I stumbled across this site which offers side-to-side comparisons of songs which sound similar.

It’s amazing how many there are already, with more likely to come. The similarities are sometimes a little too similar (and admitted by certain artists).

Some of these raise very complicated copyright issues:

• Was the similarity intentional?
• Is the similarity close enough to demand credit/royalties?
• How close is too close?

Some of these similarities border on the issues of electro producers, who make their music by using actual samples of existing music.

For many of these artists, licenses save them from getting sued by the original content owners, and it ensures the artists responsible for the original music get their due payments from the use.

For those unfamiliar with licensing in music, there are four different types. Each has their own specific use, and sometimes all are needed.

For example, an electro producer, using a sample in a song would require the Master Use Rights, in order to use the original recording within their track, Performing Rights to make it legal to play in public (radio, internet, etc.), and if the choice was made to make a video for the track Synchronization Rights are required to put the piece to video.

For the case of a musical similarity that turned out to be intentional, and was required to find rights, replace Master Use rights with Mechanical Rights, as the original recording isn’t used, but the piece still requires rights for re-recording.

It gets complicated very fast.

Many electro producers miss a great deal of their licenses before release, and require re-releases, or edited versions of their originals. The Avalanches went through this with their 2001 album Since I Left You, and saw slightly different versions released in different countries.

So what constitutes the need for these licenses? Where is the line drawn?

A good case would be to look at Green Day’s 2009 “21 Guns“, which draws heavily on several songs before if, and receives 3 mentions within 2 weeks on music similarity site That Song Sounds Like.

Both the verse and chorus draw so heavily on the songs mentioned, it comes close to being an electro mash-up.

Is the line drawn there? Where seemingly original content comes very shy of being a mash-up? How much leeway is given?

Those are for the courts to decide, but at some point, close is too close, and artists should take heed.

For example, here’s a fun video comparing Cat Stevens songs, and their similar counterparts:

What are your opinions? Where should the line be drawn?

Technorati Tags: Education, information, Licenses, Money, Music, Music Industry

Last night I made sure to watch the Munk debate, which posed the question, “[Is] Climate Change Mankind’s Defining Crisis, and [does it] Demand a Commensurate Response.”

On the Pro side we had the Canadian Green Party Leader, Elizabeth May, and a weekly columnist for the Guardian and author, George Monbiot. While the Con side was represented by climate change expert and organizer of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, Bjorn Lomborg, and the founder and chairman of the Global Warming Policy Foundation and ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Nigel Lawson.

Each of these people is very important to this debate, as they each represent a specific group. Elizabeth May represents the extremist-climate change activist, George Monbiot the realist-climate change activist, Bjorn Lomborg the realist-effective change activist, and Lord Nigel Lawson the extremist-capitalism activist. It’s important to note that last fact, as many people don’t realize Lord Nigel is responsible for privatizing many British sectors and deregulating financial sectors during his tenure in office, as well, note that his Global Warming Policy Foundation is an organization which promotes skepticism on global warming.

The topic was not focused entirely on what to do about climate change, but whether it exists, if something should be done, and to what extent.

Each of their arguments can be summed up into a few words:

The debate was a heated one, with Elizabeth May getting very angry, and yelling at the opposition (which is something she’s known for in parliament), which led to her microphone being cut off by the mixers. Yet, her voice could still be heard in the bleed from the other microphones. She was promptly given a “time out”, along with Mr. Lomborg, until she calmed down enough to participate in the debate again.

Elizabeth May and Bjorn Lomborg resorted to insults and degradation of character to assist their perspectives, while the British representatives conducted themselves in a profession debate manner, rarely resorting to these practices. George Monbiot came off very respectable, with checked facts, and first-hand experience to share, along with a very polite demeanor in respect to the debate.

Going into the debate the audience of 1100 people was asked to cast their votes on the resolution, voting 61-39%. Post-debate results came out as 53-47%, declaring that although the con side had gained 8% on their side, the resolution still favoured the pro.

Most people think that this is mankind’s defining crisis, and believe that our effort should be focused on overcoming it, and its effects.

What are your thoughts?

[Watch debate here]

Technorati Tags: Climate Change, Debate, Education, Munk, World

Well today’s Friday, the day everyone seems to look forward to in the week.

Working for the weekend, to our time away from vocation, and spend some time doing what we really want.

Now, there are two problems here.

The first being: that there should be some joy in the work you do. Accomplishing something, and especially contributing to society all have their benefits for the ego. Its likely that this has been forgotten in the day-to-day shuffling of the business world, but try to remember why you got into it in the first place.

The second: the weekend just isn’t long enough.

I know the second point goes against what I just said, but there’s a reason for it:

We all need time away from work, and with all the stresses that burden us, we deserve more.

How about a four day work week?

There has been a push for this in recent reporting. The CBC wrote this article detailing how the shortened week inevitably saves the company money, due to lowered energy costs of shutting down the plant on the extra day.

