Your views on music copying - if it was your music being coppied

[quantum]

Stemming from talk about downloading vs. buying CDs.  What would you think if your works (composition, recording, etc) was floating around being freely copied?

Personally I don't mind. Even if I published a composition.  Go ahead a photocopy to your hearts content - I won't ask for your money.  If you think the engraving sucks, put it through Sibelius or whatever.  You could even sell it and try to make money off it - you don't owe me anything unless you want to give. 

[pianochick93]

I wouldn't mind either. I wouldn't write music only because I wanted the money, and music should be there for all to enjoy. If someone can't pay the price of the music, who am I to stop them enjoying it.

Also, I copy and download music (shhh, its public domain anyway), so it's not really fair of me to say that they can't do the same.

However, copying and editing the copy, so that the music is dramatically changed, I don't like. That would be effectively using my music as a large chunk of their piece.

[Etude]

I'd be a lot more worried about plagiarism than piracy.  I'm probably very unlikely to make any real money off my music anyway.

[ted]

I have always given my scores and recordings to anybody who wants them. I do not earn my living through music and have never wanted to be a professional musician of any sort. Therefore copying does not concern me. Once somebody keyed in one of my handwritten scores using music software, made a complete botch of it, then put the result on the internet with my name on it. That was a tad embarrassing. 

[retrouvailles]

Many of the composers I know do not care if their music is distributed. They see it as a genuine showing of interest, which shows that they have succeeded in writing music that appeals to people in whatever way. If I were a composer, I think I would feel the same way. When I download something by a given composer or performer, I still feel the need to go out and buy a CD of theirs. I don't see downloading as a replacement for buying, but rather as an incentive.

[danny elfboy]

Many of the composers I know do not care if their music is distributed. They see it as a genuine showing of interest, which shows that they have succeeded in writing music that appeals to people in whatever way. If I were a composer, I think I would feel the same way. When I download something by a given composer or performer, I still feel the need to go out and buy a CD of theirs. I don't see downloading as a replacement for buying, but rather as an incentive.

Yeah, if I were trying to devote all my time to music (hence making a living out of it, not because I want to but because of the natural consequence of wanting to devote your life to your passion which is what every paid teacher, cook, dentist, veterinary, trainer, actor, photographer and so on do) I would want it to be free, but I would appreciate their monetary support since if they like my music they also would want me to keep publishing it. What I don't like about piracy is thinking of all fairly paid people who think it's their right to never buy a ticket to a concert or a CD and download hundreds of album a day while they would NEVER in their life do what they do for free and would actually get insanely mad at the very thought of getting no retribution out of their work, time, passion and skills. It's because this is such a world. If this were a world in which economy were based on barter I would freely exchange my music for services or other objects I need. Or if how they say, music should be a necessity for everyone like food, then musicians whose music is consumed should be started to be financed by the government just like other public figures who produce necessary services.

[retrouvailles]

I should have mentioned that the composers I talked to for those opinions are those who are either already professionals or those who are studying to be professionals.

[mattgreenecomposer]

I've looked into the publishing process at one time extensively.  What I decided was its better NOT to get published when it comes to sheet music unless you get picked up by a huge publishing company like Hal Leonard, Dover or WB or something.  Distributing your music is hardly done, if at all, by small publishing companies so what is the point if noone plays your music?  I decided to just have a website and advertise myself over the internet.  The one advantage young people have is the internet over old people who have the businesses cornered.  I get to reach many people and far more people are responding than would be if some little publishing company picked up my music.  And its totally free. 

Long story short-I think its great if anybody plays my music, and I don't care if people copy it or not. 

[Bob]

I wouldn't be happy about losing money. 

I would assume it would happen though.

I would be happy that someone was that interested in something I created that they would make a point to get it, free or for pay.  It's advertising.  If you do more, someone will buy it later.


I would be more concerned if my livihood was based on those creations though.  It's easier to dismiss it if it's more of a hobby, but if that cuts a big enough chunk out of your professional income, that's not great, esp if it's meaning the difference between living decently, living poorly, or not even being able to survive by creating that stuff.

Someone just reformatting the work though and then reselling it?  Making money off something I did?  I'd be mad about that.