Why we should free music

Ethically right thing to do:

• Why do you primarily create music - love, fame, money?
• Why do you want people to hear your music?
• Creation is by standing on shoulders of giants
• Various compromises - noncommercial use

Makes sense from an economic perspective:

• Fundamental economic reality in the music industry: very, very, very, very few musicians can aspire to make a long-term living from creating music.
• But musicians need to make a living somehow: cannot be via control of copying. Self-defeating.
• Move on to a service model: selling merchandise (CDs, T-Shirts, etc.), performing live, etc.
• Free Music helps - more opportunities for lesser known musicians

It is pragmatic:

• Copyright laws are currently too restrictive - do not balance adequately the public and private interests
• copyright laws will not survive the digital age. (Cf. Barlow, The Economy of Ideas.)