To a Mother Concerned About File-Sharing

Valerie is a mother who is concerned about her son illegally sharing music files online. Here's her question:

I have a teenage son who tells me his pirating music is no big deal. Since he is a musician himself, I point out to him that someday that’s going to be his money people are stealing. But he remains unphased.

He tells me the record sales make money for the record label, not the artist. He says that the artists make all their money from touring and live concerts. He thinks the pirated music promotes the concerts and therefore helps the artist make more money. I still don’t allow pirating in my house.

But tell me what you think - as artists out there having your work “shared,” are you just glad to have it being enjoyed, or does it bother you? Admittedly, he is stealing music that is recorded by major record labels, so maybe its different than the independent musician working for his living. But I’d still like to hear what you think.

Thanks,
Valerie,

My answer:

First off, your son is right. If people aren't willing to pay for something, its monetary value is zero. There may be laws against file sharing, but for a record label or artist, enforcing them is just pushing your customers away.

What will people pay for? Access to the artist - the live show, front row seats, backstage pass, an in-person guitar lesson? Those are all possible. (I know someone who sells that guitar lesson as part of pre-CD-release fund raising and the price tag is $500.)

To paraphase Seth Godin, give away the music and sell the souvenir. People buy souvenirs. The ones who don't buy the souvenir either can't afford it or they're not true fans yet. Giving them the music helps them and their friends become true fans. Even if such a person can't afford the music, it likely that some of their friends can.

Your son is growing up in this world, not the world of the bad old days we grew up in, in which the record labels controlled the means of music production. If he's a musician, he needs to get comfortable with how it works now - and he'll find a way to make it work for him when he needs to. Have faith and don't worry about file sharing.

(All that said, it is still illegal and I don't recommend actively breaking the law without a compelling reason.)