Bjork approves recording of concerts!

Subject: Bjork approves recording of concerts!
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 04:34 PM

Over the last several years, it has become apparent that the transfer
of music through the internet will eventually become the primary means
by which performers will promote and ultimately distribute their media.

One of the interesting by-products of this move to internet distribution has been the free share of fan-produced live recordings through networks such as bit torrent (www.dimeadozen.org), direct connect, and ftp/http downloads. The ultimate realization of this phenomenom is the huge archive of live material shared, with artists' consent, at www.archive.org.

Among the fans of Björk, the internet distribution of her live material has been a reality since the early days of low bandwidth distribution. Such fan sites such as etoile polaire, the dwave ftp, and the Björk trading group set the stage for the current high bandwidth distribution of lossless audio and DVD's of fan produced recordings at the Björk Hub.

As Björk now embarks on her first tour in nearly four years, many
realities have changed in the world of live music, fan recordings and
internet distribution. The rapid free share of unofficial live recordings has essentially eliminated the market for illegal bootleg selling, and has created an atmosphere where the artist and the recordist can work cooperatively to archive the material, promote the artist's official product, and satisfy the demands of a fan base who seek a particular artist's output beyond that available in the official catalog.

Within the last two years, the policy in the bjork.com 4Um has permitted the free share of fan-produced unofficial recordings. In this atmosphere, the Björk Hub has thrived in its goal to archive all available unofficial recordings, catalog the archive, and share those recordings among the dedicated fan base in a cooperative and friendly environment.

It is in this context, that the Björk Hub sincerely requests that
unobstrusive, discreet fan recording be permitted during the anticipated 2007 Björk Spring Tour. With artist permission, fan recordings are generally of a much higher quality, since the recordist does not secrete the equipment in fear of security, and the surrounding fans are often cooperative in their behavior. Additionally, any attempts to bootleg any recording from the tour (as occurred with multiple recordings of the 2001 and 2003 tours) will be completely frustrated by the free share and easy distribution among the fans.

We hope that this sincere request will be considered and approved.

How about that then!

Subject: RE: Bjork approves recording of concerts!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 04:38 PM

I thought I was logged in, anyway I thought that Bjork's people have taken a very sensible view on the subject.

Subject: RE: Bjork approves recording of concerts!
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 04:47 PM

Sounds good to me, if the artist is okay with it.

Subject: RE: Bjork approves recording of concerts!
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 07:23 PM

"Over the last several years, it has become apparent that the transfer
of music through the internet will eventually become the primary means
by which performers will promote and ultimately distribute their media."

This doesn't address the economic plight of the touring performer, who often depends on CD sales for 40-60% of his fee.

Subject: RE: Bjork approves recording of concerts!
From:
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 08:39 PM

And there are lots of Bela Fleck items at the same archive too.

Subject: RE: Bjork approves recording of concerts!
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 10:54 PM

So, here's one for us to consider - artists like Bela Fleck and The Grateful Dead have gained thousands of fans over the years from the (free) circulating of live concert recordings. It has been proven that these new fans then buy concert tickets, CDs, etc.

I find that I enjoy many of my favorite folk performers best in the live setting because you get their stories about the songs along with little pieces of their personality and a fresh performance of their material. If I had a live concert recording of some of these folks, I'd surely pass it along - I think more readily than a studio album - to friends who I thought might enjoy them, or "get it".    Good for the artist, and folk music in general? I say yes.

Subject: RE: Bjork approves recording of concerts!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 12:43 AM

Ah yes... Dave, but you also get their stories about the songs and in some cases, these have been tedious in the extreme and longer than the song itself!

I've got CDs of many artists whose work is fantastic on stage, but the studio recording lacks any character or 'zing'. But I'm sure I've got just as many whom I heard on CD before seeing them in concert and regretted ever going. Some artists just don't know when to shut up and sing!

LTS

Subject: RE: Bjork approves recording of concerts!
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 06:05 AM

I think this is the way that many artists will go eventually.