The Scene

MusicDetour.com’s commentary on music, performances, and the DC metro area music scene

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is charged with the task of creating a legal/political atmosphere so that record labels can generate massive profits. While it professes to be representative of the entire recording industry, the members of its board are primarily from the “Big Four” record labels (Sony BMG, EMI, Universal and Warner). These four companies control the vast majority of the music industry (including so-called “indie” labels).

Now that may not be a problem by itself because one could only expect companies to protect their profits. It is even the case that artists are part of those record labels through their contracts and it may be in their interest to maintain the power of the record labels. However, it is also the case that those very record contracts turn the role of the musician into something that parallels the life of a sharecropper (more on this in another post on another day). In this way it is difficult for the RIAA to argue that they are looking out for the interests of the musicians because if they were really concerned about the musicians, then they would be helping them to have less exploitative contracts.

This is the context that we should approach the idea of the RIAA filing lawsuits against people who “illegally” download music. As the RIAA always resorts back to the artists to protect their interests, we should always understand that it is industry itself exploiting musicians and not their fans. Keep in mind that without fans, there would be no music. One blog, called Recording Industry vs The People, is keeping track of all of the litigation presently in the courts where the RIAA is involved in suing fans and ISPs. Check out their site, it is great way to stay in the know of the legal climate of digital music.