First things first, yes I know pirating is against the law and I know it’s morally questionable. But that doesn’t stop me from being a mean ol’ pirate. And let’s be real, some of you know you’re out there hardcore stealing music from YouTube with those converter websites. So I’m gonna share with you folks why I pirate - even though I’m fully aware it's wrong.
I listen to music and watch films like crazy, like many other people. I specifically have a taste for all things indie, all things punk and all things vintage and alternative. Can’t forget my love of odd foreign films and anime too! In other words; shit that is wild expensive and not readily available. So in most cases I turn to piracy, not because I’m a shitty person, but because I’m a broke person simply doing something shitty. There is a difference. So when I am able to afford the movie, book or album; you better believe I drop the cash. But we don’t live a world where an average person can drop cash on recreational items one can live without, especially when you gotta make it rain on textbooks, rent, bills and other essentials that drain you dry. Even before I had some adult responsibilities , I was still a mean ol' pirate. Even when I was employed, I pirated. I mean aren’t poor people entitled to happiness? Watching films, anime and listening to music make me happy. Stealing music means I can metaphorically flip off overpaid musicians.
It’s no secret music is the most pirated entertainment media out there. And for good reason too. Everyone and their dead grandmother listens to music. And nobody has time to constantly purchase from ITunes, pay for a subscription to Spotify or any other bogus subscription based music feeds. Especially since they don’t really offer you anything special - just music. As I mentioned before YouTube has long been the man when it comes to stealing music because it's free. If you’ve been keeping up with behind the scenes of the tube, it’s been copyright claim nation as of late - claims being backed by big name musicians like Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, Trent Reznor and Drake. Note none of whom are starving musicians. Swift pulled a similar stunt with Spotify a while back and Trent Reznor; who previously openly supported pirating in concert, clearly flipped the script. If you argue it’s not about money, you’re wrong.
Long story short, Pirating is definitely wrong. Not because you’re taking money from an already wealthy person, but because it hurts the small people at the bottom. Like the many people who help in the recording studio; who help with special effects, those legitimately starving artists who have talent and and skipped paying rent to have quality recordings to put on Bandcamp for 99 cents. Pay for the shit you love when you can so you can support the important little people. Be a real fan to the small artists.
Excuse me while sail my pirate ship, I need to “review” an album called 1989.
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