(found between CD cases of Radiohead’s OK Computer and Nine Inch Nails’ The Fragile)

Is Napster stealing?
Mom says yes. Everything has a price. But what about the air we breathe? What about ideas?
OK fine. It’s stealing. I’ll admit that. But maybe stealing isn’t always wrong?

Like Robin Hood maybe. These record execs living in mansions while kids at school can’t afford to buy albums. They already have more money than anyone needs. More than they could spend in 100 lifetimes.

When I download Metallica I’m not stealing from Lars. I’m liberating data. Breaking down the walls between art and people.

The internet is like… a giant library. But instead of just books it’s EVERYTHING. Music and movies and ideas all floating in the digital ether, waiting to be grabbed. They want to lock it all up behind plastic cases and price tags .

Music should be FREE. Ideas should be FREE.

But what about smaller bands? The ones barely making rent? That’s different. They’re not the enemy. They’re like us - trying to make something real in a world of plastic.

Maybe that’s the answer:

• Steal from the rich (major labels, huge bands)

• Support the poor (indie bands, garage bands)

• Destroy the system that puts price tags on art

The suits say we’re killing music. But we’re just killing their control over it. Music survived before record labels. It’ll survive after.

Time to download that new Tool album. Sorry Maynard .