The state of Utah did a yearlong experiment with the four day work week. They have found amazing success, with saving costs for the company and gas for their employees, such as in the CBC article, but also found 82% of the workers preferred the new schedule.

While these two examples involve a longer work day, but shortened work week, the salaries stay the same [at 40 hours a week for standard full time, 4 days a week, 10 hour days].

This keeps you at work longer during the day, but you get the work week done much quicker, with a larger pay-off as well.

My belief is that this will lower stress, increase employee morale [which it has shown in examples], and will also spark the economy, with an extra day for people to go out and spend money on their free time.

Families could possibly improve, with a whole extra day for family time, and making it easy to plan trips without taking time off.

It’s shown to work, and its preferred by employees, while saving employers money, why hasn’t this been done sooner?

For more read this post at Bullion Bulls Canada.

Technorati Tags: Business, Happiness, information, Life, Money, Society, Success

Procrastination can take something you’re not looking forward to, and make it last even longer.

So why do we do it?

We know what we have to do, we know that if we don’t do it, it’ll just sit there, bugging us, until there’s little-to-no time to do it.

The other thing that can happen, is perhaps we’ll bug ourselves about it to the point that we just do it, to get it over with.

The key is to just get it over with. Take the initiative, without having to trick yourself, or using time as an excuse.

It probably won’t take half as long as we imagine, and it probably won’t be as bad as we’re dreading.

For example, something as simple as unloading the dishwasher can seem like the most daunting task anyone could ever think of. Yet, when we actually do it, we find it only takes a few minutes.

“Wow, that didn’t take that long and I feel great. Why the hell didn’t I do this sooner.” If you say you haven’t ever thought that, you’re lying.

Yet, it seems like its still a very difficult lesson to permanently learn from.

One great idea is to just start your amazingly difficult (but probably not that difficult) task. It’s most likely that once you start, the rhythm will pick up, and it’ll be done in no time.

It’s a lot more intuitive to accomplish your task, or even start it, rather than put effort into finding something else to distract yourself.

Just get it over with, you’ll feel a lot better once you have.

Technorati Tags: Common Sense, Happiness, Life, Procrastination, Success

It seems like they’re always after something else, no matter how great their life may already be.

Now, while it’s great to have drive and determination, thinking down about what you are, because it doesn’t match some particular dream you may have is only going to affect your confidence negatively.

The key is finding that fine line between being proud of what you are, and what you’ve accomplished, and still having the determination to push it even further.

Don’t take your accomplishments thus far for granted.

As I’m sure you know, what you are today took a long time to become, make sure to remember that.

Being happy with yourself can help with confidence, and actually improve the chances of accomplishing your dreams.

Don’t forget who you are, or you’ll miss out on who you want to be.

Technorati Tags: Drive, Happiness, Help, information, Life, Success

Why do we do these things? Why don’t we just take responsibility into our own hands, and have something to show for it?

Much of this can come down to trying to avoid failure: one will try to avoid responsibility to avoid the chance of an unfavourable outcome.

Yet, so much is lost, and so many opportunities shrugged off.

This is something that should be avoided in itself.

Take responsibility, and don’t be afraid to fail.

If failure, or the feeling of failure, comes from trying, it’s a lesson that’s been learned, and can help turn future responsibilities and endeavors into successes.

Another aspect of taking responsibility can be to aide in someone else’s responsibilities.

For example: if someone has a request on the internet, say via Aardvark, that you know can assist with, DO SO.

Just because someone else MAY do it, doesn’t mean that they will. You avoiding that responsibility to assist someone else may just end with that person being unassisted, because guaranteed, there’s several other people out there who are avoiding responsibility as well.

Don’t be afraid to take chances, what comes from them will most likely help you in the long run, lesson and success alike.

Technorati Tags: Ability, Happiness, Help, Life, Negativity, Responsibility, Success

On a day-to-day basis, it can become easier and easier to get into a routine. Now while this may be good for managing life, and all that it involves, it can also make it much harder to find new experience.

Essentially, its easy to get consumed by one’s own world.

The key is to find time, and work into routine, to break the routine on occasion.

While this may seem counter-intuitive, its essential: days turn to weeks, which turn to months, and so on, all the while maintaining routine, but not learning anything new.

Find a way out and do something for yourself.

Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn to play guitar, or perhaps you haven’t yet explored all your city has to offer, who knows what your break from routine can be, but one must find a way out, to make time to experience something new.

Any one person can find a handful of things that they’ve wanted to do, but have been too busy, or too stuck to a schedule.

Don’t let these experiences pass you by, and even if they will be there tomorrow: go now. There’s no reason to wait, they’re there for you to experience, no time like the present.

Don’t get lost in your own world, remember there’s a whole world outside of yours just waiting for you.

Technorati Tags: Happiness, Life, Own World, Society

People often find themselves at a crossroads, and have to decide which route they’re going to take, knowing full well, each with be life changing.

But people don’t realize they find themselves at these crossroads far more often then they’d care to know.

