Right Of Reply

The other day I wrote a blog about money, how much it costs for shit these days and the fact that nothing is free anymore (not even Tibet). Apart from Murdoch I described how the people down at 'themusic.com.au' have now started charging their readers for LINKS - not articles - LINKS - to articles written by other people relevant to the music industry. I sent them an email to express my disappointment - this is what it said:

Hi, I'd just like to say, thanks very much for providing your helpful links and music industry-related stories for FREE for the past god-knows how many years. I'd also like to express my disappointment at your decision to become a 'subscriber service'. You say you're following the trend 'like so much digital content in our online universe' - BS. You find news stories from other sites, you dont even write them. Your creative contribution is little to none and now you expect us to pay you for it? To pay you guys a hundred dollars a year to link to another article that someone wrote on another site? Are you seeing how stupid this sounds? Thanks for showing the headlines for free though, thats such a great help. At least I can copy and paste them in google and get a link straight to the article through someone who doesn't want to charge me for it. Surely if you guys were intent on making more money you could just charge people a little more for the AMID every year. Maybe you could sell off some advertising space or something. The drum media remains jam-packed with news and information and still manages to stay FREE for the most important person - the consumer. With you guys its the other way around, compile the information for free every morning, then charge us for it. Thank God for Google. Yours in... frustration Javid van der Piepers

Yes I got a bit silly/angry/ridiculous but the first few paragraphs in particular sum up my feelings succinctly. Surely these guys, including the Australasian head of Billboard, could come up with some other way. Not thinking I would get a reply I was surprised to see an email in my inbox no less than an hour after sending that, from one Phil Tripp

Thanks for your email and glad you enjoyed free for so long. Yes we leave the headlines up and yes we are going to a monetised model. So faqr, you're our only complainer but I'm sure there will be a few more.

The good news is that you will be able to strengthen your fingers by Googling. And thanks for the email which show you care and gave us in the office a few chuckles. I know you were trying to be funny.

All the best

PHIL TRIPP

Strengthen your fingers by Googling? And I'M trying to be funny? Smart ass! However through his humour respect developed. Notice though, that there is no reasoning to indicate why the change was made, despite me being the first complaint so far (the service only switched a few days before). Mr. Tripp is incredibly experienced in the industry and is well respected. In the time between emails I realised that I myself wasn't really going to change anything but it was nice to be noticed. Its just a pity he stood on the fine line between taking me seriously and labelling me a joke. I sent a courteous reply:

Thanks for your prompt reply Mr Tripp. Its nice to know that you guys do read (and absorb instead of discard - regardless of whether or not it will change anything) the opinions of your readers. Have a good one and let me know if the free news comes back. lol.

Yes I wanted to keep being a smartass (well if he can..) but I was happy to leave it at that. My opinion had been expressed, he had heard it, it wasn't going to change anything. I could accept that (although I don't know why - not even a reason provided!). I open my email this morning and what do I find? Apart from porn spam - this:

THE FREE news won't be coming back as we have a pretty hefty takeup of the new world order. Samed thing happened when we took down the free music directory after a few years. Data drug dealing we call it - All the best

Apart from the typo's (I'm sure he's not illiterate) this email got me angry again. A pretty hefty take up of the new world order? That just means they've already got enough suckers paying for it to never have to go back. Data drug dealing? Just like the directory? Its all making sense. Provide people with an absolutely amazing resource that can be relied on. Scope the market and make sure there are enough desperados who will pay to help you make a profit and then fuck everyone else off giving them no option but to join? I thought this guy was a funny man and sure I think he's still trying to make a joke but thats just.. wrong! Or as some would say 'Its business'. Not losing my head another reply was sent:

ok ok ok i'd have to be a bit slow in the head to persist with my 'free' news references but i would like to ask the REASON the price has been included. I know there was probably a release on the site prior to it happening but, well, I obviously didnt read it. Im not pointing the finger and I've now learnt to accept whats happened and lose my outrage. Obviously its going well and thats cool but yeah, just a breif (it can be a matter of words) description of the circumstances that led you to this choice. then i will leave you alone forever - i promise! javid

That was about an hour ago. I wonder if I can expect a prompt reply...

To be continued - hopefully.