Ani DiFranco on Illegal File-Sharing

[Mr420ways]

OH GROW UP ANI YOR FROM BROKE ASS BUFFALO NY...LIKE U NEVER DOWNLOADED A FILE WITHOUT PAYING 99 CENTS 4 IT.....U SUCK U FEMINIST FUCK

[amazingastar1]

I got my first tape in high school from my best friend, and I have bought every other album of Ani's...thank goodness for the "illegal" sharing...or I would have never fallen in love with her music!

[jamesangusmcaninch]

I'd rather have the paid for cd so I can kick back and enjoy on my terms.

[helpAHHHH]

So hard to listen to her stutter. Has she thought about this topic before?

[llel11]

@helpAHHHH

I thought it was very evenhanded. I expect she's thought about it quite a bit since if someone cuts your paycheck by a significant percentage you tend to notice.

[nvrsaynvr12]

You really have a reading problem "dude" people don't share waves or flac's regulary, and at no point did I connect audiophiles to most people either IDIOT

[M0EJ0EKING]

@nvrsaynvr12

not at all

[M0EJ0EKING]

@nvrsaynvr12

you do not what FLAC is right?

[M0EJ0EKING]

@nvrsaynvr12

FLAC is uncompressed audio

cds are compressed

FLAC is better and pirate-able

besides everyone knows concerts is how musicians make there money

[swagger93]

@nvrsaynvr12 Dude, you are ridiculously misinformed. How can you seriously say "any audiophile" when any audiophile knows the reality is the exact opposite of what you are saying? DERP LOSSLESS MEANS NO DATA LOST DERP STFU you IDIOT

[swagger93]

@nvrsaynvr12 Just because most people who aren't into it don't know about sound quality doesn't make your first inane statement any less wrong. If you're trying to make a point why not try and be credible. Any audiophile does not equal most people. In fact, they are the opposite of most people, and in fact they are the type of person that would best understand lossless and high-quality lossy compression. Read what you write and look at the flow of logic.

[briteness]

I think she has a fairly balanced view of the situation, particularly given that, even if her fans are more likely to pay for her albums than the 'average' fan would be for the music they like, she personally loses money from all the piracy. For my part, I do not download music for free that I could buy legally. I have generally spent probably $1,000 - $2,000 a year on CDs for years. But even I see the era of the official 'album' is dying. Perhaps musicians should turn to the patronage system.

[caramonspace]

@briteness @nvrsaynvr12 Agreed to both. I've bought various albums of hers multiple times over the years, having lost quite a few between moves and the like. Songs on Revelling/Reckoning, Evolve, Dilate, and Not A Pretty Girl just don't seem as good if not from the real thing, and when they are formed so well I always feel good about buying the actual CDs. I'm thinking "massive patronage" is the word for what is developing at a larger scale for the music we love.

[Megara]

At first I bought "Dilated" at a used music store for $5. Loved it. So of course, I went on Ares and Limewire and downloaded (for free) as much music as I could from her. I think it ended up being 6 full burnt CD's.

And guess what? Now I own most of her CD's 'cause I love her music so much that I didn't want to miss even one song! & I wanted to support her as an artist.

I went to her show in Houston 2 years back, and was front row, and she blew me away. Amazing performer, amazing artist.

[smarfling]

I ain't no dup'er

[ashoftomorrow]

I'm actually doing a research project on this and one thing I've found out from the research I've done is that the "little guy" or the independent musician, that Ani talks about around 2:00, the lower 50% in record sales, so the very bottom 1% to the middle of the road artist, will actually see somewhat higher album sales from file-sharing. They sell more records than they would without it because it is easier for people to find their music. But better known artists do suffer fairly heavily.

[sentharia]

@ashoftomorrow That makes sense to me. I will download or listen to things on youtube that aren't my favourites, but I'm a poor student so I won't buy things unless they are my favourites and/or I'm supporting the independents. I don't actually download much any more, but I don't think there is anything wrong with exploring music before you buy especially when you are low budget. I'm not sure I would have really got into cd buying in the first place if it weren't for kazaa, though.

