Bassist Wanted

Comics for musicians

Bassist Wanted

Comics for musicians

Storyline

Buying Sketchy MP3s

Greg gives up iTunes for cheap mp3 sites like allofmp3.com, each shadier than the last, while Brett watches him rationalize it.

5 stripsFrom the beginning Most popular

#62. Download nightmares

October 31, 2005

BRETT: Come on! It's just one album!
GREG: Don't tempt me with illegal mp3s, man! I'll stick to iTunes. A guilt-free life is worth $1 a song.

BRETT: Dude, the record companies don't pay any production or distribution costs with iTunes, and they charge the same as CDs. It's a ripoff.

GREG: Look, I used Napster in college! I won't go back to that life! I would have nightmares about musicians breaking into my apartment and stealing stuff....

GREG: Liz Phair would hold me down while P.J. Harvey ripped my socks off my feet. It was... arousing. But also scary.
BRETT: You're a toolbox, Greg.

1 view Like

#63. allofmp3.com

November 1, 2005

GREG: I'm having an iTunes crisis of faith, Brett. I just found this Russian site, allofmp3.com. It's like $2/album.

BRETT: Hmm. Think it's legal?
GREG: W-well, a portion of what I pay goes to the artist. So I'm not really
doing anything wrong... right?

BRETT: Show me where you read that.
GREG: Here on this blog. Next to that porn ad and the "Top 10 Warez Linkz" thing.

BRETT: Mmm. Well, I'll leave you to your rationalizing.
GREG: Bottom line, i-it's not MY fault it's not shut down... right? RIGHT?!

1 view Like

#64. manymanymp3.com

November 2, 2005

BRETT: Still getting your mp3s from that semi-legal allofmp3.com?
GREG: No, now I found manymanymp3.com. You can get any music you want. You pay nothing.

BRETT: Sounds even shadier. Thought you were all concerned with artists getting their fair share.
GREG: Well, you agree to pay later, Brett. If, you know, you like the music.

GREG: And if... if the band specifically asks you for the money.

GREG: It's... it's teaching musicians to be assertive, really! Th-that's what it's doing!
BRETT: Ever heard the term "slippery slope", Greg?

1 view Like

#65. yourfriendfred.com

November 3, 2005

GREG: I found a new download site: YourFriendFred.com ... This guy Fred sends you whatever mp3s you want. B-but it's legal! See if you run into Fred ever, you buy him a beer.

GREG: A-and Fred promises that a PORTION of that beer goes directly to the artist. S-so everyone wins, see? H-ha ha! R-right, Brett?

BRETT: Yeah, idiot, if the artist WANTS to be paid in beer, and if "Fred" HAPPENS to run into them in the next 20 minutes.
GREG: It's POSSIBLE.

BRETT: Oh SURE! "Why, look who's here at Dempsey's! Kanye West! And the rotting corpse of Johnny Cash!"
GREG: I mean, I ALWAYS see that Fiery Furnaces dude at the bodega....

1 view Like

#66. totalabovemp3.com

November 4, 2005

GREG: OK, Brett, I found the music site for me: totalabovemp3.com. You can download anything you want. Anything.

GREG: There's links to donate to each artist, but if you don't want to... it's totally free.
BRETT: And you don't feel guilty like with the other illegal sites?

GREG: Nope. Because next to every song, they list the annual salary of both the musician and the president of the record label.

GREG: The truth has set me free, David Geffen!
BRETT: Neat, you can also donate to a fund that raises money to egg the offices of the RIAA....

1 view Like

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