Burning Salsa by Jason Pacheco
For Christmas I gave friend a burned CD. I was only interested in giving him one song but I figured since I was making a CD might was well just make a full CD. So I made it and printed my play-list. (Making a CD without a play-list is right up there with drinking out of the carton on the inconsiderate scale) That night I handed the CD to my friend. He giggled upon looking at the cover. Without realizing it I had printed the title “Purchased Music”. Now my friend could have been laughing because maybe I was trying to look like I wasn’t cheap. More than likely he was probably laughing because I’m big advocate of buying music. Truth is I wasn’t trying to make a point it was accident but I wish I had. Actually I’m big advocate for buying salsa music. I feel that salsa music will only be kept alive if the small market we have supports it.
I went to Presidential Towers this past week in Chicago because Jimmy Bosch was in town promoting his new CD. He is by far and away my favorite salsa musician. There he was chilling at a small table selling his album “El Avion De La Salsa”. (Arguably the best salsa album this year.) He was giving autographs, taking pictures and jamming with the local band here and there. To me this is equivalent of having Prince promoting himself. In my mind he is a great musician with so much energy and talent I’m always torn between dancing or just watching in awe. Not a single person dared to bring a burned copy of his album to be autographed.
I don’t believe that burning music is burglary but I also don’t think it completely harmless. I do feel that burning music has its place and there are benefits. Especially when you consider this no mainstream salsa music station. Trading music and downloading music gives it chance to be exposed. Exposure it will never get on the Radio or MTV. Also salsa music goes so far back it’s hard to find music. The drawbacks are that unlike radio there is no reimbursement to the performing artist every time someone burns a song. So you have great performers and musicians reduced to begging people to buy their music.
Personally I believe that the majority of music you have should be purchased. I burn music and download music all the time. But anyone can tell you that more than 50% of the music I have has been paid for through legitimate means. That being said I have a lot of music or songs that I don’t listen. I have bought quite a few albums only to like a few cuts or none really appeal to me. For people who don’t have the budget to pay $10 to $15 for one song there are plenty of legal sites where you can buy song for $1. My dream is that Descarga.com will buy out Itunes and my life will be perfect.
The foundation of the salsa-dancing scene is the music. Without the music every other topic or point is mute. We can’t be inspired without it. We can’t move without it. We can’t argue about it. Until the day I see Jimmy Bosch, Angel Melendez and John Santos on MTV showing off their Bentleys I’m going to feel twinge of guilt when I receive or burn a song.
brought to you by www.lavozdemambo.com
For Christmas I gave friend a burned CD. I was only interested in giving him one song but I figured since I was making a CD might was well just make a full CD. So I made it and printed my play-list. (Making a CD without a play-list is right up there with drinking out of the carton on the inconsiderate scale) That night I handed the CD to my friend. He giggled upon looking at the cover. Without realizing it I had printed the title “Purchased Music”. Now my friend could have been laughing because maybe I was trying to look like I wasn’t cheap. More than likely he was probably laughing because I’m big advocate of buying music. Truth is I wasn’t trying to make a point it was accident but I wish I had. Actually I’m big advocate for buying salsa music. I feel that salsa music will only be kept alive if the small market we have supports it.
I went to Presidential Towers this past week in Chicago because Jimmy Bosch was in town promoting his new CD. He is by far and away my favorite salsa musician. There he was chilling at a small table selling his album “El Avion De La Salsa”. (Arguably the best salsa album this year.) He was giving autographs, taking pictures and jamming with the local band here and there. To me this is equivalent of having Prince promoting himself. In my mind he is a great musician with so much energy and talent I’m always torn between dancing or just watching in awe. Not a single person dared to bring a burned copy of his album to be autographed.
I don’t believe that burning music is burglary but I also don’t think it completely harmless. I do feel that burning music has its place and there are benefits. Especially when you consider this no mainstream salsa music station. Trading music and downloading music gives it chance to be exposed. Exposure it will never get on the Radio or MTV. Also salsa music goes so far back it’s hard to find music. The drawbacks are that unlike radio there is no reimbursement to the performing artist every time someone burns a song. So you have great performers and musicians reduced to begging people to buy their music.
Personally I believe that the majority of music you have should be purchased. I burn music and download music all the time. But anyone can tell you that more than 50% of the music I have has been paid for through legitimate means. That being said I have a lot of music or songs that I don’t listen. I have bought quite a few albums only to like a few cuts or none really appeal to me. For people who don’t have the budget to pay $10 to $15 for one song there are plenty of legal sites where you can buy song for $1. My dream is that Descarga.com will buy out Itunes and my life will be perfect.
The foundation of the salsa-dancing scene is the music. Without the music every other topic or point is mute. We can’t be inspired without it. We can’t move without it. We can’t argue about it. Until the day I see Jimmy Bosch, Angel Melendez and John Santos on MTV showing off their Bentleys I’m going to feel twinge of guilt when I receive or burn a song.
brought to you by www.lavozdemambo.com
