With the demise of the greatest music download site in the world over the last week my life has fallen into utter turmoil. OiNK was not just a fantastic download/upload site it also ensured excellent quality and a strict ratio that ensured everybody shared. The quality(nothing less than 192kbps) was exceptional which has been highlighted by Radiohead's latest release, In Rainbows. Radiohead have tried to move with the times and release their latest album online for a voluntary fee but stupidly released it at an inferior quality so as to ensure that the obsessed listener buys the better quality CD. Dickheads - if you're going to do it do it properly and don't piss people off. I waited while the download took what seemed like hours - at OiNK a 70MB album could download in less than 2 minutes - only to receive a crackly piece of poo. FUCK OFF! Don't insult me like that and I'm sure there are many listeners out there of the same ilk.
I have being buying music since I was 8 years old(I'm now 41) and I have experienced many music revolutions but none has affected me like this latest gambit on behalf of the major labels. Sure OiNK was technically illegal but so was taping music when I was a kid. So was taping movies from the TV. So was listening to bootlegs. It goes on and on. The new music I heard through OiNK was exponential. I would travel through complete catalogues of bands and then buy those I really loved. I have bought hundreds of CDs because of OiNK as I like to feel and look at something when I'm listening but never again. I WILL NEVER BUY A CD AGAIN. I WILL NEVER PAY FOR A DOWNLOAD AGAIN. I will only buy CDs or pay for downloads when I know the money is going directly to the musicians. Music is primarily for listening and those who wish to continue to manipulate the system so as to make a squillion have had their day. I encourage everybody to do the same so the major labels have their teeth extracted by us, their consumers. We are the frontline of music distribution and therefore, we have control and like OiNK it will only work if we do it together.
Read this excellent article to get a more detailed grip on this farce: The Future of Music
Bit of fun even though I'm very pissed off:The Beatles - Piggies