[BelMagick]

If I respect an artist and they put meaning and passion into their work then I will buy the record. Simple.

Why would I spend money on buying a record from somebody who puts out catchy but shallow songs which i know I'll bored of in a month. They (or their record company) are only interested in selling records to the masses and making money, they are not interested in making music which is enduring.

Only another 8 Ani albums to buy and going to see her in Jan. Weee!

[kiaweking]

Artists don't create for money, they are inspired. If they can support themselves with their art they will be free to create more. If not, it is quite possible they will shift their priorities in order to survive. We, as consumers, either support the arts or not. It is not at all complicated. It is called ethical integrity. At the end of the segment Ani says "my albums pay the bills so that we can produce other crazy music". She is a patron of the arts as well as an artist.

[andrewjon]

i got an ani mix tape in 1992, from a good friend who thought id like it, since then, i bought her tapes, then cd's, and now red letter from itunes. so weird

[thinkyertirednow]

Downloading music is a great way to discover artists that you've never heard of. I discovered Ani by word of mouth on the internet in the early 90's, and bought her album. I was hooked. These days, the "word of mouth" tends to be playlists that you can actually listen to, which is great...

[thinkyertirednow]

but I know for sure on the day her new albums come out, I look forward to holding it in my hands and ripping off the plastic, senses instantly filled with that new cd scent, feeling the paper, reading the liner notes and popping it into my player... and that goes for every artist i truly admire. I would gladly pay the $15 for the satisfaction they bring to my soul.

[ginadepippo]

I couldn't agree more. I only wish the CD packaging wasn't so damn hard to unwrap. YOu'de think the disc was made of delicate crystal the way it's protected, but on the other hand when you go to buy light bulbs they're surrounded by a thin strip of paper and openly exposed on both ends. It's a challenge just to get them out of the store without breakage. Go figure?

[ginadepippo]

@thinkyertirednow 

[gamewizard]

Everyone's in favor of sharing music until they make it big and it's their songs that are being shared. Hypocrites.

[HeartBrokeDownBlue]

I like the good old days where you had to buy the records. I saw a cd of "Dilate" my friend had a long time ago when at music practice, and without even hearing it I went to the music store and looked for it. Then several more followed. Back in the day you had to have a genuine interest and seek it out like water. I eventually bought a dvd of her live performance, just to see her live. And only today years later am I seeing her on the net. Support the GD artist People, it means more to u!

[Stargrave]

I should d/l this video and show it to my friend, j/k

[Merryrobin]

Often times when I like my free copy, its like the sample that I have to have the orginal. Hopefully buying them from Amazon still puts bread on Ani's table,,,,and pocket.

[ConnDevi88]

My iPod is exclusively for music that is out of print or unreleased.

[kaivan33333]

I buy all Ani Difranco's songs off Itunes, because Ani Difranco is an artist who definitely is worth however much the price is!

[tiocharolastra]

Ani I will always buy your albums....and even when my friends what to hear...I buy one for them too

[getyourfancyon]

my first ani cd was a copy....now i buy them all..and go to her shows when...ever she comes to nz! (i even missioned to australia for one!!)

[melodyinheresy]

She's so wonderful. Living in a town of 1,100 people, with no music stores in the area, I could never buy her cd's. I explored her music by finding lyrics, and downloading the corresponding songs. I'll never forget the first time I listened to that first song ("Untouchable Face"). I've been in love with her ever since, and have exposed others to her music in turn. Though I only own two of her cd's (fuck it, I've never had much money), I will always support her when I can. Thanks to piracy.

[VRMorrigon]

Ani is very brilliant. I work to support the artists I enjoy. If their music is something I enjoy, I want to give back to them for that as a thank you.

Thank you Ani!

[ariellejsa]

On THAT note... BUY:

DRUMS AND TUBA's Albums on RIGHTEOUS BABE RECORDS!!

