Are mp3s a good thing or bad thing for artists?

These days, one often reads articles about iTunes and other downloading services which cater to those who enjoy listening to their music on the ever growing number of miniature mp3 players. On the other hand, there is a surprising number of articles also about the intense struggles that the record companies are undergoing as they try to work in this new social and economic
reality. Finally, in conversations with my students, it is also discouraging to me to hear the number of students who openly brag about how they never pay for music.

       As Catholic artists, this is something of great concern. We already are making very little and are valiantly trying to put more and more dollars into our projects to try to compete with the recordings from the secular and evangelical Christian record companies in terms of quality. How can we get around the  perception that music is free and convert those who are stealing the music to use a legitimate service such as iTunes? Some would argue that this is not a concern for Catholic artists as their predominantly Christian audience would surely not steal. Well, I wouldn't be so sure, especially among the youth. My band, Critical Mass, recently did an event in the United States where we thought we would try to give out CDs on the honor system, collect email addresses and phone numbers, and trust the person to send us the money after we contacted them with our mailing address. Out of the dozens of CDs given out, to date, after over 4 months, we have received  payment for only 6 CDs. It is hard for me now not to be much more cautious in the future about trusting that Christians should be treated any differently from non-Christians.

       The first step for a Catholic artist is to get their music on the major music services such as iTunes. The best way to do this is to use www.Tunecore.com. For a small fee, any artist can place their music on iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster and musicnet. If it seems too technically difficult, find a computer savvy teen to help rip and upload your music. Now, if you are a listener, there are no excuses now not to buy legitimately. Go to a place like www.CatholicJukebox.com to grab the names of Catholic artists, and go to iTunes and search for the artists. Another possibility is to go to www.Catholic-MusicNetwork.com, where one can also download legitimate mp3s to support the artists.

     If you are part of the clergy, you can help by reminding the Catholic laity that downloading music without payment is stealing. You can also help out Catholic musicians by inviting them to perform at your parishes. Many artists rely on these sales and on performance fees to continue their ministry. Most parishes that have done this have been astonished at the impact on the audience of these singers. True, for a top artist, it could cost as much as $1000 to $7000 to get them (depending on travel arrangements), but if the concert/retreat becomes a parish event and the clergy actively encourages their parishioners into attending, I believe, based on our experience particularly in the United States, that they will respond. It astounds me how often an event is put on at a church and the only advertising allowed by the promoters is something in a church bulletin or a few posters in the halls.

      The time is ripe for such events to start happening all over our country as there have never been more Catholic artists who are willing to travel and tour.  Many of these artists can also bring a band together so that the performance is not simply the artist singing to a pre-recorded track. Once the laity have attended a concert, we have found that they are more inclined to support the artists rather than simply download/steal their works.

      Once the congregation sees that their parish is meeting their spiritual needs more than just for one hour on Sunday, I really believe that those weekly offerings will start to blossom. More importantly, listening to this music on their mp3 players will continue to imbue their minds with thought-provoking Catholicism and counteract the profane message that much of secular music promotes. †