BlogNashville Report - Podcasting & Copyrights

A big issue that concerns many podcasters is the legality of using copyrighted material (primarily music) in podcasts. The Podcasting/Audioblogging session was especially interesting because some recording industry professionals were in the group and participated in the discussion. It was fascinating to see the "screw copyright" bloggers (especially Dave Winer) spar with those putting food on the table with those copyrights.

The concern among podcasters is that if they use copyrighted music in their shows, then they will either need a lawyer and money to pay the industry fees or just hope that nobody cares enough to sue their asses. One podcaster (The Nashville Nobody Knows) actually pays the fees to ensure that her music-rich podcast is 100% legal.

But most podcasters don't have the money or knowledge to be sure that they are in full compliance with the RIAA and other recording organizations so they basically make one of three choices:

1. Don't play music
2. Play music and hope nobody sues them
3. Play Creative Commons licensed music or music that isn't copyrighted

Dave Winer argued (I think this was his argument) that we should screw the recording industry and only embrace music that was licensed for the 21st Century. Maybe that's not what he was saying but that's what I heard and agree. We, as a public, should stop buying music licensed under an archaic legal system and start buying music that uses a Creative Commons license. That's a message that the industry will hear.

I know it sounds stupid but thanks to such ideas, Adam Curry's podcast and sites like CC Mixter I've discovered a lot of great music that I'd never heard before.

I guess what I came away from that session with is a renewed commitment to embrace those who "get it" and want to be sensible about music. Maybe it won't make a difference in the grand scheme of things but dammit, I can sure try.

posted by Eric J | 11:07 PM

Memphis Blogger BBQ Bash

According to Len at Dark Bilious Vapors there's going to be another Blogger Bash at BBQ Shop on Madison.

Date: May 25, 2005
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: The Bar-B-Q Shop, 1782 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN (Midtown)

Ya'll be there aight. And I'm going to talk to Mark Richens and the rest of the BSMF Blogger crew to see if they'll get their music-loving asses down there for some 'cue!

posted by Eric J | 10:03 PM

BlogNashville Report - Monetize Blogs

Friday evening's BlogNashville panel discussion was an interesting look into the "role of blogs in journalism." The panelists covered all the usual blog v. journalism topics and I had to leave for most of it to answer a phone call.

When I returned the audience was asking questions of the panel and frankly, most of those questions were pretty stupid. The question that most intrigued me concerned the economic model for blogs.

Everyone really wanted to know how to make money off of blogs and the answer nobody wanted to give was that you can't make money off blogs. After the panel broke up and attendees were getting directions to Wolfie's Den I walked up to JD Lasica and said, "it's stupid to ask 'how do we make money off blogs.'"

He looked sideways at me and said, "You're serious?"

"Of course I'm serious. Blogs are just a way to connect. We don't ask 'how can we make money from talking on the phone' do we?"

My point is that we lose focus on the true power of blogs when we're consumed with discovering a workable blogging business model. A lot of the criticism of blogs stems from the idea that they must make money to be a viable publication tool. And if the entrepreneurs can't figure out how to get rich with blogs then they'll toss it in the trash bin of fad-ideas.

No, blogs aren't the answer to everything but what they do so well is empower the masses. Recognize this and you understand why blogging really is revolutionary.

Are some bloggers making money? Absolutely. I think the number is around 20 right now. That's cool. But don't ask that question. Don't ask if bloggers are making money. Ask if blogs are disrupting the status quo of Media Power Brokers. Ask if blogs are giving a voice to freedom-lovers living under repressive regimes. Ask if blogs change the way we see the world.

I said earlier that blogs aren't the next Dot Com boom but the second coming of Ham Radio. I like that. It's true and is sort of fun to say.

posted by Eric J | 10:26 PM

BlogNashville

One of the problems with running multiple blogs by myself is that some of those blogs (like this one) get neglected. And it turns out that I forgot to mention that I was going to BlogNashville. And now it's over and I had a great time.

When's the next BloggerCon?

posted by Eric J | 09:55 PM

Blog Hype

A Blog Revolution? Get a Grip - New York Times

So Nick Denton, the blogging entrepreneur who founded Gawker Media, shares his contempt for blogs with the New York Times.

"The hype comes from unemployed or partially employed marketing professionals and people who never made it as journalists wanting to believe," he said. "They want to believe there's going to be this new revolution and their lives are going to be changed."

Denton makes some good points but he misses the reality of what is fueling the "Blog Revolution." If one can look past the wannabes blogging because they can't hack it in a newsroom one will see thousands of people empowered by a publishing tool that gives them opportunities previously available only to the rich and powerful. Blogs have destroyed the Gatekeepers.

I concede that there is a lot of hype surrounding blogs, similar to the podcasting hype, but much of that hype stems from misunderstanding. Blogs aren't the second coming of the Dot Com boom. If anything, blogs are Ham Radio for the masses. Nobody doing Ham Radio is looking for a business model or a way to get rich. Ham Radio operators just have fun, enjoy connecting without barriers. Bloggers do the same on a grander scale.

Denton, like so many others, is wrong about blogs. If I learned anything at BlogNashville it's that Blogging is simply a new and powerful way for people to connect.

posted by Eric J | 01:49 PM