(they Rockin' Kick Ass, and you'll NOT be disappointed!! Brian Wolff- "Tuba"-played w/ Maceo on Ani's album "To the Teeth," and, Ani and Bri were good 

[spdfrkmr2]

My Rant part 4

I'd rather pay $20 for 5 good true to the heart songs then $20 for 12-16 songs of crap! In the end if I know your just in it for the money, I won't buy your crap..

[toodaloos93]

@spdfrkmr2 I personally never ever download Ani because she is independent... unfortunately - I live in a country where I can't find Ani Difranco CD's so I have to order them online and wait and wait...It's def worth it.

[spdfrkmr2]

@toodaloos93 I totally agree, I haven't downloaded her music,.. never have... She lives in the next city over from me,.. I totally support her! I got 4 of her last albums..

[toodaloos93]

@spdfrkmr2 I have friends who came from the states and they just gave me two: out of range and not so soft. I'm trying to get as many as I can, so next time I'm in the states I'm gonna go crazy :p

[spdfrkmr2]

My Rant part 3

If your going to sell your sould to the music industry and rely on them to fluff up your garbage and not focus on putting out good quality music, then you deserve to be ripped off. There is a reason why Napster was so popular, people where tired of getting railed by record companies. They got what they deserved, they been ripping people off for years!

[spdfrkmr2]

My Rant Part 2

Ironically, the illegal downloading industry is the only thing that puts true value on music these days. Why would you pay $19.99 for an album that sucks? It's like them saying your going to pay for this fluff crap and this is your only option if you want to get the 1-2 only good songs on the album. Just don't be fake, what's so hard about understanding that?

[spdfrkmr2]

My rant part 1

Ani is sooooo incredible,.. Take note record companies!!! Don't produce crap! and people will buy the album! Even with downloading! I don't even know how many times I bought an album and 1 or 2 songs are good, then the rest is like garbage, fluff, meaningless crap,... You don't have that with Ani, all of her songs are from heart, genuine and real. 90% of every album after the mid 90's is crap, fake, and meaningless.

[belllabean]

i was THERE!!!! nice one, now it's immortally preserved on the interworld, like almost everything :) yay :)

[MysticMoonGoddess67]

i was right there with my one of my best girls, Ayla for her bday.

[AnitaTaco]

She is so humble...

[brianwurst1234]

I would have never heard of Ani if it wasnt for file sharing5 years ago. I am going to see her march 7 in atlanta.

[XionXXXX]

Technically atm, any kind of sharing is illegal over the internet except for music from like Jamendo which the artists themselves create intentionally for file sharing and communities.

[astridkitty1212]

Thanks. I know of a few free downloads available from permission of the artists on sites like LastFM and Epitonic. Those are there because the artists are okay sharing them. Also, I think it is cool to get all the free stuff on this site. I use Youtube as my beloved free entertainment source. If you can fave lots of videos here without actually burning them, why desire more? I actually think that through Youtube you CAN have some free filesharing. You just can't take more than you need.

[astridkitty1212]

Yet I feel that because so many, probably most, people download free music it in addition to music you pay for should be legalized. It is my honest opinion that file sharing should be legal and taxed, offering monetary compensation to artists. Everyone - mostly good, otherwise decent people, and lots of kids - does free file sharing, so it should be legal and should not be that big of a deal!

[astridkitty1212]

I had just heard from my best friend that Youtube has links to all kinds of music to download for free. I hear a lot of talk about free music online that is legal and won't get you caught. Exactly which of this is true? Ani, are YOU at all on Youtube and could YOU tell me if those free sites are legal. I mean, they used to sell blank VHS and casette tapes to record stuff on, so exactly WHAT free music is legal and what isn't?

[astridkitty1212]

I think the site we are on right now provides a wonderful compromise between free stuff and respecting copyrights. Youtube is my means of getting lots of free online entertainment without stealing. Yes, it stays on the computer, but in some ways I think a movie is more fun to watch if seen once in an art theater than bought on DVD. There ARE some legal free downloads, but those are obtained by permission of the artist. The rest of your stufff should be paid for. I love you, Ani!=)

[VelveetaBoy]

There is a common misunderstanding that just because people aren't willing to pay for something that they do not value it. This fallacy stems from people putting money above all other things, as the one thing which seems so able to place a numerical value on something.

