Waiting for the Sequel

Got a couple of articles here that are more or less related, and something from Bandcamp that's worth checking out. I'm always intrigued how people in the developing world, where Internet access is not as ubiquitous as in our own country share information and culture. It can be an interesting look through a prism into a world that never can quite existed in our own country. After all, our authorities pretend to be active in combating media piracy because of the stranglehold our media companies have over our culture. This is so much to the extend that we almost seem to have two or three competing cultures going on at the same time.

In the developing world, where basic needs such as clean water and a stable food supply are more of a struggle than in the United States, the people's there have come up with some creative adaptive techniques. 

Here, we've got a story about in Africa where there are markets where people take their USB drives and purchase pirated mp3's from dudes in the know and with the access. 

Down and Out in the Mp3 market

The second article goes into a bit more depth about historical "theft" has been to the evolution of music, including during the punk years when so much included a certain DYI aesthetic to doing things. Where would we be if people didn't make those little connections, joined the dots, and remixed the things of their past into something almost wholly new? What's more important to us as a people? Big media making more money, or artists truly being recognized for what they do to their audiences? If people aren't listening to you, or sharing you with your friends, how do you plan to make any sales? How do plan to be known?

Collateral Damage: Marcus Boon

Finally, the last article links up to a mix tape that is now working through Bandcamp for sale. When I've got the three bucks to spare, I might be picking this up. Music from Africa from all eras and genres can be pretty interesting. Again, its a bit of ourselves that is refracted through someone else's world view and traditions. Unlike the majority of Christian rock, its brilliant.

Of course, all this got started from a nice posting over on Boingboing.