i recently became aware of a particular blog, that "reviews" music, in particular, "jazz/rock", and they have a "review" of an album i made years ago with guitarist Neal Schon, which i helped to produce, and co-wrote most of the music on the CD. It is a double CD called "Electric World". The person who runs the blog is called "crimhead". It would be great, except that he offers links where he "shares" the music as free downloads, which as far as i know, is illegal.

http://jazzrockz.blogspot.com/

i encourage you to visit that site, and let him know what you think.

below is my letter to "crimhead", concerning what he is doing there:


hello crimhead,

one more thing: it was just pointed out to me that you are "sharing" this music for free with people. i didn't get it at first. So generous of you to "share" so freely what belongs to others! Because in fact half of most of the tunes on that Neal Schon album belong to me. So you are freely "sharing" my property with others. Would you mind telling me why you feel justified in doing that?

Somehow it feels wrong to me. I spent many many hours, weeks, and months of life energy and time working on that project, not to mention all the work i put in before then, to even be able to get to the point where i could do that kind of thing. That included hours and hours and years of practicing my instrument, for no pay, paying for lessons, and then years of playing in bands, writing and recording music, learning computer skills, etc etc etc.... not to mention the countless life-choices and sacrifices that come up when you choose to do music as your life work. It is not an easy row to hoe, if you are truly dedicated to it. Ask any true musician, they will tell you the same thing.

If we have no respect from listeners and fans for the sanctity of our life work, then how do you expect to continue to have quality music to appreciate? And in fact, it is already taking its toll. There is a proliferation, like a fungus, of prefab, cut-and-paste, push-button "music", assaulting our senses, hearts, and souls these days, with an ever lowering "ante". Real musicians are being forced into needle-in-a-haystack status by the sheer volume of soulless crap that's being released by "everyman" these days. No one is making any money, and musicians are going the way of the dinosaur. And folks like you are just helping it along.

Although i appreciate that you want to help turn people on to our music, i just don't understand how you can rationalize giving it away for free, with not even the slightest thought of the people who created it, and the sacrifices they have made in their life to bring it to you.

I encourage you to post this message, and i hope it will open up a dialogue with the "users" of this site. If we, the musicians, share our music with you, what are you willing to share in return? It's a give and take kind of world here. We all need to cooperate these days, in a way where we all win. Right now most of the musicians i know are just barely making it. Even people you might think are doing well. CD sales have plummeted, and yes we are glad to see unscrupulous record companies lose their power, but don't forget that all that music you love would not be there without the musicians. It's like going into someone's garden and walking out with their vegetables. I'm sure you wouldn't approve of that if it happened to you.

so, crimhead, please don't be "crimehead". it's a little too close. How can we work this out?

peace

Kit Walker