DroppinScience
04-03-2007, 05:18 PM
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/42090-death-cab-rem-leo-wrens-rock-for-net-neutrality
Good for all the musicians taking part in this!
Do-good not-for-profit the Future of Music Coalition, long known for championing the causes of independent musicians, has launched Rock the Net, a campaign designed to help Massachusetts Democratic Representative Edward Markey's fight for net neutrality on Capitol Hill.
The initiative is backed by a slew of labels, fans, and, of course, bands. Founding supporters include Ted Leo, Death Cab for Cutie, Calexico, the Donnas, the Wrens, Kathleen Hanna, Jimmy Tamborello, the Locust, Bob Mould, Boots Riley of the Coup, R.E.M., Kronos Quartet, Rogue Wave, John Doe, and many, many more. New bands and labels are joining every day; right now, they're up to 256 bands and 59 labels.
Given the web's penchant for subjectivity, bias, and "Which Laguna Beach Girl Are You?" quizzes, the concept of net neutrality can be confounding. Here's a primer on what exactly the FMC is raging against: the big telecommunications interests would very much like to collect money from webhosts in exchange for higher bandwidth, making those sites that could afford it lightning fast and those who couldn't deathly slow.
Thus far the internet's been a real playing-field-leveler for folks on a shoestring budget (ahem); record sales notwithstanding, the web's allowed no reason why Wooden Wand couldn't conceivably enjoy the same kind of online presence as Akon. But with major-label money thrown into purchasing bandwidth, the tables would turn toward those with mad cash-- not unlike television and radio. Hence the uproar.
Good for all the musicians taking part in this!
Do-good not-for-profit the Future of Music Coalition, long known for championing the causes of independent musicians, has launched Rock the Net, a campaign designed to help Massachusetts Democratic Representative Edward Markey's fight for net neutrality on Capitol Hill.
The initiative is backed by a slew of labels, fans, and, of course, bands. Founding supporters include Ted Leo, Death Cab for Cutie, Calexico, the Donnas, the Wrens, Kathleen Hanna, Jimmy Tamborello, the Locust, Bob Mould, Boots Riley of the Coup, R.E.M., Kronos Quartet, Rogue Wave, John Doe, and many, many more. New bands and labels are joining every day; right now, they're up to 256 bands and 59 labels.
Given the web's penchant for subjectivity, bias, and "Which Laguna Beach Girl Are You?" quizzes, the concept of net neutrality can be confounding. Here's a primer on what exactly the FMC is raging against: the big telecommunications interests would very much like to collect money from webhosts in exchange for higher bandwidth, making those sites that could afford it lightning fast and those who couldn't deathly slow.
Thus far the internet's been a real playing-field-leveler for folks on a shoestring budget (ahem); record sales notwithstanding, the web's allowed no reason why Wooden Wand couldn't conceivably enjoy the same kind of online presence as Akon. But with major-label money thrown into purchasing bandwidth, the tables would turn toward those with mad cash-- not unlike television and radio. Hence the uproar.