Comments for Free the Lyrics http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics News and opinions about the lyric/tab site crackdown Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:57:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 Comment on OLGA shuts down (again) by Chris http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/08/14/olga-shuts-down-again/#comment-194 Chris Wed, 16 Aug 2006 07:22:48 +0000 http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/08/14/olga-shuts-down-again/#comment-194 Basically, tab book sales have slowed down in the past few years and this is a last ditch effort by the industry to save themselves. Everyone's response to this should be to never buy a tab book again. Please spread the word. Again, this isn't to protect artists, it's to protect profits of the publishing companies. Basically, tab book sales have slowed down in the past few years and this is a last ditch effort by the industry to save themselves. Everyone’s response to this should be to never buy a tab book again.

Please spread the word. Again, this isn’t to protect artists, it’s to protect profits of the publishing companies.

]]> Comment on If someone was robbing your bank by Free the Lyrics » No news is good news http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/01/10/if-someone-was-robbing-your-bank/#comment-190 Free the Lyrics » No news is good news Sun, 02 Jul 2006 15:11:47 +0000 http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/01/10/if-someone-was-robbing-your-bank/#comment-190 [...] In an article from December (which I previously wrote about), there’s a quote from MPA president Lauren Keiser about all the email he received from people after making the MPA’s plans public. I’ve printed out a number of them, which I’ll show the board next month [...] […] In an article from December (which I previously wrote about), there’s a quote from MPA president Lauren Keiser about all the email he received from people after making the MPA’s plans public. I’ve printed out a number of them, which I’ll show the board next month […]

]]> Comment on MPA releases statement at their site by J F http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/04/15/mpa-releases-statement-at-their-site/#comment-56 J F Mon, 17 Apr 2006 01:29:43 +0000 http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/04/15/mpa-releases-statement-at-their-site/#comment-56 The last point is just a public relations ploy, they are not negotiating and are ignoring requests from sites to have legal licensing fees. The last point is just a public relations ploy, they are not negotiating and are ignoring requests from sites to have legal licensing fees.

]]> Comment on Tab sites shutting down by ADK http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2005/12/18/tab-sites-shutting-down/#comment-46 ADK Mon, 27 Feb 2006 04:45:06 +0000 http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2005/12/18/tab-sites-shutting-down/#comment-46 This is not only disappointing, but against the law as well. What I want to post on the internet is my business, and nothing is illegal if I am sharing my interpretation, giving proper credit, and not selling anything. Guitarists and other musicians will still find ways to share tabs no matter what. So the MPA's point is useless and stupid. When people tab, they do it as a tribute, not as a theft. I wouldn't tab an artist if I thought they were bad, and neither would you, so this can only be seen as respectable. Until then, we need to refuse to acknowledge this abuse from an association that is backed by huge record labels and music corporations who see music as dollars, not the art that it is. This is not only disappointing, but against the law as well. What I want to post on the internet is my business, and nothing is illegal if I am sharing my interpretation, giving proper credit, and not selling anything. Guitarists and other musicians will still find ways to share tabs no matter what. So the MPA’s point is useless and stupid. When people tab, they do it as a tribute, not as a theft. I wouldn’t tab an artist if I thought they were bad, and neither would you, so this can only be seen as respectable.

Until then, we need to refuse to acknowledge this abuse from an association that is backed by huge record labels and music corporations who see music as dollars, not the art that it is.

]]> Comment on The Print Music Publishing Industry by keith http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/02/02/the-print-music-publishing-industry/#comment-44 keith Thu, 16 Feb 2006 23:43:45 +0000 http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/02/02/the-print-music-publishing-industry/#comment-44 J F, I'm not sure, but there a couple different opinions on whether publishers will offer licensing to user transcribed tab sites. Darryl Ballantine offered his thoughts in a <a href="http://www.geekvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?p=163636#post163636" rel="nofollow">geek/talk thread</a>, <blockquote>4) Will this license also cover sheetmusic like guitar tabs No. We tried, but we're specifically prohibited from getting into that business because the publishers don't want us stepping on the sheet music business</blockquote> Brent D. Payne left a comment here <a href="http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/02/07/lyricvault/#comment-36" rel="nofollow">at my blog</a>, <blockquote>It should also be noted that one of the publishers I am speaking to is interested in licensing not only lyrics but tabs as well</blockquote> Vague, but since I don't have any inside info, that's all I know right now. J F,

I’m not sure, but there a couple different opinions on whether publishers will offer licensing to user transcribed tab sites.

