CDs are slowly but surely joining the ranks of other obsolete media as more people turn to digital downloading to get their music fix. While downloading is a fast and convenient method of music acquisition it is not always legal, especially on college campuses where file sharing runs rampant. Today’s pirates do not come with ships and eye patches, but rather with laptops and Limewire. If you are one of the many who do not worry about the possible legal implications of illegal filesharing, do you ever feel a twinge of guilt when it comes to cheating your favorite, hard-working artists out of their rightful share of the profits? Ever wonder if there is a way for you to monetarily thank those artists without feeding the corporate record label conglomerate machine. Thanks to DearRockers.org, now there is.
DearRockers.org was started by Darren Barefoot, a music lover who felt the need to repay certain artists for their music, music he received through means other than direct purchase. As such, DearRockers.org was founded. Taking a few ideas from the Web site Post Secret (postsecret.blogspot.com), in which people write and decorate anonymous letters detailing an intimate secret that are then posted online, the creator of After this letter is written, Barefoot asks users of the site to scan or photograph the letter, sending a copy of it to be posted online at DearRockers.org. Next, site visitors are instructed to take the hard copy of the letter and mail it, along with $5 in cash, to the band or artist mentioned in the letter. It’s as easy as that; the band receives money for their product, the site receives decorative photos to post, and the user receives an alleviation of guilt for consuming stolen media (even if the law doesn’t quite agree that five bucks equals a total alleviation of legal responsibility).
Of any possible amount that could be sent in payment for music, why five dollars? Barefoot explains the reasoning behind this amount on the Rarely Asked Questions (RAQ) section of the Web site: “When you buy songs from the iTunes music store, artists make 8 to 14 cents per song, depending on their contract. So $5 represents about three albums worth of income for an artist. I encourage you to support musicians in other ways, like attending their live shows, but five bucks seems like a good place to start” writes Barefoot.
Five dollars may be as good a place to start as any, and the site has no shortage of supporters.
“I think it’s a good thing for people who feel like they need to give something back to the artists,” says Erin Miklas, an Auburn resident and music lover.
While the site has many supporters, it also has its share of detractors who question the site’s necessity.
“I see [DearRockers.org] as being a great resource for indie bands, the bands that are working hard and struggling to get by, but I wouldn’t use it to send money to the big name, mainstream bands,” says Kelly Williams, a long time supporter of the independent music scene and Auburn resident. “If a band is already grossing millions of dollars in spite of illegal downloading and file sharing, I don’t feel as though they need the additional revenue.”
Whether for or against, Dear Rockers is a unique site that is drawing attention. Visit the site if you are interested in seeing some of the full color, and some funny, photos of letters already written by music fans around the world. Any questions can be directed to the site maintainer at .
As Barefoot bids all visitors to the site, “Enjoy your new-found musical karma, and keep on rockin.’ ”