What's wrong with public domain music?
this post was submitted on 19 Oct 2025
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Fuck AI
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I mean, if AI comes for elevator music that's just fine, we survived Muzak, but it's not gonna stop there.
Having dealt with Sabam before, I don't blame the stores for getting rid of that headache. On paper they defend artists, and they do, but they will also unscrupulously bill you for royalties for artists not represented by them. They're also a goddamn terror for any business that even has a radio playing in the office.
I'm all for artists getting their due, but Sabam can rot in hell.
I'd never even heard of Sabam before this. Good to know that there's yet another monolithically powerful entity fucking things up beyond most people's notice.
I can't believe they have shit like that in other countries. Had to deal with one where I'm from and the thing is you don't even get anything as an artist. There's vague assurances that they will protect your rights and "register your copyright" but in reality they just take your membership fees and fine money to pay the bigger "artists" and cultural associations (which like, fair enough I guess I just wish it wasn't so opaque and I'm almost certain they only fund musical productions the higher ups happen to be friends with).
It's basically a private organization benefiting from custom laws. Similar to the German radio and TV tax where they have the legal right to charge you for daring to exist in a society with public access media.
fuck, can't they just play old classic music or smth?
Right. It's more expensive than PD and CC music. So again, AI is just another kind of grift. As always...
Couldn't they just... not play music?
Music puts shoppers in a better mood so they spend more money. No, really.
I guess that's why I've never risen above the rank of lowly associate.