Darryl Ballantine offered his thoughts in a geek/talk thread,

4) Will this license also cover sheetmusic like guitar tabs

No. We tried, but we’re specifically prohibited from getting into that business because the publishers don’t want us stepping on the sheet music business

Brent D. Payne left a comment here at my blog,

It should also be noted that one of the publishers I am speaking to is interested in licensing not only lyrics but tabs as well

Vague, but since I don’t have any inside info, that’s all I know right now.

]]> Comment on The Print Music Publishing Industry by J F http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/02/02/the-print-music-publishing-industry/#comment-43 J F Thu, 16 Feb 2006 16:47:59 +0000 http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/02/02/the-print-music-publishing-industry/#comment-43 Do you think there is any chance of a tab licensing solution? Do you think there is any chance of a tab licensing solution?

]]> Comment on LyricVault by Brent D. Payne http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/02/07/lyricvault/#comment-42 Brent D. Payne Thu, 16 Feb 2006 04:18:47 +0000 http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/02/07/lyricvault/#comment-42 Keith, As of today, February 15th, 2006 I have finally been indexed on 127 pages of the <a href="http://www.lyricvault.com" rel="nofollow">Lyric Vault</a> site. While my rankings on such terms as <a href="http://www.lyricvault.com/albums.php?artist=nickelback&album=all+the+right+reasons" rel="nofollow">Nickelback All the Right Reasons lyrics</a> is no where near the first results page, it is at least a start. I did do the reinclusion request as you mentioned (did it a few days ago) and that seemed to have solved the problem. P.S. There is quite a bit of heat in the kitchen in one of the newsgroups right now. LOL Keith,

As of today, February 15th, 2006 I have finally been indexed on 127 pages of the Lyric Vault site. While my rankings on such terms as Nickelback All the Right Reasons lyrics is no where near the first results page, it is at least a start.

I did do the reinclusion request as you mentioned (did it a few days ago) and that seemed to have solved the problem.

P.S. There is quite a bit of heat in the kitchen in one of the newsgroups right now. LOL

]]> Comment on LyricVault by keith http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/02/07/lyricvault/#comment-41 keith Wed, 15 Feb 2006 01:26:24 +0000 http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/02/07/lyricvault/#comment-41 Brent, Refer to Matt Cutts' blog (he's an employee of Google), where he posts how to go about being <a href="http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/reinclusion-request-howto/" rel="nofollow">reincluded in their search results</a>. Side note: Don't be confused by the similar layout between my site and his - we're not affiliated. We simply use the same template (at the moment) - <a href="http://beccary.com/goodies/wordpress-themes/" rel="nofollow">Almost Spring</a>. Brent,

Refer to Matt Cutts’ blog (he’s an employee of Google), where he posts how to go about being reincluded in their search results.

Side note: Don’t be confused by the similar layout between my site and his - we’re not affiliated. We simply use the same template (at the moment) - Almost Spring.

