Future of Music Newsletter #2 (August 28, 2000)

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8.28.2000

Hello:

It's been a busy month - so much so that it's been more than a month since our last letter. Hopefully when you read about our recent work you'll forgive our tardiness. Here are some of the highlights:

1. Policy Conference for The Future of Music

   Enough already with the preaching to the converted in New York and California! Isn't it time someone gathered the best and brightest rockers, programmers, academics and entrepreneurs in Washington, DC? Isn't it time to debate the most exciting and frightening questions regarding music and technology in a city where our elected representatives and policymakers might benefit from and participate in the discussion?
   
   We certainly think so! That's why we're organizing a two-day policy conference in Washington DC, tentatively scheduled to be held January 10th and 11th at Georgetown University's Gaston Hall. Visit http://www.seeuthere.com/events/id=45550 to learn more details, make suggestions for panels and panelists, and to reserve your space today!
   
   

2. FMC Submits Comments on DMCA

   On August 4, 2000 the Future of Music Coalition's Walter McDonough answered the Copyright Office's Open Request for Comments concerning the Digital Millennium Copyright Act by filing comments on behalf of FMC. Our comments -- one of only thirty submitted -- have since been posted. Go here to check out what Walter had to say. You can be sure it's awfully different than the major music corporations' comments, which can also be read at this link.
   
   
3. Tip Jars
   Would you pay a dollar a month to support the work of the FMC? How about five?
   
   One of our main goals as an organization is to identify and explore new business models that could help musicians to both disintermediate their distribution process and guard the value of their labor. One of the most interesting and idealistic models that we've come across is the Virtual Tip Jar.
   

   With just a few easy steps, musicians can add a tip jar to their web page, thereby allowing visitors and fans to voluntarily and directly compensate them for MP3s that are otherwise free. The concept was so fascinating to Coalition member Jeff Coleman that he wrote to us and eventually wrote an article about the process.
   
   We challenged him to get a bunch of bands to put Tip Jars on their pages and then to report back the results. With a similar spirit in mind we've posted a Tip Jar on our main site.

   We encourage you to prove that small amounts of voluntary donations submitted by a large group of committed supporters can go a long way. Join us in this experiment by adding a Tip Jar to your own site.

4. Traveling, Publishing and Evangelizing - What we're up to lately.
   

   This month we've broken down our activities by board member. We've also printed accounts from Kristin Thomson and Peter DiCola who have been working so closely with the board that we decided to add their bios to the FMC "Coalition Members" area:

   Walter McDonough
   Walter McDonough and the FMC submitted their comments to the Copyright Office regarding the DMCA. In the coming weeks, after the Coalition finishes reviewing the other 29 comments that were submitted by interested parties, we will submit reply comments. Walter also has been working to establish bridges with independent artists and record labels that are currently appearing before the European Economic Community's ongoing review of digital music distribution. The FMC has categorically endorsed the work of the Artists' Coalitions and the National Academy of Recording Science's efforts to repeal the controversial "work for hire" language. Walter is currently interviewing attorneys and law students who wish to help the FMC. If you want to help, please feel free to contact him at his e-mail address at digitalmusiclaw@yahoo.com.

   Brian Zisk
   Brian has been out promoting the Future of Music Coalition through both online and offline means. He's been working on the organizational strategy, pushing to formalize its structure as a non-profit. He is also pulling together a Board of Technical Advisors that will be able to objectively evaluate any solutions brought to our attention with both an understanding of the technology and commitment to valuing the work of musicians. Brian is also trying to find a Development Manager to handle fundraising for the Coalition. If you know a fundraiser who has contacts in the music community and appreciates what we're doing, please send them his way: zisk@well.com.

   Michael Bracy
   Beyond focusing on helping the Future of Music Coalition incorporate as a 501c(3) non-profit, Michael and the Government Relations staff took advantage of convention season to make a quick field trip out to the left coast, where they enjoyed meeting with a number of folks from the technology world. We are also focusing in on the policy implications of the November elections, and preparing for the December Future of Music policy conference.

   Jenny Toomey
   Jenny spent much of the last month on the road traveling to Nashville, Chicago, Los Angeles & San Francisco meeting with members of the music and technology community and solidifying FMC goals. When she wasn't traveling, Jenny managed to finish her solo record, publish new pieces on CNET and The Machine and made a guest appearance with Michael and Brian -- who's a regular -- on the Ken Radio show "Speculations". You can listen to the clips at:
   
   http://206.228.105.180/audio/spec812.ram or http://206.228.105.180/audio/spec812.asx .
   
   She is currently working with Michael to secure the coalition's status as a non-profit group and to nail down the details of what will truly be an amazing policy conference in Washington DC this coming January!

   Kristin Thomson
   Besides pitching in on the plans for the January policy conference, Kristin continues her work writing and editing articles for The Machine at Insound.com. She is focusing on fostering more self-sufficiency in the community, so that the indie bands and labels can continue to build a strong, supportive network both online and in the real world. For example, she is currently researching the variety of options that are available for exchanging money on the internet, from credit card processing to PayPal to TipJar. With election season drawing nearer, Kristin will also be working with Michael Bracy on a voter's guide - alerting the community about key races and hot issues to remember in November.

   Peter DiCola
   Peter's previous article "The Economics of Recorded Music : From Free Market to Just Plain Free" has the honor of being the most commented upon piece in the history of The Machine. In the near future, Peter will be sharing the results of a focus group conducted on music, technology, and all things Napster. The participants? His 17-year-old sister and her friends, who did not disappoint. With their considerable insights and formidable bantering skills, these kids had plenty to say. Also on the horizon from Peter: a look at a real-life example of the possible future of music, and a socioeconomic discussion of the devaluation of musicians' work.
   

5. Document our Numbers

   If you haven't read and signed the manifesto please do so. It is imperative that we document the large number of musicians, programmers and music fans whose pro-technology/pro-compensation perspective is not being represented. Tell your friends, link us to your sites, and spread the good word!
   

6. Press

   Check out the News section of the Coalition's website for a list of links to articles about the FMC that have run in CNET, ZDTV Radio, Dmusic & The Industry Standard. Expect more press coverage in the near future!
   

7. Original Research & Articles

   a) Survey Results
   Back in December 1999, we created a fairly simple and cursory survey to try to get a handle on the indie community's relationship to the Internet. By June 2000 we had collected our first 100 responses -
   http://www.insound.com/machine/essay.cfm?id=44

   b) Busking as a Form of Online Compensation by Jeff Coleman
   "I present my music on the net because it's the busiest street in the world. I'd like people to stop and have a listen. If they want a copy for their own, fine, throw me coin."
   http://www.insound.com/machine/essay.cfm?id=40

   c) A Quick Lesson in Digital Downloads by Kristin Thomson
   "Okay, we don't claim to be the experts here, but we'd like to lay out the basics of digital downloading."
   http://www.insound.com/machine/essay.cfm?id=42

   
   

8. How are we doing?

If you have any feedback, questions or suggestions please send an email to suggestions@futureofmusic.org, and let us know how we're doing.

Thanks for your support.

xo Jenny Toomey
Acting Executive Director of The Coalition for the Future of Music

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