On the other hand, I can remember when I was manager for my brother, a classical composer/pianist. My "volunteer" job included everything, esp. making each and every cassette (of all original music), by hand, on the only dubbing machine we could afford: a boombox. We sold over 3,000 of those and every time a friend would say, "Oh, don't worry, I'll just make a copy", for a distant friend or whoever, I would cringe and then go into my speech about how much each one cost, even without my hours added in, and how it really was meant to be his livelihood and didn't they know it was against the law, and they were depriving him of income which any merchant would call shoplifting?***grin*** I got pretty strident 'cause it was my a** doing all the work of making, promoting, producing, etc! Plus, my husband and I were supporting him with room and board in our house with 3 kids!

In addition, what we had on tape were live performances and radio broadcasts, which we were sure to record, by hook or by crook. They are a little funky, but the music and his piano playing, as well as the orchestra (on one of them) were fantastic and nobody complained. It was one way we kept control of the "product". Later on, we capitalized on it by billing them as one-of-a-kind collectors' series.

Back then, there was a move on to add a surcharge to every blank tape sold, to be divided up amongst those with musical/performance copyrights. It failed to pass in Congress. Now, with CDs, the Web, etc. it will be even harded for musicians to get their "just desserts".

I'm in for it now, aren't I!***chuckle***

I understand the argument of the first copy encouraging people to buy subsequent tapes/cds, but I don't buy that as an excuse to pirate. I've generally found that if I hear music, like it, and want it, there is usually a way to accomplish that without making my own copy.

I think it's just like copying a book: unless it's rare, out-of-print, totally unobtainable by any means, most people wouldn't dream of buying a ream of paper and copying a book which is in print.

Okay...I've braced myself, bring 'em on!:-)

katlaughing