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Yes, I am a unsigned artist and was shopped by a major label too, so I have seen the cutthroat end of things. Bottom line, this is a business, and nobody wants their business to be stolen from. Had any of the artists that went after Napster been a store, why would anyone think to walk in and start shoplifting? We can't blame them or say how rich they are and so we're entitled to steal their music, and anyone who is truly about the music and respects the sanctity of creating music, wouldn't steal it to begin with.

Music is meant to be shared, but, it must be the first right of the artists or label to share it before anyone takes it upon themselves to bootleg it when it fits their cause. I have no problem sharing SOME songs, but there are some that I don't want to see distributed freely and publicly for a number of reasons, and yes, money would be one of them.

Sharing does create a fan base, but giving it away only makes you a friend not a business person. That's where the artist must decide between major label shopping and signing with smaller Indy labels. Major labels will do everything possible to turn a dollar, if you aren't in it for that, then stay out of the way or deal with the industry until you are big enough to call your own shots, but by that time, it's still usually too late.

Forget what you know about all of this and just ask yourself, if it were my dry cleaning business, bistro, surf shop, etc., etc....would you want someone feeling entitled to a free portion of your body of work just because you have become successful? When does it state that a person reaches a lifetime salary cap of earning?

Stealing music not only violates an artists RIGHT to earn a living, it's just uncool.

Learn more about this author, Vincent Alfonzo Jamal ..
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