Nope, Sedge is correct, streaming and downloading are the same thing; the file goes into a hidden temp directory when you stream it; it's still on your computer, if you know where to look. If you have Realplayer installed, which I don't recommend, you get a button on every YouTube video, so you can save it; it already downloaded as it played.

Downloading's becoming a dead issue, though, because who needs to fill up a hard drive when they have Spotify, or something like it? I agree that performers should give away music for free, because they must perforce compete with pirates and torrents, but you can also sell something better than an MP3, something that's authorized, that gives the user a better and more intimate experience, with graphics, lyrics or even a music video; the sky's the limit as to how creative you wanna get, you just need to give the engaged listener a reason to buy.

Things really haven't changed all that much; a fan who was willing to work at it a bit could always tape a song off the radio, given the necessary equipment and the will to wait. It's no different now with searches and torrents, and I'm sure some of the fun is in the hunt, but you don't really develop enough of a relationship with a particular piece of music until you've listened to it many times; enough for it to become a part of the soundtrack of your life, enough to want to really own it and to experience it in the best way possible.

I loved Brace & Cooper's I Know A Bird so much on first hearing, I streamed it again, streamed it a few more times, bought it as a download, listened to it some more and eventually bought the entire CD, You Don't Have To Like Them Both, after sampling the other tracks at Amazon. I have to think this process is probably pretty typical, though it's very rare these days for me to run right out and buy something on first hearing. (though I did with Gillian Welch's Revival, more recently, heh)

I can see where your coming from as web developers try and mask it with different file extensions, try prevent cache ( remove the file immediately after download ), even try and delivery it in parts, I have some methods too.

Streaming is the same as downloading, Data HAS to travel from Server to Us, no other way when talking digital!

Flash was the first I guess, using the plug in effectively created a 'statefull' connection to the server and us. These Mp3's through flash will commonly be .flv or .swf files. As above though you may not see these in your temp directory ( no cache) but with a better web browser that captures incomming data you will see the file.
HTML 5 now has the AUDIO and VIDEO tags, very cool and does the same natively, but a lot harder to hide the file.

We can also code flash to handle a propriety format , further hiding the tmp file, but all that is soon to go too.

Technically I could prove all this to you , I eat this stuff for breakfast : )

not trying to be a techno dork or "right", in case I read that way, just more on the subject of giving away for free as relates to streaming, something to be aware of kinda thing

Yea, you're right Sedge. It's good to be aware of this stuff. And no, you don't sound like a . Just concerned. That's a good thing.

Yes, I agree Sedge.

Stuart

brill Moomy : )




yayy I'm not invisible : ))



nice, I agree!

I tend to look at the internet, free streams and downloads, to be just like getting radio/airplay ?

If the music is wikid, I would want the full printed CD with cover and things, I hope that many still like the whole experience of the physical !

Radiohead did 3/4 of the mp3 free for download and to buy created some brill box sets / vinyl CDs etc , extra tracks not on the downloads. I like this idea!

I guess only real 'fans' would buy stuff anyway????

So (I recon) it's more about making great friends that like the tunes than any strategy of 'giving music away for free - or not' ?

and in a way, not making music for the goal of making money, ( I know that sounds daft on Taxi, here to try and get music into film and TV ha - but you get me ? )

(sorry) ramble ramble ...

Thanks for that bit of technical info Rob. I had no idea...obvious really, but I hadn't thought about it like that, I kinda thought that internet radio was like , well radio...!!!!

I produced a CD of instrumental music, that I consider to be commercially unviable as an album, I mean Tubular Bells was a while ago!! The only way I believe it will make any money, will be if someone hears a track and thinks it will work on film or T.V. The only way someone will hear a track is if I distribute it, as widely as possible to as many people as possible, this means giving it away for free.

The actual CD comes with a 20 page booklet of photos and writing to accompany each track, I decided to sell this at cost price, which is also effectively giving it away, but I want to get as many copies out as possible. The CD has been out for 4 months, I've had 200 downloads and sold 12 CD's, kind of says it all! Giving stuff away for free means more people get to hear it, which means more chance that it might get used.

Gary