wez_sti

with reference to the 'moral' issues, the music i download i use to DJ, so in effect i'm actually promoting their records for free, i should be charging them

in all seriousness, i am soooo skint at the moment if i couldnt get it for free i wouldnt get it at all, so they arent missing out on anything.

as an amateur music producer also, i suspect the record companies are the ones more bothered than the artist themselves....


thanks for all the suggestions and PM's

Freak

If you are paying to download then fair enough.

If, however you are talking about winmx/kazaa etc and all the other p2p avenues:

Well no actually- thats a total crock.

The place you dj in will have to have a licence to perform music.Doesnt matter if it is a bar, a club or whatever- the PRS licence is a legal requirement.
Terms and conditions of this licence include not playing pirate/illegal material. This is taken VERY seriously.

You are getting paid for playing music- yet not paying out for the tunes in the first place. Bang out of order.
It is one thing downloading to preview at home before buying- completely another to be profiting from piracy which is what you are doing.

P.s- if you get caught by the PRS/MCPS/trading standards on a random inspection, they will:
-Fine you per track in your possession (doesnt matter if you play it or not)
-Prosecute you (it is a criminal offence)
-Confiscate and destroy the infringing material

I myself have been inspected before on numerous occasions- its totally random, and they can be ruthless.
I take enormous pride in my music collection that i use to perform with- noone ever said it was a cheap career/hobby- it comes with the territory.
When i used to warm up for free when i stared out, my vinyl was expensive yeah, but i still bought it- as an investment in the job.
Not to mention mp3s sound utter ****e.

Get on some mailing lists for f*cks sake- plenty of promo companies are about specifically for genuine working djs ( by that i mean someone who is playing out, not someone in their bedroom blagging free records to sell on ebay). As long as you can prove you are a working dj you will have no problems.

Sorry for the tone of this- but this really pisses me off.

wez_sti

man you is p1111111ssed!

i'd gladly go on any mailing lists, do you know any? Pm would be highly appreciated.....proving i DJ in public venues wont be a prob...

dont think i've ever met another DJ who hasnt got a large amount of copied CD's.....

a 128k bit mp3 is exactly the same quality as an original, benifits of digital data???

not disagreeing with you from a moral point of view as i know your right.

i'd like to ad i do have about £5000+ of music all bought and paid for. its only not currently being able to afford food at the moment preventing me from buying large amounts of music, still spend a good £50 a month and believe me, i've had my £200 days in record shops too....

BTW finances are so bad i'm selling my scoob aswell so this aint just an excuse...