If you want to own it, buy it legally. You support the artist and the prices are fair. This will also support the new legal music distribution methods that are trying to rise. It is the only way to make sure DRM dies for real and creative commons will work.

I’m not saying you should remove the links.

I’m just saying that not everybody thinks he’s a self-righteous dildo for sticking up for the rights of the artist.

However, it is important once again to support the artists, especially the ones who exist outside of the blacktop jungle of majors. We do buy our own equipment to produce recordings, and much of the money is out of our own pocket. If I didn’t love doing it, I wouldn’t put forth that effort.

Anyway, that’s my two cents. If anyone is curious about my music, follow the email link. Thanks again for drawing attention to Robin, his music deserves all the attention it can get!

The legality of these MP3 downloads is a long resolved issue but I should respond again. Magnatune’s 128kbps MP3 are under a creative commons license and can be downloaded and distributed for non-commercial purposes. You can verify this info here. I have received comments and e-mails from several Magnatune artists thanking me for featuring their music on this blog. In fact a representative for Robin Storey, after a dialogue concerning this very issue, confirmed that my use of these music files was proper. Free Albums Galore is all about the promotion and education regarding free and legal music.

And, of course, if you like the music, buy the CD from Magnatune. The sound is better, the artists are great, and Magnatune is definitely not evil!

Now, thanks 2 u puuting this up, I have gained a listening palette.

Cheers!

Baz.

I don’t know Robin Storey or his wishes, or how well Magnatune communicated about the availability of his music through Magnatune. I have a hard time believing, however, that the administrators of an online music label are so uninformed about technology that they would host 128kbps MP3s if they didn’t want anybody to download them. If Magnatune only wants people to stream their online catalog, they might stream in .asx or .ram or a flash player.

If any netlabel or artist asks me not to link to their music, I will comply. It is not my policy to remove a post due to reader request.

On another topic, I checked your myspace profile and we like many of the same artists: Charles Ives, Aaron Copland, John Cage, Erik Satie, Osvald Golijov, Bernard Herrmann, Ennio Morricone, John Zorn, John Adams, Charles Mingus, Charlie Haden, Philip Glass, Pink Floyd, Leo Kottke, Otomo Yoshihide, La Monte Young, Arvo Part, Samuel Barber, Sonic Youth, Steve Reich, Merzbow, King Crimson, and Brian Eno. I’ll have to listen to your music!

Also, I liked your post about “the problem with classical music.” I’d totally love to see “Diamanda Galas tear shit up and have a nervous breakdown on stage.” I am very passionate about contemporary music, and so are many other composers and performers, but I still don’t see anyone SHOWING the passion of a bonafide rock star on stage.

The point is, Robin Storey did not want his songs downloadable - had he wanted that, he would have done it. You are disrespecting the artist’s wishes by doing this, and no amount of respectful writing about his music can change that. Lots of artists put music for free online - I’m one of them. But just because I think that’s right for me doesn’t mean that it is for Robin Storey or anyone else - and ONLY the artist should make that decision. Not you.