You see, because, there really is no stretch of the road that is life, that doesn’t have an alternate path, or option, everything has an affect on the greater outcome.

For example, say you decided to make eggs and bacon for breakfast one morning, instead of cereal. Upon getting ready for work, you notice that you’re several minutes later then you’d usually be. This made you late for your 8:30 bus, and although it meant you wouldn’t be late for work, you’d no longer be early, but where the real problem lies is a certain fate may have been on that bus.

Perhaps the bus had an ad for an art group you were interested in. You join the art group to meet the woman who would become your wife.

While this is an extreme example of what could happen, its exactly that: what could happen, and such a minor, seemingly insignificant thing, could sway your path in life quite a bit.

The point is to treat every moment as life changing. Pay attention to the details, and always try to make the right choice, because it could have a greater affect in the long run.

Don’t ever live on autopilot.

P.S. This is not a anti-bacon-and-eggs blog either, just make sure you have time to make them.

Technorati Tags: Happiness, information, Life, Society

Now I’m generalizing a bit with my title, but consider it for a moment.

Let’s take the music industry for example. People want a shift in the way they purchase and consume their music.

People have shown an extreme shift towards downloads and streaming, and they want it free.

Now, before I go any more in depth, this IS possible, this can sustain an industry, and it’ll probably improve it in the long run. Ads, etc.

Why don’t they give it to the people? Because it’s change, and it means they won’t make as much money, and because they can fight to keep their ways.

Or at least that’s what they think.

The people have spoken, however, and that ain’t gonna fly.

People are pirating music, and moving from CDs to streaming from YouTube, or other free streaming sites, there’s no stopping them. Yet, the music industry still tries to by suing them, and taking their videos off Youtube, or shortening them.

Is this a way to run a business? To not give the customers what they want, and when they find it somewhere else, and thrive on it, cut it off for them. All because you want to keep your precious CDs around, because they USED to make you too much money, the which you took from the artists who made the music you sold.

Let’s see:

1. Rape your employees (artists) – Check
2. Piss off your customers – Check
3. Cut off customers alternative venues – Check
4. Be way too conservative for a product targeted at young people – Check

What’s that? Your business is down? You’re losing money? Your laying off lots of people, because your absolutely retarded conservative business model isn’t sustainable?

YOU DON’T SAY?!

It doesn’t stop at the music industry, the movie industry is suffering from piracy.

Let’s look into that!

Going to the movies costs roughly about $12 a head.

That means a movie date costs about $30, after concessions [which most people sneak in now, because they're ridiculously expensive.]

Minimum wage where I’m from is about $9.50 an hour, which means someone would have to work for 3 hours to take someone to an hour and a half movie.

That’s value if I’ve ever heard it.

They say that its due to people not going to the movies any more, which they blame on piracy.

I blame it on shitty targeted movies, that aren’t worth watching in the first place, taking over the market. This is due to the fact that movie execs are willing to take the risk on an artsy film, or a film that doesn’t target a specific demographic, no matter how good the script is.

The literature industry seems to have saved the movie industry. Some of the biggest recent movies were based on literature, for example the latest Harry Potter was the biggest budget film of the summer [at $250,000,000], yet the only reason someone invested that money is because the books, and subsequent movies, were a remarkable success.

Bottom line: People aren’t going to pay a huge premium to watch the same movie they’ve seen a thousand times.

Popularity on movie recommendation sites tends to favour movies which were groundbreaking in their time. Movies that moved people, and that left you without any words. There’s not too many of these anymore. These are the movies people are downloading.

There’s plenty of businesses who are being way to conservative for the changing of times, and they’re failing, yet the bigwigs at the top can’t figure out why.

I just hope they go out of business to make way for people who actually know what the customer wants.

Technorati Tags: Common Sense, Idiots, Movie Industry, Music Industry, Success, Trends, What?

I know, its cliche, but too many people don’t do it, and end up dissatisfied.

To live a fulfilled life, one must make life fulfilling, and doing something you’re not passionate about is not fulfilling, no matter how much money is involved.

Too often have I met people, or known people, who follow a path due to their families pressure, or pressures of society.

It’s also amazing the amount of people going back to school. Much of this is to get ahead with their current endeavors, however, there’s still a great number who are just now realizing that they should follow their dreams.

It’s a shame when it happens late, because in a sense, much of that time before was wasted, where it could have been used to better natural abilities, and passions.

What I’m trying to say is that although what you want to do may not be as practical, money or otherwise, it’s more practical for one’s spirit and well-being.

One can be very rich, yet, not be happy. Those are the one’s who sold their dreams for what they thought would bring them happiness, but happiness is closely tied with self-worth.

Unless your passion is doing something that you don’t enjoy, a job can better be done by a person with passion for that field.

You’re selling yourself short by not taking advantage of what you love, too many lives have passed that way.

Don’t live for regrets, live for yourself and your passions.

Technorati Tags: Ability, Happiness, Life, Money, Success, Worth