We spread our love by word of mouth and providing exposure for our favorite artists, "Hey! Listen to this!" and place value by dedicating our memory to their words and images.

[jessicafischerqueen]

Will you quit nodding your head in that insipid manner?

You look like a fucking bobble head puppet.

[si1entscorn]

lol she does

[queerchitect]

I'm a performance artist and my performances thrive off of friends sharing the images and the music that I create, or work with. However, it does become a major issue when you're trying to make a living as an artist, how do you get people to buy something that they can find a way to get for "free", even if illegally. It becomes a conscious effort on you, the audience, to support the artists you enjoy and actually buy something from them, concert tickets, CDs, mp3s, merch, etc.

[macgum]

I will sometimes download an independent release to see if I like it. If I like it, I buy it. But I don't pay for music released by major labels.

[TheHerbalPhilosopher]

So awesome that she is not hating on people who share music! God bless her!!

[yageyageyage]

,as for identity ,identity is something that is owned by a person,but people can't own 1's and 0's if you are downloading music you are not stealing the actual music,the music will still be there and those 1's and 0's aren't owned by the musicmakers in the first place,if you really really like the music and you want to support it,then you should buy it

[sludgefingers]

1s and 0s.  I think that's quite possibly the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

[yageyageyage]

to all anti-piracy people out there,downloading digital stuff can't be a crime,for starters there is no actual matter involved,it's just 1's and 0's calculated on a machine.

but take for instance hacking into a bank or identity theft that's different because the money is actually being stolen but by digital means,there is actual matter involved

[Truthzilla]

"downloading digital stuff can't be a crime"

Actually, it can be. Haven't you ever read those FBI warnings on movies? It doesn't have to involve copyright violation for profit. And, whatever the technicalities, destroying a whole industry out of greed and immorality is a crime, it's a crime against music and the artists who create it.

[zapharatu]

Anyone who thinks artist shouldn't make a living from their art eirther isn't an artist or doesn't value art very much. Artists, when respected by their communities, have always been compensated for it. That's how they are able to eat and live and support their families while continuing to create. It's extremely selfish to tell an arist they don't deserve to be compensated for the years of work they've done to produce their art. Why shouldn't they be able 2 make a living doing what they love?

[notaprettygirl81]

growlwillow said it perfectly

[crudip]

File sharing ultimately is a good thing. Music has turned into an industry, a business, these days artists EXPECT to be able to make a living off creating music, simply because others do, and it's been that way for a long time. File sharing serves to remind us that music does not equal money, and that real art is created just for the sake of it.

[sensesublimity]

beautiful crudip :) I think music is a form of expression....when you move someone with your creative expression they feel like they have gained in some way........ so in return they want to give back. Focusing to much on money is what ruins the natural balance of give and take and usually hinders the link to your creative self = disconnection from your unique expression = disconnection to intake.

[Truthzilla]

Everyone is free to make music for nothing if they want to. If they choose to want to, oh, I dunno, EAT or HAVE CHILDREN, and therefore want to make a living at it, you are a scumbag if you steal from them, pure and simple. It's evil and it's wrong, and the whole internet is basically a self-help group for people looking for rationalizations to do what everyone knows is flat out wrong and what they would go crazy over if it was done to them. A bunch of hypocrites, all of you.

[crudip]

Let's not get personal here. I was just pointing out that it's about time the music industry got its arse kicked, and file sharing stepped in to do the job.

[Truthzilla]

It's not time the music industry got it's arse kicked. What happened is, suddenly a lot of people figured out that they could do to someone else what they would never accept anyone doing to them. So they had to come up with some rationalizations for the fact that they are unethical thieves. So they created this mythology of the evil music industry, so that they could feel good about ripping off people. It's flat out hypocrasy of the worst kind, and violates the most basic ethics of our society.

[skipperiffic]

The record industry is not generally a very ethical business. Have you ever heard of Payola or Plugola? It is still common practice to bribe radio people. Even if it is with concert tickets or swag. The business also has ripped off artists from the early days. Many blues singers made substantial amounts of money for the companies but never got paid themselves. I don't defend illegal downloads but the business is not made up of a bunch of angels either.

