Put Music Back on Stage
B.J. Greenleaf's commentary regarding Napster (The Yap of Nap, Feb. 20) ignores the fact that musicians have always had a way to make money independently of the major record labels: It's called the stage.
Music is a performance art, and true afficionados recognize the primacy of the live experience. The more cynical among us are also fully aware of the magic that can happen in the studio, where out of tune notes are corrected, electronic effect and backup singers dominate, and then even Britney Spears comes out sounding, well, good.
Many music fans support Napster because they believe that the quickest way to rid the airwaves and the world of the studio-created trash that now dominates is to destroy the commercial viability of recorded music. Force everyone back onto the stage, and then we'll see who the real artists are.
A highly talented band like Phish can tour almost continuously for 17 years, maintaining a large and enthusiastic audience at show after show, while allowing and even encouraging the taping and free distribution of their music. This is something Britney will never be able to pull off.
Geoffrey L. Werner-Allen '01
Feb. 20, 2001
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