Robert Smith on the value of music

[dsanchez]

News highlighted by SideLine

Robert Smith (The Cure) gives Radiohead the extra 1 finger salute for their 'free mantra'
http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=40429_0_2_0_C

(thanks Janko)

[love_cat]

As regards Robert's message about Free Music, I love the photo he posted along with his post, but it would be simply perfect if he used as an accopanying photo that weird award he got  (look at the finger.. the F word gesture)

[dsanchez]

What do other people feel about this?

I think artists can do wathever they want with their creation. If they want to put it for free to download, to sell it, to allow fans to make a "donation", it's up to them.

A creation is not more or less valuable because of it's cost.

As someone pointed out, the Radio Head thing was an experiment, and people was allowed to pay what they could/feel. Altought Robert has the right to decide the price of his creation (we know is the company behind who decides that in the end), we have to consider the situation worlwide is different. Maybe someone from Luxembourg can afford 20 euro for a CD, but can someone from a poor country in Africa afford this?

Any Cure album in Peru cost the same in France, for instance. Yet, the salaries are quite different (200 to 300 euros in average in Peru, against 1000-2000 in France). If peruvian fans were allowed to pay what they could for a certain album, I am sure there would be more cd's sold. Or if the prices were lower.

Conclusion for me: RadioHead and any other artist can do wathever they want with their creation. Is THEIR creation, after all.

[japanesebaby]

these topics (this one and this: http://curefans.com/index.php/topic,6011.0.html) seem to be about the same thing.
might be good to keep the conversation in one place and merge these?

[alt.end]

RSX

PS
I WONDER HOW MANY OF THE PROFESSIONAL APOLOGISTS OUT THERE WRITE THEIR SHIT FOR FREE?

HA!

That's a good point  how many? 

yeah, it is a good point...although i bet musician's main income is from broadcasting, tour and merch, but income from record sales is also important part....but i reckon they would survive without them (but maybe i'm wrong).

[Trust...]

New update on the official site:

http://www.thecure.com/blog/default.aspx?nid=21317&cmnt=1#s_comments_anchor

OPEN WORD TO MARK BEAUMONT
Posted by CURE:ROBERT on 4/30/2009 | Comments (31)


AN OPEN WORD TO MARK BEAUMONT


http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2009/apr/30/musicians-making-most-noise



"Over the past few months I've gritted my teeth as Robert Smith complained about the detrimental effects of downloading and the economic downturn on his income"



REALLY?
COULD YOU SHOW ME ONE SINGLE INSTANCE WHEN I "COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN ON MY INCOME"?

NO?

I THOUGHT NOT...
BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT ANYTHING OF THE f*cking SORT!


IT IS A NONSENSE
WHAT A SURPRISE!


IF YOU WOULD BOTHER READING WHAT I ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT FREE MUSIC
http://www.thecure.com/blog/default.aspx?nid=21082



THEN MAYBE YOU WOULDNT WRITE THIS KIND OF SHIT ABOUT ME...






BUT I WONT HOLD MY BREATH
OR GRIT MY TEETH WAITING




ONWARDS
AS EVER
ROBERT SMITH

(I was hoping for another update ...  )

[alwaysprayingforRAIN]

(I was hoping for another update ...  )

i know what you mean... he seems kind of stuck on that topic. but if people are saying shit about him then he needs to fight back and i love him voicing his opinion loud and clearly!
he did not change in that respect

still i don't know why people are getting so worked up over the topic... it's not like all the bitching is going to change anything...