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Chris Jacob
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.
@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.
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.
@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.
@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.
@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.
@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 :) ]
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.
"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.
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.
@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.
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.
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."
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.
@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?!?
11/23/09
There are some enormous boneheads out there.
11/23/09
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.
11/23/09
11/23/09
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.
11/23/09
11/23/09
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.
11/23/09
11/24/09
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 :) ]
11/23/09
Maybe he should have gotten that pre-nup last marriage after all if he's that worried about money.
11/23/09
Kanye West giving Sir Paul McCartney financial advice...
"If you aint no punk holla We Want Prenup. WE WANT PRENUP!"
11/23/09
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11/23/09
I find this very fitting considering how utterly useless 99+% of the internet truly is.
11/23/09
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11/23/09
Uh... No he did not say that. The EMI chief said that.
Good job fucking that one up.
11/23/09
11/23/09
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.
11/23/09
11/23/09
Seems that the news here is just that the contract needs some rewording and that McCartney is holding the upper hand (for now)
11/23/09
Using the word "wap", Mr. McCartney, is a surefire way to become an internet meme. Real fast.
11/23/09
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."
11/23/09
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11/23/09
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
11/23/09
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11/23/09
[insert sarcasm]
11/23/09
11/23/09
Too right!
He'd barely have a leg to stand on in a contract like that!!
Ba-dum-dum...
11/23/09
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.