Music downloads
Just a note today, as a reaction to the fact that Swedish police is once again arresting people for "filesharing": It is in no way illegal to download music or distribute it through filesharing networks. People seem to believe so since media often mix up filesharing with music piracy. What is illegal is to spread copies of music (or other original works) without the permission from the owner or original author. But as most people realize today, there is much more free (or cheap) non-commercial music available on the net than there is commercial music in your closest record store. And if the original author allows you to download and share the music, it is not just legal - it is a great way of helping the artist to get the music heard by more people.
I have a music section of this site, in which you can find several hours of free music. This music can be downloaded, shared, re-distributed and used in various projects without any other obligation than giving credits to the original author. The only thing you can't do is sell it, and that is simply because the music should stay free. I can't say that the music is very professional or even good, since most of it is old music made just for the fun of it. But the songs by Lagoona have been downloaded in more than 8 million copies over the years so atleast some songs could be worth listening to. Read more about Lagoona on Wikipedia if you want to learn more.
I don't think that this post will stop people from sending angry e-mails about "copyright infringements" to me, but I still want to make it perfectly clear: I am the author of most of these songs (and the co-author of the rest of them) and from now on I will ignore e-mails that tell me that I have been reported to the police because I have downloadable music on my site. Don't let the commercial music industry fool you. Please give yourself a chance to discover the wonderful world of non-commercial music on the web. Chances are big that you'll find many great artists, and many hours of great music - for free!
Edit: Petter (who did a number of live performances as a DJ with Lagoona) has posted an interview (in Swedish) that I did in the Swedish national radio a year ago. While I'm not working as a professional music producer anymore, it can still be interesting to anyone who follows the debate about filesharing and music downloading in Sweden.
Comments can be only posted for 14 days after the post date. If you have comments about an older post such as this one, feel free to send me an e-mail!
Comment from Patrick
Time: May 31, 2006, 18:13
People can actually be that ignorant to gripe to you about something they have NO knowledge about? Ugh.
Steve: http://www.purevolume.com and http://www.myspace.com are two sources to tryout.
Pingback from Solid Block of Ise » Blog Archive » H?r ?r De Riktiga Skurkarna
Time: May 31, 2006, 19:30
[...] Först och främst vill jag att så många som möjligt lyssnar på den här intervjun från P1 med Andreas Viklund [...]
Comment from Mikael
Time: May 31, 2006, 19:40
Good post. By the way, I have reported the police and APB to JO because they also took down Piratbyrån. Which is remarkable since it is just a political and newsrelated site. It is like if the Moderat-party would order the police to take down The Socialist parties homepage. (Piratbyrån is the political opposite of AntiPiratbyrån).
Comment from Steve B
Time: May 31, 2006, 21:53
Sorry, wasn't supposed to sound like a gripe
Comment from Andreas
Time: May 31, 2006, 22:12
Steve: Patrick's comment about ignorance was not for you, but for the people who send me angry e-mails. ;)
Trackback from Suburbia
Time: May 31, 2006, 22:33
Pirate Bay vs Pontén & Co
Det känns överflödigt att skriva något som 80 procent av befolkningen redan vet genom diverse nyhetssidor. Kika därför in hos Dennis istället, som har en bra sammanställning över vad som hänt. Flashback har en diskussionstråd om det hela ock…
Comment from Music
Time: June 1, 2006, 0:24
You can find a lot of non-commercial R&B music on http://www.singersroom.com. Listen and Downlod on itunes
Comment from Aaron
Time: June 1, 2006, 16:07
Indeed. I am exceedingly frustrated by people who believe filesharing is illegal. It is just filesharing music that is copyrighted and where filesharing rights have not been released that is illegal. Good post, andreas.
@Steve - if you like epic, symphonic-style stuff, edgen.com is worth a check
Comment from Steve Brown
Time: June 1, 2006, 19:56
thanks, started looking :-) S
Comment from Stefan
Time: June 1, 2006, 22:40
Really I listen unsigned music / non-commercial music / for 3 years and I don't think that commerial music is very great. Andreas exactly told you the right way.
Steve to find great sites for unsigned music download my little guide for free music on my web site. I very like the idea to bring independent music to another level. It's very difficult, I know but we can try. Good Luck music lovers.
Pingback from Suburbia » Kapten Upphovsrätt
Time: June 3, 2006, 6:31
[...] Är det så konstigt att det är svårt att ta upphovsrättsorganisationerna på allvar när de beter sig så här plumpt? Alla vill ju stödja upphovsmännen, artisterna, författarna och skaparna - det är mellanhänderna som har sett verkligheten springa ifrån dem och som nu griper efter varje halmstrå de hittar. Att det dessutom finns andra sätt att sprida sina verk på än vad dessa traditionalister förespråkar är Andreas Viklund ett utmärkt exempel på. Eller musiktjänsten Jamendo. Eller Ningapplikationen CCHits. Andra bloggar om: upphovsrätt, copyright, kanada, propaganda, jamendo, copyleft, wikipedia [...]
Comment from Super Dooper Dave Osbourne
Time: June 10, 2006, 19:37
It is just a matter of time before it is illegal to have a thought… Oh wait, the US Department of Precrime indeed has made it illegal for you to even think of committing a crime. Its interesting, why a department of (PRE)crime when in fact that no crime has been committed. I find this neo-movement around the world sadening. I'm glad your site offers free music that you have every God given and legal right to distribute. Freaking neos, frightening. Good luck!
Comment from Steve Brown
Time: May 31, 2006, 17:18
Any pointers about where to start looking for this non-commercial music? Apart from, of course, your excellent music page…!