The Grateful Dead, poster boys for fan trading of live recordings for 30+ years, have changed the recording distribution policy on archive.org.
archive.org hosts live recordings (often in lossless format) of bands that allow live recording and have given their permission. For "years" The Grateful Dead have allowed their fan's recordings to be distributed via archive.org. Their "taping and trading policy" didn't change when easy cassette tape recording came out, when CDrs and DAT became popular, nor when the internet allowed for easy distribution.
The Grateful Dead archive.org policy.
The Internet Archive has worked with tapers, tape traders, funders, admins, and over 1000 bands to build a great non-commercial music library that is freely accessible. Technically and policy-wise, it has been invigorating as you can probably appreciate. We have made changes in the past and we will make changes again.Following the policies of the Grateful Dead and the Dead communities we have provided non-commercial access to thousands of great concerts. Based on discussions with many involved, the Internet Archive has been asked to change how the Grateful Dead concert recordings are being distributed on the Archive site for the time being. The full collection will remain safe in the Archive for preservation purposes.
Here is the plan:
Audience recordings are available in streaming format (m3u).
Soundboard recordings are not available.
Reading the comments on the post, it's interesting how quickly the fans turn. For 30+ years The Dead have allow fans complete free reign to do as they wish at gigs and with the recordings of gigs. That policy has very likely not changed, but the policy of distribution of those recordings by the archive.org has. But there are calls for a boycott of the band. Many do argue though that archive.org's donations have skyrocketed simply due to their hosting of The Dead recordings. Many are asking for their money back.
Personally I've yet to get into The Grateful Dead. I thought that it was likely I wouldn't like them. However the absolutely frighteningly huge fan base and constant exposure to their name on the internet got me thinking. So not that long ago I downloaded a gig from archive.org, and they're not too bad. I'm interested enough that I'm going to attempt to listen to an album. Maybe then I'll buy some music.
Many argue the band would have "died" decades ago if it wasn't for them allowing fan taping and trading and it's easy to believe. But impossible to prove.
Lets hope this latest move isn't what the rumours state: a change of band policy by surviving family members (and thus copyright holders) in the hope of securing money making opportunities.
Lets also hope that if The Dead do turn these live recordings into a money making exercise like Phish have done with livephish.com, that they do so with their own recordings, and don't attempt to sell the recording and archiving efforts of 30 years of fans.
Nothing could kill off a fan bass quicker.
Most interesting in this event is the demonstration that a band can still have some control over their music and copyright, even after 30+ years of giving away their music.
The phone number was an 03 regular looking home phone number. So I call back with the work phone.
It was a telemarketer. "Welcome to the winners hotline of DC Marketing. You have already won a price of value of AT LEAST $40. Call you have to do is call [190 number] to generate your winners code. Calls are charged at only $2.97 a minute!"
Well, isn't that just pure evil?
I'd let you know the phone number but I'm worried in 10 years time some poor bastard will be past on that phone number and they'll be stamped by this post, so I won't.