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I've noticed many prominent blogs (Chrome Waves, Largehearted Boy, etc) seem to have an official policy of only linking to "official" mp3s and not posting any themselves, and therefore no "unauthorized" mp3s.
Yet other very prominent blogs, including those supported by major advertisers (Idolator, Gorilla Vs. Bear, etc) regularly post such mp3s (following the rules of thumb of posting an "evaluation purposes" disclaimer, leaving it up for a limited time and only posting one or two tracks from a release).
Of the latter category, some mp3s are certainly posted by permission, although it's generally unclear which or how many. If you ask permission, do you always do so? Any tips on how to do so successfully?
Does anyone post a mix, linking to an "official" mp3 if available but falling back on unauthorized if not?
Which of these categories do you fall into, and what is your rationale? I understand and respect all these positions, I'd just be curious to hear individual bloggers talk about why they do what they do on their blog.
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doing a search will reveal tons of stuff already posted here on this topic. i'm sure others could post links to pre-existing threads, no?
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We post the songs we want/need to talk about, regardless of whether they are cleared, uncleared, or probably cleared (ie, received as a promo but no explicit reference made to posting mp3s). It's important to us to write about what we're passionate about, the very best individual songs, and so sticking to what's legal is a limitation we choose not to observe.
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to make it quick, just CTRL-C Sean's paragraph and CTRL-V it to me.
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first of all, you have to realise listed mp3 are only small sub section of mp3 world on the net, even mp3 blog scene. The bigges mp3 blogs are still album posters, way bigger than legal or gray blog. On top of that, there are numerous small and unlisted blogs or blogs that only post occasional mp3.
But blogs that are listed on elbows/mp3 are the barometer of entire mp3 scene, including underground and invisible areas.
- Most blogs are in "gray" area. Essentially posting any mp3 tracks deemed interesting for short period of time, regardless if it is legal/with permission or not. Usually for a months or less. Most record companies & promoters are happy seeing anything posted at all, since a mention by top blog is a guarantee measurable buzz. In general, for recent "unreleased" tracks, all visible blogs has agreement of some sort. (usually via promoters) Agreement ranges from "post whatever you want" all the way to "only the track linked from our server"
Things gets ugly when promoters/record company interest don't coincide with major blogs posting habits. Usually involved leaks material of "money maker" big name pop artists.
-Legal only blogs, there are only less than a dozen blogs that does this consistently. The biggest are: 3Hives, Chromawaves, *sixeyes, Largehearted boys are in this category. (The policy are official promos or bootlegs)
the usual reasons: does it sound good? is it interesting enough to the site editor? Will people listen? Is there traffic? will it make statement? -
I recently changed my blog's mp3 policy to 100% legal, after a few years of being "mostly legal". Now I only post mp3s with permission from the artists, managers, labels, or publicity agents. This isn't just limited to what they have on their sites, though, I've often been granted permission to post mp3s of my choice on my own server.
While protecting myself from legal action is obviously a big motivation, the change was also made because of a shift in focus to album reviews (as opposed to individual songs). Most of the artists I've contacted have been very supportive and appreciative of the publicity I've given them on the blog, so I feel it's only fair that I allow them to decide whether their music is distributed there.
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for those who can stick to approved mp3s, I give mad props. but I don't...
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Yeh likewise, but I would find it too restrictive. I think Sean sums it up pretty much. A huge part of the attraction to music blogging for me was
there were no limits to music you could highlight, and so I can write about the stuff I'm REALLY passionate about. -
I guess I'd fall into the mostly legal camp. If there's an approved mp3 I'll use it. When I'm sent a cd with no instruction for which songs to use, I'll choose my own. Finally, when I'm going through the vaults of I Rock Cleveland and I'm writing about old and/or out of print cds, again, I'll pick my own. I stay mostly legal out of respect to artists, labels, promoters that I've had the chance to meet online and/or in person.
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i never put any thought into whether or not an mp3 is authorised or not. i guess, really, i do not care. However, if posting more than 2 mp3's I usually make an effort to post across different cd's instead of loading up off off the same cd.....but, in reality, my blog has little to no readership so I do not think it matters what I do.
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Posted by: muruch
I recently changed my blog's mp3 policy to 100% legal, after a few years of being "mostly legal". Now I only post mp3s with permission from the artists, managers, labels, or publicity agents. This isn't just limited to what they have on their sites, though, I've often been granted permission to post mp3s of my choice on my own server.
This applies to me as well (except I wasn't around for a "few years" before). And I agree with what Muruch says, the artists/labels have been surprisingly receptive to this, and it hasn't been all that restrictive for me as a blogger wanting to write on what I like, because most of these people are always in the mood for some free publicity, and are willing to let you use stuff if asked...
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For the most part, I do only authorized or legal MP3s, or at the very least I'll shoot off an email to a publicist or manager or what not asking if it's ok if I post some MP3. Occasionally, I'll throw up an unauthorized, but I try and play by the rules most of the time. I don't think many of the bands/labels care that much, unless it's a large band.
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I post what I want. I try not to get sued, which means mostly avoiding leaks and shying away from too much or too recent major label stuff.
No nasty letters so far (knock on wood).
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I think once you stay clear of high-profile leaks it's fine, they're the only things that labels really crack down on. But there are lots of legal mp3s around, I've assembled a nice list for when hosting gets difficult.
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Posted by: Dave Rawkblog
I post what I want. I try not to get sued, which means mostly avoiding leaks and shying away from too much or too recent major label stuff.
No nasty letters so far (knock on wood).
word. I'm not that wary of recent major labels, just anything that's pre-release.
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torturegarden, you're like the archbishop of high profile leaks. I wouldn't have it any other way though.
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Am I? Let me think...
Yes I am! (sort of) So heed my advice. It's the only time I ever had any trouble. -
hey, torture garden, i just realized you're here. good to have you on board!
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i wish i had time to sort between DRM and non-DRM tracks but I really dont and i really don't care if someone wants to come after me for posting a certain song. but i like to think that discretion offers me the opportunity to post some of those tracks on occasion because i don't do it like every day or every week, even.
major labels and pre-releases and leaks don't really concern me as much as personal responsibility. if a song is good, it will be good a month from now and me posting it on my blog first isn't going to make it any better any sooner. -
Like Dave and Taylor/Music I pretty much will post whatever. I try to be smart about it, only posting 1-2 tracks, nothing too commercial etc.
On that note, did anybody post tracks from Beatles' Love album? (i wrote about it, but i wouldn't host an mp3) -
Posted by: taylor@podbopOn that note, did anybody post tracks from Beatles' Love album? (i wrote about it, but i wouldn't host an mp3)
I saw a bunch of them on hype. I never checked to see how long they lasted though.
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I did, and didn't even think about how that might be a problem. Oops. Never heard anything about it, though it occurs to me I might should take it down just in case.
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Posted by: mjrchey, torture garden, i just realized you're here. good to have you on board!
Thank you!
Also, on the beatles stuff, I was pretty surprised when the pr mail came, cos I had managed not to hear about it. But I understand all the new tracks are crap, no?
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Strawberry Fields is good and interesting. The rest: not so much. Not bad or anything, just nothing exciting.
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