Gizmodo: "Send the RIAA a Message - Boycott Them In March"

[DudeAsInCool]

Putting Our Money Where Our Mouths Are: Boycott the RIAA in March

Alright, we've been following the RIAA's increasingly frequent affronts to privacy and free speech lately, and it's about time we stopped merely bitching and moaning and did something about it. The RIAA has the power to shift public policy and to alter the direction of technology and the Internet for one reason and one reason alone: it's totally loaded. Without their millions of dollars to throw at lawyers, the RIAA is toothless. They get their money from us, the consumers, and if we don't like the way they're behaving, we can let them know with our wallets.

With that in mind, Gizmodo is declaring the month of March Boycott the RIAA month. We want to get the word out to as many people as humanly possible that we can all send a message by refusing to buy any album put out by an RIAA label. Am I saying you should start pirating music? Not at all. You can continue to support the artists you enjoy and respect in a number of ways.

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[Kooperman]

Last one I bought new was in 2003...Say You Will, by Fleetwood Mac, and I had to take it back several times before I found a copy that would play in my computer. Thank you, copyright crap....

[rainbowdemon]

I've not purchased an RIAA product in about 5 years.

[method77]

7 years or something since they got money from me

[slum_goddess]

use RIAA Radar. i too haven't bought anything they have in ages.

[DudeAsInCool]

how social media could fight the riaa

Gizmodo has posted an “Anti-RIAA Manifesto” and they have also declared March the “RIAA Boycott” month.

Gizmodo is doing something to fight back, and I admire that they have taken a public stance against the RIAA and have decided to do something about the problem. The battle that they intend to put up can’t be fought alone though, they need the help of their blog audience and the help of social media audiences.

The Gizmodo Anti-RIAA Manifesto hit Digg’s front page just over 3 hours ago (at the time of writing this), but it hasn’t received the amount of attention that one would believe Digg users would give this type of story. At the time of writing this, the story has only gathered 700 Diggs. I think social media communities should give more support to Gizmodo, and help stop the RIAA dead in their tracks.

What can you do to help?

1) First and foremost, participate in the boycott. Do not buy anything that would give the RIAA even a penny somewhere down the line. Not only that, but also try showing support for the unsigned and independent artists, those who aren’t tied down by the RIAA.

2) Spread the word. Flex your social media muscles on this topic. Bookmark all that you can in regards to how the RIAA should and can be stopped. This is probably the best way that any social media community can help, as social media communities have the power to spread news like wild fire, why not make it count for something?

3) As Gizmodo has stated in their manifesto, don’t stop trying. March may be the month of boycotting the RIAA (as declared by Gizmodo anyways), but it could be more benifical to stop buying from the major record labels all together for any length of time. If you think the RIAA is in the wrong, then do something about it.

This is just a thought, I admire Gizmodo for taking a stance against the RIAA and will be participating in the boycott. I’ll also try keeping the Netscape community up to date on their efforts by submitting their content whenever possible.

Source: Reverb