Wrafter Writes

On May 1st 2007 I put this blog live, wrote something, published it, then took the blog down. Nah, I said, who needs another frigging blog that no ones reads?

So I took the blog down, and put my site back up, just another site, a site like it had been since November 2001.

Then May 11th 2007 came, and with it an e-mail from IRMA (Irish Recorded Music Association) demanding that 29 mp3s I was hosting should be removed. “Should this matter not be resolved to our satisfaction, further steps will be taken.”

I wrote simple stuff, nothing earthshattering, but carefully selected tunes nonetheless, like Nina Simone’s “Four Women” - I wrote “An obscure path led me to this track, the story of four women, each told in a single verse - takes a little getting used to, perhaps - but a beautiful haunting track nonetheless.”

This Nina Simone track was one of the 29 mp3s in question that “have not been authorised by the copyright owner for reproduction, distribution or any other use.”

I wonder IRMA, if you even know who Manu Chao, Kent, Vincent Gallo, Echobrain and Joy Zipper are? No, I suppose not. You’re just doing you’re job, right?

You do seem to know Aslan, Bellefire, Westlife and Samantha Mumba though - it says so on your site: http://irma.ie/irishm.htm

I wonder also do you know how many people have read my muso-ramblings since 2001 and bought and supported artists as a result of my sharing? No, I suppose not. You’re just doing you’re job, right?

For one, there’s Trisch, who had never heard of Beth Gibbons on March 21st 2003 when she mailed me, but bizarrely enough, has since started working for the PR company that promotes Beth Gibbons, and Trisch now runs that account.

Then there was Bart Postma from Holland who on July 21st 2004 mailed me to say: “thanks a lot for introducing me to all the great music! All i listen to now is 79Cortinaz, Whipping Boy and Simple Kid.”

Where else would a band like 79Cortinaz get exposure but on a site like mine, they’re from CARLOW for God’s sake! (And they’re very good!)

Then there Grace Davis from California who on September 29th 2004 wrote to say: “I have thoroughly enjoyed Christopher O’Reilly and Max Richter. As a result I’ve been inspired to return to the piano after nearly 40 years.”

And on October 13th 2004, John Beale from somewhere in England who said: “I very much appreciate your mp3 pages - it’s been a great way to find out about bands that i’d never have looked at previously. Thanks and keep up the great work.”

And the scores more of, now-that-I-reflect, pretty inspirational emails received.

I’ve now decided this blog should live, in dedication to IRMA, and to the death of my site that recommended tunes because I love music. Irish Recorded Music Association indeed.

Thank you IRMA.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 11th, 2007 at 10:57 am and is filed under Rant. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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