Thom Yorke on Piracy [x-post from r/Radiohead]

happyguy49 · 4 months

What is this Ray-dee-oh you speak of?

tdrules · 4 months

I think BBC 6Music is one of the few bearable radio stations, I'm sure there are even more Internet radio equivalents

Hack0201 · 4 months

That would be a legitimate point until you take a look at the top 100 music downloads on the pirate bay

people download because it's free.

Boycubpiglet · 4 months

I agree to an extent. Most radio stations abuse the same songs until they die, but at the same time I don't think that's the only reason for piracy. I do think that if radio stations licensed the full album at an equal or similar price and rotated through the entire album people would be more inclined to buy rather than demo download or whatever reason.

lelandrogers · 4 months

This quote is from around 2003, and it really rang true back then. But now we have things like pandora/slacker, and other ways to find great music.

SNAAAAAAAAAKE · 4 months

I can't really find anything against that. Every time I listen to the radio they are playing the same Green Day song for the 5th time that hour (or FFDP, or etc.). Nothing against Green Day, as I don't mind their earlier albums, but fuck, why can't they have any god damn variety?

Muzak__Fan · 4 months

[deleted]

DhA90 · 4 months

According to reddit people pirate because:

The companies they are stealing from are corrupt

the artists don't gain anything through their purchases

DRM

Some social/political issue of the day

Any other random excuse you guys can think up.

No one seems willing to admit that people pirate because they don't want to pay for things. It's theft and most everyone does it but to try and pretend there is some greater reason or moral behind why we steal is ludicrous.

ShyGuysOnStilts · 4 months

nah, most of the stuff can be bought online now. Also almost any CD has previews either on bands site or amazon etc so no need to buy what you dont like. dont forget tons of internet radio stations that play certain genres for free.

people pirate music because many dont want to pay for it and for some it is too expensive..

kmoneybts · 4 months

I'm pretty sure the top illegally downloaded artist read like: LMFAO, Katy Perry, Rihanna etc.

EvanMacIan · 4 months

Hey everyone! Thom Yorke said to just go ahead and pirate any music you want!

yurps · 4 months

Here's the reason people pirate: They like getting whatever they want easily without paying a dime.

undermisensi · 4 months

I'm not an anti-piracy fanatic but that's a pretty feeble justification for it.

Joke_Choke · 4 months

...is because they want access to good music and they want it for free. [FIXED]

a_bearded_man · 4 months

That's bullshit. People pirate because they can get lots of music for free. You can stream virtually any type of station you want - from indie to classic rock online (seriously, just check out the station websites) and Pandora lets you put together as many stations as you want.

$1 for a song that you will listen to 10+ times whenever you want is a good deal, but people don't want to pay that. Or $5 for an album. Yorke's assertion has no backing whatsoever, it's just upvoted because it lets people justify their actions. How can I prove that? Because people pirate classic rock albums - music from bands like Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Beatles, and Eric Clapton - bands which can easily be found playing on a radio station almost anywhere in the country.

Chodges145 · 4 months

People have more ways than ever to discover and buy "good music". You can stream millions of albums (or at least samples of albums) on many different online radio stations and video sites. Pirates don't lack "access", and neither do the people who decide to pay for their music.

birdovich · 4 months

I feel sorry for people who don't have access to good radio. It seems like a lot of redditors generalise radio as "the thing that plays ads and the same popular music over and over again."

This would be wrong.

Mr_Handsome · 4 months

Hot97, a radio station in ny, is known for this. they have been playing same songs for 1 year now,the same 10 songs

cboogie · 4 months

WFMU. That is all.

Omniabsence · 4 months

Radio has nothing to do with good music. If you want good music go buy the CD. If you want good, free music, this quite is far more accurate.

At any given time in my city, you can scan through the radio stations and around 50% of the time you'll get an advertisement.

[deleted] · 4 months

Vote Ron Paul - Thom Yorke

thetoneranger · 4 months

He's right, the radio is so shit.

EreTheWorldCrumbles · 4 months

Because music pirates don't have the internet (where you can legally access and purchase just about all the music you can dream of)?

user570 · 4 months

With all the technology we have, it amazes me that we haven't just found a way to give everyone access to all the music and charge them a flat rate split among the artists they listen to. If the big labels could just get off their high horses and agree to the legality of things like grooveshark, no one would have to pirate.

Madrical · 4 months

It's funny because Just is playing on the radio right now as I type.

Awesome track.

metatron5369 · 4 months

This is why I pay for SiriusXM.

SassyPantsMonster · 4 months

He may be on to something. I have definitely pirated less music since discovering Pandora. Listening to fresh music is awesome so long as it is good and appeals to your tastes.