]]> Comment on LyricVault by Brent D. Payne http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/02/07/lyricvault/#comment-38 Brent D. Payne Sun, 12 Feb 2006 07:28:16 +0000 http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/02/07/lyricvault/#comment-38 I feel at this point my biggest problem with Google is that the previous owner of <a href="http://www.lyricvault.com" rel="nofollow">Lyric Vault</a> did some pretty crazy things. I have been getting a lot of feedback regarding his misguided practices and there are still links into my site from p0rnigraph1c sites (sorry didn't want the keyword associated with this page) and that doesn't help. I am trying to get the sites to remove the links but it is not real successful thus far. As for my practices, I have been as clean as a whistle. I don't use link farms, I don't exchange links, and I don't use hidden text, gateway pages, or any of that other deceptive stuff. I simply feel that the name I chose may be very well my biggest downfall at this point. (Feel like a scene from Romeo & Juliet, j/k.) If you or anyone else can provide me with feedback as to how I can notify Google that the previous owner was not me and get a clean slate with Google it would be really appreciated. Thanks again, Brent D. Payne CEO/Founder Lyric Vault I feel at this point my biggest problem with Google is that the previous owner of Lyric Vault did some pretty crazy things. I have been getting a lot of feedback regarding his misguided practices and there are still links into my site from p0rnigraph1c sites (sorry didn’t want the keyword associated with this page) and that doesn’t help. I am trying to get the sites to remove the links but it is not real successful thus far.

As for my practices, I have been as clean as a whistle. I don’t use link farms, I don’t exchange links, and I don’t use hidden text, gateway pages, or any of that other deceptive stuff. I simply feel that the name I chose may be very well my biggest downfall at this point. (Feel like a scene from Romeo & Juliet, j/k.)

If you or anyone else can provide me with feedback as to how I can notify Google that the previous owner was not me and get a clean slate with Google it would be really appreciated.

Thanks again,

Brent D. Payne
CEO/Founder
Lyric Vault

]]> Comment on LyricVault by keith http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/02/07/lyricvault/#comment-37 keith Sat, 11 Feb 2006 14:52:59 +0000 http://innovationlost.org/free-the-lyrics/2006/02/07/lyricvault/#comment-37 Brent, Thanks for leaving a comment. It's nice when information finds me (people leaving informative comments, as opposed to me having to seek information). I'm interested in a couple things you said. Since you're in the process of negotiating with publishers, things can go well, and things can go wrong. Either way, I hope you'll be sharing that information. Don't be bullied into non-disclosure agreements. The other thing is your site not being listed in Google. I don't know much about search engine optimization (SEO), but I do know that Google should at least recognize your site if there's even one inbound link that it's crawled. Unless of course you did something to breach their policies. I saw some of your comments around the net, such as <a href="http://googleblogg3r.blogspot.com/2006_01_28_googleblogg3r_archive.html" rel="nofollow">a blog</a> and <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/google-sitemaps/browse_thread/thread/9f2310002b6e95ee/7f8e3445364dc955" rel="nofollow">a newsgroup</a>, but that didn't really give me much information. Here are my thoughts. Did you do anything deceptive, such as cloaking? BMW Germany was <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02/06/bmw_removed/" rel="nofollow">delisted recently</a> because of this. Did you recently change your robots.txt file lately? I used the <a href="http://www.searchengineworld.com/cgi-bin/robotcheck.cgi" rel="nofollow">SearchEngineWorld robots.txt validator</a> on it, and it found a couple duplicate entries, stating <b>It is unknown how spiders will react to duplicates.</b> Back on the original topic of dealing with publishers. I hope your efforts pay off. My first impression of your site is that it's got a lot going for it. Good luck. Brent,

Thanks for leaving a comment. It’s nice when information finds me (people leaving informative comments, as opposed to me having to seek information).

I’m interested in a couple things you said.

Since you’re in the process of negotiating with publishers, things can go well, and things can go wrong. Either way, I hope you’ll be sharing that information. Don’t be bullied into non-disclosure agreements.

The other thing is your site not being listed in Google. I don’t know much about search engine optimization (SEO), but I do know that Google should at least recognize your site if there’s even one inbound link that it’s crawled. Unless of course you did something to breach their policies. I saw some of your comments around the net, such as a blog and a newsgroup, but that didn’t really give me much information. Here are my thoughts.

Did you do anything deceptive, such as cloaking? BMW Germany was delisted recently because of this.

Did you recently change your robots.txt file lately? I used the SearchEngineWorld robots.txt validator on it, and it found a couple duplicate entries, stating It is unknown how spiders will react to duplicates.

Back on the original topic of dealing with publishers. I hope your efforts pay off. My first impression of your site is that it’s got a lot going for it. Good luck.

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