Just one band's point of view......
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Downloading Works For Elbow Downloading music is not a problem for
Elbow. In fact, they've used the Internet to release the first song
from their new album 'Cast of Thousands" and want people to send it
to their friends.
The reason they went online first was because the song they wanted to
introduce the album with didn't necessarily fit in with radio formats
or marketing strategies. "We wanted to put something out and
wanted 'Ribcage' to be the first song people heard from the album"
bass player Pete Turner tells Undercover News. "We knew we couldn't
put it out as a single because it is far too long at around six and a
half minutes. You can't have a single any longer than four minutes
unless you are Radiohead. We put it on the Internet low-key so that
people into the band could download it. We didn't restrict it. We
made sure people could send it on to their mates".
While the U.S. recording industry is trying to bring in a law that
makes the downloading of even one song earn the downloader 5 years in
jail, for Elbow people hearing their music for free is a good
thing. "I don't have a problem with it, really. People can always get
their hands on free music, whether they tape it or just steal it"
Pete says. "I want people who can't afford to buy it to still hear
the song. I think live is where the whole thing goes. Especially from
touring you can make loads of money. I'd rather people come and see
the live shows and if downloading ours songs for free means they will
do that, then that is fine for me. People need a bit of convincing,
so downloading something for free is the perfect way of doing it. I
really like artwork and looking at the artwork on the inlay card
while I'm listening to music sometimes, so I think people will go and
buy it anyway even if they have downloaded it".
Elbow are about to release their 'Cast of Thousands' album through
V2 / Festival Records.
by Paul Cashmere