[Truthzilla]

Of course that's true. Any large industry is made up of thousands to hundreds of thousands of people over decades of time, and there will inevitably be crimes committed by them. But that's got nothing to do with the issue of file downloading. People stealing music aren't doing it out of loyalty to Robert Johnson. They are just ripping off music because they want it and are too cheap to pay for it. And, if the label doesn't get paid, then clearly the artist doesn't either.

[Truthzilla]

And, in case anyone needs proof that it's just a bunch of BS, do you figure that all those people didn't download, say, Lost in Space from Aimee Mann? She's an independent artist, not with any label. You know perfectly well people ripped that off without the slightest thought, because the whole evil music industry thing is a complete BS rationalization to be held up like some shield when they are confronted with the truth.

[sammademedoit]

yeah i love eating children too :D

[Truthzilla]

If you rip off people who are trying to make a living like everyone else, and raise their children, and you destroy or seriously limit their ability to do so, then you do eat children, in a manner of speaking, for no other reason than your own greed.

[Xxblueyes89xX]

mmmm. babies! hahahaha.

[Truthzilla]

File sharing is NOT a good thing. There was nothing preventing people from creating music for free if they wanted to do so, in addition to their being a business element of it as well. Today we are heading quickly towards a world where all music is made by amateurs in their bedrooms, and though some amateurs can do good work, mostly amateurs are called amateurs for a reason. And, of course people like you probably don't volunteer to work for free, right?

[Truthzilla]

As to musicians expecting to make money from music, well duh! Of course they do. That's their freaking job. Just like you expect to get paid for your work. The world is being taken over by economic retards who have no concept of how the world really works and think that they shoudl be able to take whatever they want and that artists, unlike everyone else, shouldn't have the same rights as the rest of us.

[crudip]

Music isn't a job, it shouldn't be considered work. Sounds, images, ideas, these aren't real. If you can duplicate this "work" so easily and share it using a computer, why is it worth so much money? Why spend hundreds of millions of dollars on making a movie when it can be duplicated without cost? Maybe I went overboard when I said artists shouldn't be able to make a living, but certainly they shouldn't be idolised millionaires like the pop stars are today

[crudip]

& I think file sharing is a good thing, as it serves to equalise the music industry, giving the good bands the publicity they deserve and taking some of the wind out of the sails of all the overblown overpaid pop stars. To view it as bad because it allows valuable music to be duplicated (thereby reducing its value) is naive. File sharing was an inevitable outcome of technology & it will never cease, ergo the music industry must change. We are forced to reconsider the true value of art.

[Truthzilla]

Sorry but you are so ignorant that it's scary. Ideas are MASSIVELY valuable. That's why copyright was created. The whole world used to be like the internet is today, and the result was stagnation in innovation. Almost everything you have today you have because of the move to protect people's ideas so that they could proft from them, and in return turn those ideas into products that we can enjoy.

I have to assume you are like 16 years old, because you clearly have no understanding of this.

[Truthzilla]

"but certainly they shouldn't be idolised millionaires like the pop stars are today "

Then don't buy their freaking records. Problem solved. But at least be a man and either buy them or don't. If you steal them, then you are the scumbag, not the rich musican, of which there are VERY few relatively speaking. Most musicians, like everyone else, make little or nothing, but of course people like you just steal from them as well. You have no morals, but you try to blanke it others.

[melgrrl27]

Every album of hers says, "unauthorized duplication, while sometimes necessary, is never good as the real thing".

Share the music and they will buy!!!

[southernblot]

I'm an ani fan and I must confess i only bought two cds. all the rest i downloaded from the internet. but after watching this vid I decided to buy all the collection.i've decided my money should go to the people that are doing good things for music and society, like ani. Go Ani!

[delicatecutter]

Ani DiFranco saves lives!!!!

[d0md0mt0mt0m]

The only artists that want to crack down on it are the ones who know if it's fully legal that people won't buy their albums.

