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April 13th, 2007

Wilco Discuss Album Leaks and File-sharing

Reported by Idolator, interviewed by X-Press Online, Glenn Kotche of Wilco explains his thoughts on their music being shared on P2P sites and the possible leak of their upcoming album. Here is an excerpt:

The album streamed on the web. Does it concern you that people will end up with copies of the album months before it is officially released?
Not at all. That is how things are going to be. If people are that excited about it that they are going to get the software, figure out how to record it and trade it amongst themselves then I think that is great, they are enthusiastic about it.
I have said it before, it’s absolutely true… I have met countless people at shows who have confessed that they have downloaded our records illegally - or burned copies instead of buying it - and then you see them at a show and they have bought tickets to the show and they are going to buy the older records or t-shirts or whatever. They are supporting the band and for me - and for all of us - it is way more important for the music to be heard than for us to get a little money off of every CD. The reason we make it is for people to enjoy it and for people to relate to it, so that doesn’t bother me at all. I think that people who resist that are kidding themselves and that is the way that it is going to be in the future.
It’s nice to hear a band embrace the technology and not kick against it or fear it.
It is not even the technology for me. You make music, you want people to hear it, you know? If they can’t afford it and want to check it out, I don’t care if they buy it or not.

Granted Wilco is at a level where they make unreal amounts of money from touring. In Denver, they will sell out the Fillmore which holds 3,600 people. Although still interesting to see their take on file-sharing, I had discussed this interview with Limbeck when they were just in town. Limbeck seem to share a similar sentiment, but their complaint was that in an industry where first week scans are absolutely crucial and could make or break their immediate future, file-sharing makes the band nervous. That and their concern is that as CD sales continue to decline and labels struggle more, bands like Limbeck won’t get the opportunity to work with Producers like Ed Rose where the band really feel like they benefited. Expect an interview with those guys soon. Still it is interesting to see what a band like Wilco thinks of all of this. 

Written by Virgil Dickerson