Week 4- MagnatuNe ~ "we are not evil"

John Buckman created this awesome music sharing site called Magnatune that basically allows the average Joe to share his music and talent with the world.  Joe might have limited resources, like low money funds and not knowing any big shots in the music biz, but what he does have is raw musical talent that should be shared with the world.  Sometimes I get annoyed at the money making cooperate feel of the music industry in terms of labels and record deals because it seems like passion and raw talent are no longer the target points.  Money is.  The average Joe would never have the means to compete with stars like Miley Cyrus EVEN IF the average listener would much rather listen to the raw talent of Joe versus the ludicrous and raunchy lyrics of Miley.

Average Joe isn't rich, he has 3 kids to feed and only has the time as well as the means to send his music to sites like Magnatune because this site is "not evil" and believes that "musicians should keep the rights to their music"and still make some money off of it.  Magnatune is so great because it allows people like Joe to share the music they create without having to deal with the music politics of copy right laws or without having to sign away the rights to their music over to be a record company.  According to Buckman, the music industry in the US is worth about 12 billion dollars.  8 Billion of that is used on licensing music (copy right laws) in lawyer offices.  Wow.

Basically, Magnatune and the Artist have an understanding that their music is free to the public and theirs to use.  Buckman explains that "as long as you don't make money off of it, you're just marketing for us".  Buckman chooses 3 percent of the best music he receives from self made music artists and he makes his money by charging users 15 dollars a month.  Buckman gives half of that money to the artist.  Before checking out the sight (which is beautifully designed) and listing to the interview (rules-for-the-revolution) I was a bit iffy.  Why should I pay 15 dollars a month when I can download "hit" songs from youtube to my iTunes for free?  Then it hit me.  I think that Magnatune is a part of the "fair trade" movement, just on a smaller and much more local scale.

fair trade

noun

1.

  

trade in which fair prices are paid to producers in developing countries.

John Buckman seems to be a smart and ethically aware business man.  I was curious to find out more about him which led me to the discovery of his blog.  I learned that him and his girlfriend recently got mushroom poisoning and were violently ill for two weeks....humorous and informative blog for sure!

http://blogs.magnatune.com/