Music ownership in a marxist society?

[bietan jarrai]

This is something I've always wondered about, and I'd like to see it answered.

Say I'm a musician, and I put out an album, would I be able to sell that album in a marxist/socialist/whatever society? In theory, all property is abolished so...

I'm really confused here. Any help?

[Decommissioner]

I would assume it would be free in a communist society.

In a more transitional society (assuming theres money) I don't see why you wont be able to sell it as it is yours, and you didn't exploit anyone elses labor to produce it. But it's hard to say, in my ideal society I would say yes but you never know what people may decide in a future socialist society. There definately will not be giant labels making profit off of art, most artists may put out their records on their own time (like now) or they may even form organizations where they can put money towards promoting all artists in said organization/paying for studio time/tour money etc etc.

[bietan jarrai]

I would assume it would be free in a communist society.

In a more transitional society (assuming theres money) I don't see why you wont be able to sell it as it is yours, and you didn't exploit anyone elses labor to produce it. But it's hard to say, in my ideal society I would say yes but you never know what people may decide in a future socialist society. There definately will not be giant labels making profit off of art, most artists may put out their records on their own time (like now) or they may even form organizations where they can put money towards promoting all artists in said organization/paying for studio time/tour money etc etc.
Well my doubt is, I'd be asking for something that is mine (intellectual property) to be paid for, and nothing can be mine right? And that leads me to, how would concerts work either?
Obviously there would have to be a way for musicians to be able to live in a socialist society too (or else I'm screwed)

[Decommissioner]

Well my doubt is, I'd be asking for something that is mine (intellectual property) to be paid for, and nothing can be mine right? And that leads me to, how would concerts work either?
Obviously there would have to be a way for musicians to be able to live in a socialist society too (or else I'm screwed)

Well your music is also your personal property. You can choose to give it away or sell it. The only thing I think that would be weird in this scenerio is if someone copies your music and then tries to sell it. The thing that can work against that is credibility, no one wants the knockoff of the real thing (ie someone covering your music). IP for music could also fall under something like copyleft works for software, people are free to take your music and modify it, but still acknowledge you as the original creator of music.

Concerts are easy, just play anywhere. My band and bands that I know play in all kinds of places. For bigger events the community can organize them.

As far as money, that shouldn't be a concern. People right now play music whether they get paid to or not. In a communist society there wont be "starving artists" because everyone will be housed and fed, giving you all the time you need to devote to your art.

Of course this is my opinion, you may get different answers depending on what some people may envision a socialist society to be like and how something like music should fit into it.

[bietan jarrai]

That is true. But if things were to work that way, I'd still have to work a "regular" job, right? Actually, thinking twice, my music would benefit the community in a way that it could be considered a job, i guess. Someone should really develop this kind of thinking, entertainment in a socialist society or something.

[Leftsolidarity]

I'm a musican and we try to run our music and merch selling as friendly as possible. We sell our cds for like a dollar each just to cover the cost of production and that we can print off another batch of stuff. The shows we play are almost always free unless a band is touring then we cover a few bucks to cover their gas money. Ideally we and all the other bands that I deal with would do everything for free anyways.

[Decommissioner]

Well depends.

Personally I believe all should be provided for whether they work or not, but perhaps provide incentives to those who do work. Work (the "regular job" sort) should be issued to each individual according to how much labor is required from each individual to maintain society. I think it should be optional how much and when an individual decides to do this work. This will prevent work will not likely to be a labor of passion but serve necessary functions from becoming careers for people, while they can pursue things they are interested in full time.

An example of an incentive for someone who does labor could be something like having access to a public space where one can form a co-op record store or music studio or night club, micro-brewerie, whatever the person wants to do with a group of like minded individuals. This can help keep culture alive and have spaces that reflect the community they reside in.

As doing music as a "job," some may think otherwise but I find that iffy. Since ideally the average person will be able to live comfortably without working, and even if they do work they will not be required to do much of it, things like music can be done in free time. Art become a profession under capitalism because it is commodified, and in order for one to devote all their time to art, they have to sell it. With all needs provided for under communism, I feel art would flourish even more than ever since every person will be allowed to reach their fullest potential without worrying where their next meal will come from.

[bietan jarrai]

I'm a musican and we try to run our music and merch selling as friendly as possible. We sell our cds for like a dollar each just to cover the cost of production and that we can print off another batch of stuff. The shows we play are almost always free unless a band is touring then we cover a few bucks to cover their gas money. Ideally we and all the other bands that I deal with would do everything for free anyways.

I'm not really in that kind of band right now, I'm serving as a bassist/guitarist/various string instruments for a folk-rock/blues band. But I used to be in a folk-punk/comedy-punk/later more serious punk band and we did shows at friends' birthdays, others for free, and we gave our music for free.
Right now I'm also doing my own project (http://soundcloud.com/migasaguiar) which is more of an experiment than anything, but I do plan to take some steps further, and following that same scheme of free music, not planning to do any gigs though.
Besides that I'm starting a metal-fused-with-a-shitload-of-other-stuff kinda thing, where I'll be the bassist. Still waiting to see how this turns out.

Anyway, enough advertising myself; I think what I really meant with this question is: Can you function as a professional musician/artist in a socialist society?

[Leftsolidarity]

I feel art would flourish even more than ever since every person will be allowed to reach their fullest potential without worrying where their next meal will come from.

It sure does inspire some great songs though haha

[Leftsolidarity]

I'm not really in that kind of band right now, I'm serving as a bassist/guitarist/various string instruments for a folk-rock/blues band. But I used to be in a folk-punk/comedy-punk/later more serious punk band and we did shows at friends' birthdays, others for free, and we gave our music for free.
Right now I'm also doing my own project (http://soundcloud.com/migasaguiar) which is more of an experiment than anything, but I do plan to take some steps further, and following that same scheme of free music, not planning to do any gigs though.
Besides that I'm starting a metal-fused-with-a-shitload-of-other-stuff kinda thing, where I'll be the bassist. Still waiting to see how this turns out.

Anyway, enough advertising myself; I think what I really meant with this question is: Can you function as a professional musician/artist in a socialist society?


Haha well if you're advertising I might as well also. I'm the drummer for the band The Mill ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EihUHOvGl5E&feature=view_all&list=PL09BEDDACE1B08DF4&index=1 )

But idk if that would work and I don't think that would be ideal even for the musicans. I don't think music and culture should be seperated from working people like that.

[LevDavidovichBronstein]

To be honsest, this is a bit of a wild imagination here, but by the time we reach communism, CDs won't exist any more, everything will be mp3, online etc etc

So you could produce your music and let people download it for free or something :P

[Psy]

This is something I've always wondered about, and I'd like to see it answered.

Say I'm a musician, and I put out an album, would I be able to sell that album in a marxist/socialist/whatever society? In theory, all property is abolished so...

I'm really confused here. Any help?

Well in a Marxist society production would be on a use basis so you wouldn't really need to sell music to accumulate capital and the studio that puts out the album also would no be doing to accumulate capital.