Monday 6 April 2009

International Paul Haig Day (Bloggers of the World Unite!)

(Photo of Paul Haig @ the Edinburgh Festival 2008 by Sara Simmons.)

Blogs have been receiving ever more frequent DMCA take down notices from record industry bodies that clearly have no idea what they are doing.
Last year this blog had two posts taken down that in both cases linked to music at the archive.org where the music is legitimately available for free download.
Google themselves have said "that more than half (57%) of the takedown notices it has received under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act 1998, were sent by business targeting competitors and over one third (37%) of notices were not valid copyright claims. "
Recently 'The Vinyl Villian' (see here) in Glasgow had a post pulled that contained a track by Paul Haig.
The artist and his management were appalled that it had been pulled from the blog as they see this as a legitimate way of Paul's music getting heard by more people.

PRESS RELEASE FROM PAUL HAIG'S MANAGEMENT
From: evanj.henderson@blueyonder.co.uk
To: thevinylvillain@hotmail.co.uk
Subject: PRESS RELEASE: Paul Haig Day April 6
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 08:12:01 +0100

Basic premise: Blogs being targetted randomly by ISP’s to take down music where artists are happy about receiving the extra coverage. Paul Haig gave a free track ‘Reason’ to the vinyl villain to give away in support of the bloggers network and to test his theory abut random notices being served.

In thanks the bloggers have agreed to make April 6 Paul Haig Day. As many bloggers will make ‘Reason’ available on their blogs as possible.

Blogs are essential promo tools for all artists as music comes recommended.

Most artists express the view that as many people should be able to hear their music as possible by whatever means. The fan will then go to a concert or buy back catalogue get the vinyl or even the new cd. The Internet is just like radio was 20 years ago…kind of!

If you have a great track the best method of getting it heard is over the net – where word is spread by the real music fans - Hearing new music is based on recommendation not by mass advertising budgets….unless you are U2, blogs or free music on the net has got to be the future…

Evan Label Manager ROLinc

It has therefore been decided that today will see blogs around the world offer some music from Paul Haig (and if you don't know who he is, then please investigate Josef K or other work that Paul has done solo or with both Billy MacKenzie and Alan Rankine (from The Associates) or other collaborations with members of New Order, A Certain Ratio and Cabaret Voltaire.
For more information do check out the 'Vinyl Villian' and see how the day progresses.

AUDIO:
'REASON' by PAUL HAIG.
HERE.

This song is (c) Paul Haig and he is allowing anyone who wants to post this to do so.
Now let's see if any DMCA notices are issued!

Other blogs taking part today include:

The Vinyl Villian
Condemned To Rock'n'Roll

Paul Haig - Reason

8 comments:

  1. All these record company anti-piracy people will be first up against the wall when the revolution comes.
    Keep up the good work Mona.
    Via La Revolution!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Mona.....much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for posting this, Mona.
    Quite an eye-opener.
    I've reblogged this with a link back to you, if that's okay.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi, thanks for your support. look out for new releases and exclusive tracks from ROLinc coming via the Vinyl Villain in future. Keep spreading the word about new music...

    ReplyDelete
  5. I too have re~blogged Mona. You're the bestest.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mona

    Thanks for all your help today. I've been astonished at how well its all gone.

    JC
    x

    ReplyDelete
  7. 2JC
    You deserve ALL the credit, I didn't do a thing.
    It was just nice to see a bit of solidarity between all of us who don't know each other and that hopefully people will investigate PH and discover that amazing body of work, especially Josef K who in the BIG scheme of things I think are one of the most underrated bands of all time.
    Also nice to see that PH understands better than most it would seem the mechanics of the music world v.08!
    Regards/

    ReplyDelete