MP3 The new Politic of Progarchives

Let me just say. MP3s are a legal issue and I miss them as much as most of us do. Streaming is not an option for me for poor Internet speed, so I am in the same boat as anyone else.

It's not for me to comment in detail here, but I am certain that removing MP3s wasn't the Archives preference - one may need to look further at the stupidity of some record company executives, who are erroneously fighting aganst FREE PROMOTION....

Don't blame the Archives.

I have no problem with it, because although I have listened to quite a few MP3s, I have never downloaded any of them... call me daft if you will, but I have never felt easy about getting something for nothing.  If I like a track, I will go out an buy the album.

There are two things which I would like to ask though...firstly, there doesn't seem to be a pause mechanism on the tracks...so if the phone rings, I have to start again from scratch...am I being thick?

Secondly, unlike the old system, I can't go back into the forums while listening to the music; as soon as I click out the page, it switches off...is there any way around this?  Otherwise, I'm happy.

I'd also like to fully endorse what Jody said, about not being here solely for the MP3s... I love talking to people about the music I like, and making new contacts with a great group of people... if the day comes when I leave this site for whatever reason, that will be what I will remember most, NOT the Mp3s..

The issue isn't so much over artist's opinions - I think, broadly speaking, that the majority of musicians have no problem with samples being available, and indeed many have samples (downloadable or otherwise) on their own websites.

The real issue here is the attitude of the music industry, which continually sends out mixed signals (it's nigh well impossible to buy a music mag in the UK that DOESN'T have a free cd on the cover, for instance) but which has historically been paranoid about alternative methods of distribution - anybody remember 'Home Taping is Killing Music' in the 80s? The survival of this site is more important than the continued availability of mp3 samples, which I think most of us regarded as a bonus rather than the main reason for visiting in the first place.

I like this system a lot better personally...

In most countries DOWNLOADING mp3s is ILLEGAL, unless directly endorsed by either the record companies or the artists, and you can be prosecuted by the RIAA or equivalent in your country for simply downloading them.

In recent months, the Recording Industry Ass. of America especially has been exceptionally and increasingly active in prosecuting the heinous and dangerous criminals that are downloading mp3s and killing music, like 11 year-olds and even people who wouldn't even dream of downloading an mp3.

ProgArchives obviously realises that most members of this site would prefer not to face a hefty fine or go to court simply for enjoying music, and has found a great solution to this problem that means you can still hear the music without breaking the law in streaming mp3.

Maybe it's not as convenient, but at least you won't face a multi $1,000 dollar fine.

Which is better now?

If you'd like evidence to support the claims I made above, which might seem to be outrageous slander against the RIAA, who do an amazing job, I'd be happy to provide it

Cygnus X-2 wrote: That's not for anyone to decide. You want this site to remain open, right? Well, the downloading isn't legal. So it's best that you don't complain and just carry on without downloading.

Plus, the question is so unclear as to make the poll confusing, and invalid.

eugene wrote: Million times NO!! I need to download tracks to listen carefully and attentively when I find suitable time, and then buy stuff if I like it. Streaming is very unconvenient and in the end useless for me. Moreover I consider this recent change as a sign of decay of the site. What  a pity!

And you can't listen carefully while listening to the song being streamed?

It isn't useless, you can still listen to the tracks, you know.

eugene wrote: MikeEnRegalia wrote: TheProgtologist wrote: You all can complain all you want,but it won't change nothing.They are gone,get used to it. You're preaching to a childrens choir here ... they have no idea what they're talking about.   I have to agree with realistic approach expressed by TheProgtologist that probably nothing can be done about this sad change. But this does not mean that I like it, and I voted NO. What I cannot take is disrespectful comments by MikeEnRegalia, diminishing all those who voted "NO" in this poll. I would have presumed that his position of collaborator would prevent him from such kind of inappropriate comments, but obviously I was overly optimistic in my presumption.   Also I noticed some people mentionning a legal aspect of free downloading, and although I admit not being very much aware of legal issues, I find it difficult to believe that something illegal was taking place for quite long time on this site, and so many intelligent and loyal people were gladly taking part in it, enjoying all these free dowloads. Such are my subtle observations.

Sorry if I offended you ... my post was a little bit unfair, because the creator of the poll is to blame ... the options suggest that the site owners had a choice and prefered the streaming option to the downloads.

But with a little common sense (putting 1 and 1 together) everybody should realise that they had no choice.

BTW: Check out the link in my signature ... I'll build a list of links to free samples. You can download the Aching Hunger excerpt ... almost 40 minutes, and one complete 10 minutes song from the new Sieges Even album.