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Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
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Mrs. Stephen Fry
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
This is the kind of article where I prefer to read the featured discussions only. Thank god for that button.

There are some enormous boneheads out there.
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Mike Fulton
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
It sounds to me like Sir Paul understands the internet just fine. Anybody who understands the internet knows quite well that anything that gets released will be available for illegal copying shortly afterwards. Given the choice of releasing the music and then waiting for it to be illegally copied around without compensation, or just not releasing it at all, he's chosen the latter. Or at the very least, leaning in that direction.

You might not like or agree with the idea, but it certainly doesn't mean he doesn't understand the internet. If anything, it means he understands it all too well.
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Monty promoted this comment Mike Fulton was starred Mike Fulton was unstarred

Monty
11/23/09

@Mike Fulton: I more or less agree that Paul understands the internet fine, what Paul is somewhat clueless about is how the music business operates today. That is the frightening part. Then again, when you are sitting on the library of music that he is, I suppose he can re-invent the music business wheel again, if he likes.
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AlisaDonkey
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
Gizmodo doesn't understand mastering.
The masters he's talking about wouldn't be FLAC or some other lossless format meant for pure reproduction.
Think more along the lines of the raw files that Nine Inch Nails has released as open source for people to mix as they like.
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frigg promoted this comment AlisaDonkey was starred AlisaDonkey was unstarred

frigg
11/23/09

@AlisaDonkey: I think you're mistaken. By masters, they mean high resolution stereo masters, not the multitrack source tracks - which never get anywhere near where they're talking about.
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Dahamma
11/23/09

@frigg: Incorrect. How do you think they make games like Rock Band with separate instruments, vocals, etc? Just apply a "no-guitar filter?" True "masters" are multitrack recordings with each instrument, vocal, etc recorded separately that can be used to completely remix a song.

The Beatles in particular were famous for their multitrack recording and remixing of tons of instruments, effects, etc, which is why this makes particular sense here.
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frigg promoted this comment Dahamma was starred Dahamma was unstarred

frigg
11/23/09

@Dahamma: Usually a "master" (or as the anonymous source said, the "remaster") means the stereo mix, the one produced by the mastering engineer and used for duplication. In my experience, if musicians are referring to the multitrack, they usually say the multitrack. I don't know the details of this, but it sounds like Paul is worried about the stereo master, not the multitrack. Multitracks for things like this are guarded under lock and key, surrounded by Death Eaters and 3-headed dogs when it's something like a Beatles multitrack.
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Dahamma
11/24/09

@frigg: Yes, your last sentence was exactly my point... the context of the anonymous quote was a reference to Beatles Rock Band, which most definitely used the multitrack masters, not the stereo mix, hence the crazy security measures. That's why THAT is Paul's worst nightmare, not some bozo posting a ripped White Album CD as the article seems to imply.

A quote from Harmonix' creative director in an interview:

"We've gone back to the multi-track masters of each song, so that we can isolate the sound of each instrument and use that sound as feedback during gameplay."

[oh, any my basic point that Paul may not be a complete idiot like the article insinuates doesn't mean I necessarily agree with him... I must have listened to The Grey Album about 10 times in a row when it first came out :) ]
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Edited by Dahamma at 11/24/09 2:12 AM Dahamma was starred Dahamma was unstarred

Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
Wait, you mean he's scared that the music he produced, wrote, recorded, and was paid for repeatedly from over 30 years ago might be pirated... When it is already being pirated... And that he won't get paid for it.

Maybe he should have gotten that pre-nup last marriage after all if he's that worried about money.
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reddyroc
11/23/09

@Lite: hates Illinois Nazis: he's got to make his losses back somehow right?

Kanye West giving Sir Paul McCartney financial advice...

"If you aint no punk holla We Want Prenup. WE WANT PRENUP!"
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis promoted this comment Edited by reddyroc at 11/23/09 2:24 PM reddyroc was starred reddyroc was unstarred

Gary_7vn
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
I understand the internets. "It's a series of boobs.".
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
11/23/09

@Gary_7vn: I thought it was like a great big highway that you could just drive a dump truck of data onto.
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
11/23/09

@Gary_7vn: You know what is also a series of tubes? Sewers and waste management systems.