NShinryu · 4 months

Not to mention that Radiohead allowed people to download their album in Rainbows for whatever price they wanted to pay (and they said that many paid full price, no doubt making at least as much as if they ran it through a record label)

They have also been known to leak their own songs via torrent before officially releasing them.

majnus · 4 months

I agree, radio is shit, but there is something like INTERNET RADIO, Digitally Imported for example, which is actually quite good.

tenthdimensional · 4 months

Thom hits the nail on the head, yet again. Piracy is not the problem within the music industry, artistic integrity is the problem. I'll continue to sample music however I choose and experience their masterpieces whenever they tour in my area.

BenStillerIsGay · 4 months

Sirius Xm has some legitimately great stations

troyyya · 4 months

if you're going to coachella week 2 lets meet up.

larsvondank · 4 months

Obviously its not 100% like that, but Mr. Yorke makes a valid point. Also, control over your playlists is something people want.

lovegov · 4 months

He hath spaken!

srslykindofadick · 4 months

Mayyyyyyyybe you could pretend that quote was accurate five years ago, but it's kind of hard to make it stick right now. There are many websites where one can listen to music for free. Spotify, youtube, lots of bands put their music up on myspace, soundcloud, or last.fm or something. Also there are online radio stations.

So what I'm saying is that that's a bad reason to pirate. I don't think that a good reason does exist, but if one does, this isn't it.

shaunsjohnson · 4 months

I agree. Thom Yorke is my demigod.

[deleted] · 4 months

I think the reason a lot of people pirate is because they can.

HoleInTheEarth · 4 months

I read that with one eye open.

SaikoGekido · 4 months

Clearchannel owns all of the rock and pop stations in Tampa, Florida. They each play 1 new song a month of their respective genre.

97.1 plays 90% Nirvana and Green Day
98 Rock play 90% Metallica
93.3 FLZ plays 90% club music

You have a 30 minute drive to work. Choose wisely.

asldkfououhe · 4 months

that doesn't sound like thom yorke? did he really say something that brutish

Rasta_mouse · 4 months

As someone who spends extensive hours and effort trying to compile playlists of music for a radio show, that hurts. :(

Loneytunes · 4 months

I was just bitching about this today. Seriously, get some real music on the radio that I haven't heard and I'd listen.

herenseti · 4 months

I pirate because I like the gold and the wenches.

kantorekB14 · 4 months

I used to pirate when I was poor and wanted free stuff, no other reason.

correip · 4 months

"Some people say I took Jonny's "h" from his name and put it into mine. That's funny as hell motherfucker I dare you not to laugh." ~ Thom Yorke

PythonPanther · 4 months

He truths so hard.

Kingsworth · 4 months

Good job Radiohead isn't on the radio often, otherwise we'd have hundreds more road accidents due to people falling asleep at the wheel.

Punkwasher · 4 months

"Hey, I know, I haven't listened to the radio in a bit!"

click

"We built this city..."

click

xDRUNKxAPACHEx · 4 months

he's from the radioheads you say

fuuuuctober · 4 months

If he thinks radio is shit then he should rename his band to Shithead. ;)

[deleted] · 4 months

People pirate because it's free.

That's it. No need to make the reason overly complex.

FairyInBoots · 4 months

I don't pirate at all. I use the internet just for finding and listening to bands that sound interesting, and if I like them, I do anything to find their CDs and buy them.

Yeah, I'm old-fashioned. But I still think it's better to have the CDs/ LPs.

pineapplepie4 · 4 months

Fucking Thom Yorke is the shit

zorospride · 4 months

Yes Thome Yorke, bad radio is the reason for piracy. You can go back to the 90s now.

krizutch · 4 months

[deleted]

Tezerel · 4 months

It has nothing to do with bad radio, people can listen to music on Youtube and Spotify for free, people like owning things.

ape_cage · 4 months

I think about how shitty the radio is when I hear Radiohead playing on it.

aweddle98 · 4 months

You guys are missing the point. It's Thom freaking Yorke. What he says is law.

maharito · 4 months

Open and shut case!

Ca1m_down · 4 months

Well, I dont think it's the radio. Although I appreciate the idea, less people would listen to the radio if the music was "good". People that like good music usually find the best way to listen to it. It used to be radio, but radio is no longer the best way to listen to good new music. I think it's more of a technology thing.

Dimitrisan · 4 months

I do buy audiobooks and occasionally music, but it drives me nuts when I hear some foreign song that I'd like to get a copy of and I can't find a place to download that song (itunes is far too interested in mainstream music for my taste), or it's a website that makes me buy the whole album. I want one song - learn how to sell it at a reasonable price or I'm going to pirate every time.

Schrikbarend · 4 months

I'm pretty jealous of the radio in the UK. I mean, BBC Radio 1 is amazing compared to the shyte they put on here in The Netherlands

julesasner-dt · 4 months

I only download music i hear off the radio or that people tell me about... So yeah.

transformers3 · 4 months

No, I think it's cause we're fucking lazy. I'll go buy your album if it's really good or if I'm a fan.

