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Reverend talks file-sharing
By CMU Editorial | Published on Monday 28 September 2009
Well, it was only a matter of time. Jon McClure of Reverend And The Makers has laid into the file-sharing debate, and he’s not impressed with Lily.
As previously reported, the Featured Artists’ Coalition, originally against the government’s latest proposals to suspend the net connections of persistent file-sharers, last week altered its official line so that it is now in support of a “graduated response” to file-sharing, though with ‘restricted’ rather than ‘suspended’ net access as the ultimate sanction.
The change in heart came after Lily Allen spoke out against the FAC’s original statement on the matter, and encouraged other artists to go public with their opinion on the file-sharing issue. That all led to a meeting of FAC members in London last week which resulted in the new statement.
But McClure reckons – echoing some of the FAC’s original viewpoint – that the fight against file-sharing is unwinnable, and that artists and record companies should get over it and find new ways to make the record business pay. He also wants artists to channel their lobbying efforts into other political issues than one that is so closely linked to their own pay cheques.
Look, here’s what the Reverend said, according to the Mirror: “It’s complete and utter bullshit because I don’t see how millionaire rock stars are in any position to be lecturing kids on stealing their music. I think downloading music is a fact of life, and I think the people that are supporting this [some sort of three-strike programme], like Take That and Lily Allen, that take the money from the kids when they’re playing in stadiums, it’s just an insult really”.
He continued: “If they really want to save the world, or whatever, there are issues that are far more important. It’s a crying shame that it’s only kids stealing music on the internet that kind of brings these people out. The bankers are taking the Michael, the MPs are taking the mick, Afghanistan, Iraq, melting of the Earth, you know what I’m saying. It’s a sad state of affairs if that’s the only thing that gets them excited, if you ask me”.
He concluded: “Rock and roll is about rebellion, so how can you start acting like people that sit at home and say: ‘Don’t do that kids’?”
