Myspace Massacre

I suggest you read this article from XXL on how the World Wide Web has changed the rap game, or at least the music game. There are lots of debates about this subject, both good and bad. It was just yesterday that Karen O's (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) very private home demos made their way onto the internet. This has been a hot topic on the internet, but if you don't frequent the type of sites whose readers have claimed these demos are the "the equivalent of Paris Hilton's sex tape", you might not have heard. The story goes something like this: A suitcase that Tv On The Radio guitarist Dave Sitek left in his old apartment, the suitcase was sorted through and this was found inside it. The person who found it was going to give it to a friend and then decided to make mp3's of it first. He then posted it on the internet. Turns out this whole thing has kinda made TV On The Radio guitarist Dave Sitek go a little insane. Read his blog about the whole situation. First he goes nuts and then he takes it all back. A bit like Young Jeezy did this morning. Anyway, back to the point. I don't know where I stand on this whole issue. It is obvious that downloading whole albums takes away from sales, but it also creates an interest and gives people the chance to hear music that they ordinarily wouldn't. The internet has created many new outlets for musicians both new and established to succeed. Everyone that downloaded the new Project Pat album wouldn't have actually gone out and bought it had they not downloaded it. People that didn't take the 15 dollar gamble and buy the record and just downloaded it might really like it (and then download the rest of his albums). What would Project Pat like more? It's impossible to deny there has been a huge increase in interest in artists via the internet. As pointed out in the XXL article, Baby was on the radio the same evening a controversial photo ran of him and Wayne kissing. Read that XXL article, It brings up the point that the artists that acknowledge the possibilities internet has to offer and work with it are more likely to succeed. The game has changed and will continue to.