When the mainstream media talks about downloading, they call it two different things.

Illegal downloading and (legal) downloading. When you and i talk about it, there is only one name. It covers all options, and we never ask which one it is. When i say that i’ve downloaded Inglorious Basterds, you may very well know that it is illegal, but the word is never spoken. Partly because you don’t really, really, really care.

Overhear any conversation between kids on the train about music or movies, and you’re going to hear the word download in there. The words illegal or legal are never going to pop up, why should it? They instantly know based on what they talk about if it’s one or the other, and again… they don’t really care.

Do they know when they download something illegally? Do you? Of course, but it doesn’t matter because that’s how they/you can get a hold of it right now.

Piracy.

Anti piracy.

Illegal downloading.

This isn’t new, even on our site. We have covered these types of issues many times before.

The one that the news latched onto; Pirate Bay here, here and here

The way that people hear about new music; Alice Russell here

The creative way that ‘they’ try and control events and the audience?; here

A nice reply by the KVCD Bittorrent group who took the most ineffective and annoying anti piracy advert and put their own facts over the top.

There’s 2 problems;

1. The first that ‘they’ (the film studios, record companies etc) want to scare us away from downloading, because we are not buying (enough of) their product anymore.
2. Let me quote the BBC, who reported that..“UK prime minister Gordon Brown has said that people are as entitled to internet access as to gas, water and electricity.”

So, on a basic level, the plans to either make us believe that piracy = supporting organised crime/drugs or that ‘they’ cut off the internet of persistent offenders is pretty lame.

But consistently voices like Vivendi’s Chief Exec, Jean Bernard Levy have been saying the only thing that makes sense;

“…content owners must develop products and services that consumers are prepared to pay for.”

What we, at BANDIT have been saying is that if you take a closer look at the lives of your target audience – they will lead you to the solution.

How are people beginning to watch films and listen to music (and definitely watch television and consume advertising)?

Why do we say this?
Because the content creators don’t understand that their target audience is not digesting their product in the way they have designed.

Programs that were developed for American journalists in Beijing for the Olympics (to bypass the internet security there) by creating a US IP address – are widely available now..

In Europe, you know why it’s popular? We watch US TV, Hulu and sporting events online, because it’s the only place we can watch it.

Are we ever going to stop downloading???? NO!
Is that a bad thing??? No actually not..

“People who illegally download music from the internet also spend more money on music than anyone else, according to a new study. The survey, published today, found that those who admit illegally downloading music spent an average of £77 a year on music – £33 more than those who claim that they never download music dishonestly.”

But wait a minute – we are consistently being fed a line that illegal downloading is up there will the erosion of the O-zone layer!

Here’s the (unquantifiably researched) facts…

• Artists are touring more
• The average price for a concert ticket has doubled over the last 10 years
• There’s more concerts where artists are performing  their old material (Michael Jackson/This Is It anyone?)
• Artists are frequently selling copies of their album at the concert
• …and mixtapes and singles via download sites, blogs and iTunes

Question…. This leaves the record companies where exactly?

Answer….. With the very real problem, make good product or the people that download it, won’t buy it… Why should they? They’ve already heard it and it was sh!t.
 

BANDIT