Basically, if you like someone enough you'll buy the album, if they're a one hit wonder or just not fantastic you're not gonna bother.

[growlwillow]

She's amazing, I share her views on this cause I first heard about her tby downloading some of her music, but now buy every album of hers, go to every show I can, introduce her to as many people as I can.

[fightharm]

She's a millionaire. She's fine.

[iamaspleen]

But this isn't just about her.

[4220220]

i will admit i illegally downloaded "red letter year" but i bought it too as soon as i had the money, support the artists you want to keep around

[scrawling]

She brings up a good point about her audience and album sales. I've been listening to her for over a decade and I've downloaded some of her songs in the past, when times were tight but I've always gone out eventually and picked up the album. I think what she's doing at RBR is really doing wonders too, because it's turned people on to a whole bunch of different crazy artists.

[mindrunfree]

Respect to Ani man, she's bold and adheres to some incredible values.

[deeliciousplum]

one can clearly see how difficult it had been for Ani to answer this. Not in the way she had been speaking in a very cut phrase manner, but in the way that she was really thinking of how to bring the many ideals and sides together on this one. She is surviving and supporting other artists through her record company. Yet, many listeners would have never been fortunate enough to have absorbed her works had we not shared them with one another and then all bought tickets to her shows and festivals.

[tooleydeviljuice]

i'm in a local band that self recorded a demo that we give out for free, cuz ya gotta get your name out there. if we did a whole album, i'd expect folks to buy it, $5 or $10. Every person should support good local music every chance they get. But downloading is here to stay, so i think bigger bands should just make it an opportunity to improve the product they expect people to buy. including dvd's, free or discounted merch, or even free downloads, something to make it worth paying for.

[flemingjk]

I always buy Ani's CDs rather than downloading them from piratebay or anywhere else. Her cds are extremely well priced when you buy from her site or shows. All of her merchandise is well priced and she's quite good about giving back to her fans. I like to support people who aren't greedy about it.

Her music is worth every penny. Thank you Ani.

[reivilo]

what is she talking about?

[madpicken]

i think she's talking about her righteous babe company. I think people are mostly about her anyway, she is the righteous babe. I'd rather see Ani live more than anything, not to much of the other people affiliated with RBR. I support Ani by seeing her live mostly. She should release sbd/matrix's of her live shows every night. I would support that... She should ditch her company... they're heads are just above water because of ani. just my 2 cents

[happysappy21]

hehe, yeah reivilo, I think she should have sung her answer cos she's far more articulate that way

[imalumpaheffaup]

she's trying not to say, that she's insulted by the question, and two , its a stupid question. she's saying that music is free. its free because its music, and that for someone to ask 'should it be free or not ' is not the question persay, the question is how do you support an artist who wants to give something away for free, but can't afford it. she says 'at rightous babe, my recordings pay the bills' so she has a conundrum. she knows that music is inherentlyfree, yet she has people to pay now

[Woodseone]

I'll pay for Ani to sing in my home.. period.

[redletteryear]

her record label has never been good at selling it's product...

[val3]

Redletteryear is right. Righteous Babe has always dragged ass. They kept the fans waiting till 2000 for an acutal record comapany website. It's an endearing quality but essentially ineffecient.

[tubedeejay]

i know what you're saying val3, but when society adopts values of sharing over raising the accumulation of wealth to the status of a religion, it's possible to have community efforts... such as you just creating a quality website and submitting it to ms. difranco to use, or even running it for her. it's not uncommon, although it's no guarantee rbr would use it, either.

[neotoy]

Just do what Radiohead and NIN did.. self publish over the internet. You know they made more on those experimental releases than all other "label" sales combined.

[feelquiet]

According to U2's manager, Radiohead's experimental "pay what you want" model was not a success -- most of the downloaders paid nothing for In Rainbows, and oddly, most of them downloaded it from "unofficial" p2p networks even though they could have downloaded it for free from Radiohead's website. That said, once Radiohead released it on CD, it was a massive hit so the experiment didn't hurt album sales. Ani's label RBR needs to understand how to use digital distribution channels better.