I choose my words carefully so that people will read them properly - I didn't say iTunes resulted in piracy, I said "resulted in piracy which is almost the social norm" - there is a big difference.nk_e wrote: ...it's the "and resulted in piracy" part that is wrong.
Its a serious subject - at least read what I said and don't quote out of context. I am not stupid, I know piracy existed before iTunes. However no point in trying to develop a socio-economic argument on a forum if people only part read what you say, quote out of context, and only see what they want to see.
I am not at all pissed off by things - just commenting about the state of things. It doesn't affect me in the slightest - I am making observations from my opinions. Tone - very difficult if people want to read things in words and assume there is anger.
Get the history right? What is this - empirical analysis? The history is as I see it and remember it, and from talking to friends - none of them in the business with a vested interest or links with Apple. Only a few geeks knew about torrenting in 2001 or 2003 or whenever - now old age pensioners know about it. File sharing has only boomed in the last few years post iTunes - I know that because people I know talk about it who never had a clue about it previously. 2001 or 2003 was a long long time ago in digital terms - YouTube was invented in 2005 and is part of the context of piracy. Can anyone truly remember life before YouTube?
I have no links with Apple and no links with competitors, nor any vested interests. I worked in the music biz of old with 16 track tape recorders, and worked with Queen, Status Quo and many others, but also was always a fan buying extensively and going to concerts (still do including small and large venues). I was just observing the changes. Things are as they are.
Where does the "blame" belong? You need to develop that argument yourself as it's a complex socio-economic thesis - or a simple one in that everyone is a potential thief. I am interested in a phenomenon about how music is valued and the change in the economic model. Many of you think Apple's iTunes is some kind of saviour for the music biz. I am sure many would disagree including Taylor Swift!