Steakers · 4 months

How many of you do what I do, and pay for music from the decent artists you like so as to support them, then pirate the stuff you are ashamed to like? Carly Rae Jepsen? Been stuck in my head for a week, but there's no fucking way I'm having that billed to my name. Lovely little pop song, but, you know...

XanII · 4 months

Classic 'no kidding'.

By far the best tool in my Car is the button the wheel that arrows me to surf through the stations really quick. i use it all the time so that the label is starting to fade.

I doubt people had this problem in the 70's 80'... or atleast not to this extent. i still remember the times i taped stuff on cassette from radio mind you.

lifeinaraindrop · 4 months

Humanity doesn't work that way however, and how unfortunate it is to realize this; we work in a system of which is easier to succumb to society and culture, or participate in one already exists, than it is to be different than society and culture, or to create it.

badshadow · 4 months

If the radio were any good, then maybe mix tapes would make a comeback.

tea_H_sea · 4 months

Stairway to Heaven and AC/DC, 15 times a day on every radio station in the world.

benshere · 4 months

Planet Rock

[deleted] · 4 months

My number of album downloads per month decreased significantly when I started listening to Triple J. Having good music to listen to at my fingertips is all I really want, and having my tax dollars pay for it rather than shitty commercial advertisers is pretty neat too.

colloquialism86 · 4 months

"because _____ is so shit" = Welcome to my regularly used phrases.

0Tree0 · 4 months

I think radio adverts are the worst and make me actually bleed, i cant stand them, and then i hear people singing along to jingles and it's worse. I can however listen to Mike Davies Punk show...at 2am in the morning..

somafp · 4 months

unless somafm.

retrofire · 4 months

Honestly I think pirating has pushed the music industry forward. Without pirating I doubt there would have been as much as an incentive to be innovative and create apps like Spotify/Rdio.

I personally love that I can listen to whatever I want for 10 bucks.

shin44 · 4 months

Too many ads not enough music.

Tombug · 4 months

The businessmen and the accountants control radio now. Why would you be surprised that they ruined radio when they have a long term record of plunder and destruction. Hell they trashed the whole country.

protell · 4 months

http://www.birp.fm/ each month i burn an mp3 cd of this for my car and listen to it. its about 150 different indy rock artists that i would otherwise most like have never heard of (at least not from the radio). i have discovered dozens of new artists this way and often time end up buying their music.

on the radio in my area, if its new its hip hop, and if its rock its usually something i've heard before. if you want fresh and rock, this is the way to go.

magnetic5ields · 4 months

He's quite right, but then 6music is quite good

Cookimonxxx · 4 months

my only problem with this post is that i cant upvote it more than once

theRAGE · 4 months

Incredibly brave post OP.

mnieto · 4 months

yeah that...... and because it's for free

Foley1 · 4 months

While this is likley a factor, the research I conducted 15 seconds ago shows the top 100 music downloads on the Pirate Bay. http://thepiratebay.se/top/101 1. Adele 2.Drake 3.Adele 4.David Guetta 5.Gotye 6.youtube top 100 music hits 2011 7.LMFAO 8.Coldplay Etc.

ButterThatBacon · 4 months

I can back Radiohead, but this statement isn't really groundbreaking or inspirational.

G0Slowly · 4 months

This man is my hero.

MFchimichanga · 4 months

Then buy the good music?

LouSpudol · 4 months

Yes Thom. Yes.

wellAlbidarned · 4 months

I pirate because of basic human instinct - if I don't have to pay for something, then why the fuck should I?

m1kepro · 4 months

It's funny, but he's not advocating piracy. He's taking a shot at the worst part of music.

HelpMeThink · 4 months

Uh, no one has mentioned Radio Paradise?

For shame, if it wasn't for that radio I doubt my knowledge of music would be this extensive.

MyL1ttlePwnys · 4 months

Did somebody say pirate radiohead? Space ghost had that covered over a decade ago...

http://www.gametrailers.com/user-movie/space-ghost-brings-the-lulz/300009

RavenMFD · 4 months

People pirate music that's on the radio as well.

rr_at_reddit · 4 months

I'm not quite sure, but strongly believe that the shitty music is more pirated than the good one.

Of course "shitty" vs. "good" is everyone's choice, but I think reddit will know what I mean.

Every demography has about the same ratio of people pirating / not pirating. Let's say it's x.y%.

How many people are today listening to Pink Floyd comparing to the number of people listening to "Gangsta fuck bitches man"-stuff?

EskimoRanger · 4 months

RINSE FM!

DepletionRegion · 4 months

Ironically enough, just turned on the radio and guess who was playing?

audiotechnica · 4 months

In other news, the sky is blue, water wet, and people idiots.

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