The Rain Mix

I believe this is called pirating. Unless, of course, the swapper is the writer and performer, then it is considered marketing.

See this link: http://riaa.org/physicalpiracy.php?contentselector=piracyonlinethelaw

It says right on this page under "Examples of easy ways you could violate the law:"

"You have a computer with a CD burner, which you use to burn copies of music you have downloaded onto writable CDs for all of your friends."

This swap requires stealing. Stealing is wrong.

not participating in this swap won't stop people from downloading music in their own homes...so what does it matter if this music is shared? it''s not like we'd sell the cds...

Are you new to the internet or something, Robin Hood? People have been making mix CDs and sending them to each other for AGES. I mean I've seen trading of actual full CDs for other ones going on. I get most of my music from music blogs where the artists actually send the songs to the bloggers and want their songs spread around by others.

Robin Hood was a thief. He stole from one and gave to another. I am advocating that we all refrain from being thieves.

Just because someone else does "it" doesn't mean we all need to do it. A community doesn't allow thieves to run rampant. Stealing is wrong.

@megapanda You wrote "I get most of my music from music blogs where the artists actually send the songs to the bloggers and want their songs spread around by others."

The problem with this swap is the songs being shared are not from artists who are doing the sharing. The songs are taken from a library owned by an individual and being shared with non-owners. This is piracy, whether the CD is sold or not. Piracy is stealing.

can i just be blunt for a minute? shut up mmtnsage. if you don't believe in what this swap is about, then dont join it. simple as that.

You are a thief, though. You're stealing away the enjoyment those of us who enjoy these swaps have.

People have been making mix tapes or discs as long as the technology has been available. It's a great way to spread the word and share enthusiasms about music. I always make an effort to put artists on mixes for friends and others that they have NOT heard, thereby giving them exposure to new music they may like. If anything, this SELLS music. People hear an artist, like it and want to hear more.

mmtnsage, I sense you are unfamiliar with this aspect of music fandom. The RIAA definition is one created by an industry overwhelmingly concerned with the sale of 'product', panicked because the physical inventory aspect (selling CDs) of the business is disappearing and they have not kept up with technology. The definition is extremely rigid and many artists disagree with it.

Are you a recording artist? Were you hurt by downloading? People don't listen to radio much anymore, so this kind of thing, along with music blogs, etc. may be a band's best means of promotion. I would suggest that most artists, except perhaps the top 1-2% of all those out there, benefit from the sharing of their music, because it promotes them more than it 'steals' royalties. And honestly, that top 1-2% has enough money, so I'm more worried about the 98% that are fairly broke.

Personally, I still buy records, and buy legal downloads. I want to support the artists I like because this is how they make their living. I don't, however, buy the RIAA definition because to seems to go far beyond the notion of 'fair use'. I paid for a CD or download, I should be able to use it: listen to it, put it on an iPod or make a mix for my friend who might have similar tastes. I'm not making hundreds of bootlegs, or distributing it on a download site. And I doubt anybody else on Swap-bot is. We're just music lovers, sharing the love. OK?

That being said, I love the idea of this swap and I'm bummed that the window is so small between partner assignment and ship date, since I would totally do it if I weren't going out of town.

findeerror - AMEN.

@findeerror -well said applause

findeerror-- Well played! Why mmtnsage would choose Swap Bot to get on a soap box and start ranting about piracy, I've no idea! Completely uncalled for.. Thanks to the rest of you who understand and appreciate swapping. We truly are fans of music who just want to turn each other on to new and different things.. What's wrong with that?!

Sorry, I just had to add this - if you are truly concerned about the legality of all this, but you still want to make mixes, you can limit yourself to sources like The Free Music Archive.

finderror, have you read this NYT editorial from the singer of OK Go?

I have found SO many artists that I went out and bought the album for by getting cd mixes.

I agree Lizzy.. I must have bought albums by at least half the artists sent to me on one of the last mixes I got in..

Mrranda.. That's a great source! There's all kinds of great stuff there, especially the Live Show stuff, I've seen Elliott Smith shows, Jack Johnson, Guster.. and countless less known acts! Great source!

My swap does NOT say "use copyrighted material".. It is up to the folks making the mixes to make that choice. My swap does not imply that the songs they choose MUST come from illegal, copy-written sources.. As far as I'm concerned, this is up to the participants to make that distinction..

READ THIS

so.. despite the copyright issue, is this swap still going on? I hope so!!! :) my first swap and i absolutely love mixes!

The real problem with this swap is that it is -illegal to copy anyone else's music that is not specifically stated "free to copy and distribute without permissions"_.

And while you all may think it's ok, just because you want it to be, you're wrong, and the worst thing that can happen is that SWAP-BOT CAN BE SUED FOR ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN, AND BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS BY AN AVALANCHE OF LAWSUITS.

If you make a mix of your own for your own use by copying someone's published music, you are performing an illegal act. Plain and simple, whether or not you swap it or sell it or just keep it for yourself. It;s the act of copying it that is the illegal act--a violation of the copyright laws in the US.

The same goes for printing out pictures off the internet, or a book or sewing/craft/knitting pattern, these things are all copyright protected in the US, without even having to say it.

It may suck, but if you were a writer, pattern maker, etc, would you like your work stolen?

let the mods handle it, don't get nasty. There are good points on both sides.

i say let's just enjoy the music!

silly me, i forgot to add my username on my packages... so stringofviolets and bakinscones... your cd is from me!! :-)

i'm willing to be somebody's "angel" if need be. just let me know!