I find this very fitting considering how utterly useless 99+% of the internet truly is.
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OCEntertainment
11/23/09

@Lite: Yeah, I know what you mean. A couple weeks ago, my septic router burst. There was 4chan all over my new carpets. The smell was horrible.
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
11/23/09

@OCEntertainment: I've heard that at that point it's a total loss, and that you just have to condemn the site. Especially if you get any /b/ on it.
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krispykrink
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
"Just to be clear, Paul McCartney says he wants to sell music online, but he's worried that someone could conceivably download it, upload it back to the internet, and open the floodgates to piracy."

Uh... No he did not say that. The EMI chief said that.

Good job fucking that one up.
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Reil: Save Stars, Save Peach promoted this comment krispykrink was starred krispykrink was unstarred

Reil: Lifehacker Ninja Stars
11/23/09

@krispykrink: No you.
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iSee
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
we[I read The Beatles] would have the right to say, 'Now you[the record company execs] recompense us for that.' And they're scared of that."

It seems to me that what Paul is saying is that in his mind the execs will be scared that 'The Beatles' will come after them for their cut of every digital copy out there, pirated or legit, even though the execs obviously don't have control over the pirated copies.
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John Herrman promoted this comment iSee was starred iSee was unstarred

John Herrman
11/23/09

@iSee: The EMI execs are only particularly scared of this because Paul, unlike most artists, expects to be compensated for piracy as part of a potential contract.
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iSee
11/23/09

@John Herrman: So this could be a great day for music, where the 800lbs gorilla in the room is not the distribution channel but the actual musician.

Seems that the news here is just that the contract needs some rewording and that McCartney is holding the upper hand (for now)
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OCEntertainment
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
Mr. McCartney, I would like to inform you of some internet trends of which you may previously be unaware. It has come to light in recent statements that you may be ill-acquainted with some of the goings-on on the internet and have thusly made some poor business decisions as a result. No one could fault you, I suppose, as you were merely ignorant of how the internet works, but suffice to say for your own benefit, and indeed the benefit of all those on the internet, I feel it imperative to inform you of your error:

Using the word "wap", Mr. McCartney, is a surefire way to become an internet meme. Real fast.
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Mayor McRib
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
You say you got a real solution.
We'd all love to see the plan. You ask me for a contribution. We're doing what we can. But when you want money for people with minds that hate. All I can tell is Paul your have to wait. Don't you know it's gonna be all right."
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evilR3
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
This is scary, I guess all the money he has still isnt enough. Wheres Bono when you need him?
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Nathan Obbards promoted this comment evilR3 was starred evilR3 was unstarred

Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

@evilR3: Off eating some African babies and basking in the glow of his ego.
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Gary_7vn
11/23/09

@Nathan Obbards: Uhh, Bono doesn't actually eat African babies. He makes them worship him like a god.
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Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

@Gary_7vn: I thought he demanded a few for human sacrifice and feasted on their hearts. I could be wrong though.
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njdevil
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
I am the Walrus, they are the Pirates.
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Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

@njdevil: At least we're not back in the USSR.
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njdevil
11/23/09

@Nathan Obbards:All the While my Computer Gently Seeds.
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Gann
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
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lostarchitect
11/23/09

@Gann: you know that's not a beatles song, right?
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Joe Stoner
11/23/09

@Gann: And now John's dead. You think Paul is going to follow that path?
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Gann
11/23/09

@lostarchitect: Yeah, just seemed to fit though....
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OMG! Ponies!
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
I understand why Sir Paul is worried about someone wapping his music onto the internet. He feels that he is somehow being gypped. Not to worry. I'm sure he'll set some price on licensing but the lawyers will jew the price down.
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fakejezuzdiaz
11/23/09

@OMG! Ponies!: Sir, your lack of political correctness is appalling... slurring both gypsy's and jews in the same sentence simply makes you sound like a 'tard... what are you a woman?!?

[insert sarcasm]
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franco1975
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
He has been preoccupied with the Heather Mills fiasco to realise whats been happening.
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fakejezuzdiaz promoted this comment franco1975 was starred franco1975 was unstarred

fakejezuzdiaz
11/23/09

@franco1975:

Too right!

He'd barely have a leg to stand on in a contract like that!!

Ba-dum-dum...
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BergenCountyJC can't beat MW2
11/23/09

In reply to Paul McCartney Doesn't Understand the Internet
Sorry Paul, who do I make the check out to? Oh CASH? You sly devil
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OMG! Ponies!
11/23/09

@BergenCountyJC can't beat MW2: I loved "All You Need Is Cash." I think it has some of Paul's best work.
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