't
>form mass movements or protest to have change. Somehow, the idea that this
>is "the best of all possible worlds" got ingrained into most people's
>heads. Also, big business and interest groups have lobbies working hard
>for their interests, whereas the citizen doesn't. As far as helping you
>goes, I live and work in a specific part of the country, so I am unable to
>be concerned with your day-to-day problems. However, I would argue that
>many of the reforms I work towards would be beneficial to you and others.
>Since you seem to be complaining that I've never directly "helped" you,
>have you ever heard of helping yourself? Of taking action by yourself and
>not letting others do all the work for you? If you think you see problems
>that need resolving, and can't do it on your own, why don't you join a
>group on your own and actually do something?
>
>>who the hell do you think you are to say that scott is naive?
>I have the ability to say that Scott Herren is naive for not knowing what
>industries his music is now supporting. If he does know all the things
>that Foot Locker commercial stands for, and he just doesn't care, then I'd
>say he's a fool.
>
>>have you heard his fucking records?
>Yes. But I'm unaware of how this would represent either his naivete or
>ignorance as to what was being discussed...
>
>>who's life is scott ending by letting some goon edit his track to shit
>> >and bury it behind some fucking rent-a-homie hyping up sports and
>> >sonsense?
>Well, maybe he allowed Foot Locker, which deals in Nike products, to buy
>more things from Nike, who in turn has their products made from workers in
>countries where there are no environmental or human rights standards.
>Perhaps one of those workers will die from maltreatment or respitory
>problems. I'm not trying to get sympathy here - you asked who's life such
>a commercial could end, and I'm attempting to answer in the most obvious
>and direct way.
>
>>get a grip, man, he's trying to get a fucking leg up, and giving you
>> >music to ponder the fuck out of and try to figure out how he did it.
>Not through a commercial he isn't.
>
>>in conclusion, if you didn't spend so much time flapping your lips, >and
>>spent more time on your tracks and your musical skills, then you >would be
>>getting paid too.
>Yes...I hate Scott Herren because the music I try to make is so horrible
>and pathetic compared to his. This is exactly the same reasoning I use to
>explain why I'm not fond of Michael Eisner and Rupert Murdoch - because
>they have so much more money than me! Your assumptions here are quite
>wrong - I could honestly care less about money or profit. I'm more
>concerned with the ideological issues behind actions.
>
>>and buy the new Savath+Savalas ep, it's the shit.
>Yeah. Buy, buy, buy, buy. It seems like commercialism and neoliberalism
>have influenced you well.
>
>>long live capitalism! that's right, bitches. i mean it.
>The United States isn't even true capitalism. In true capitalism,
>businesses wouldn't have the ability to buy the government, amongst other
>things. What you're living in right now is some mutant form of that
>economic system. I'd also really advise you to do a good, long study of
>the history of capitalism in the US and its effects on politics and society
>before you honestly proclaim your support of it. Perhaps then you'll see
>the problems with things as they stand now, and agree that anyone who
>supports such institutions is either naive or ignorant.
>
>Thanks for your expletive-filled post. It was quite amusing.
>
>Robert
>
m.mercer :: design + sound
http://www.matthewmercer.com/
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