Actually this makes sense -- just look at the Lime Wire case. RIAA did all the heavy lifting, then Bengloff + A2IM + Merlin came riding in for scraps. 

I just searched through all the top 10 music tek blogz and none of them has ever dared to make a similar comparison to Google's or Facebook's top PR moron.

Why is that, I wonder?

No more inside stock intel if you do that, eh?

You cannot be serious here? I cannot name ONE publication that is on the RIAA's side besides BILLBOARD + they are hated by the public and that's worth $277,000 a year?  Where for Google every reporter is drooling over them the public images couldn't be more OPPOSITE.  

JL

Billboard days are numbered: 3,2,1...

Here's what they get paid $277,000 to say to the TENNESSEAN:

"Our legal efforts served as an essential educational tool: Fans know far more now about copyright laws and the legal consequences of stealing music than ever before. Before initiating lawsuits in 2003, only 35 percent of people knew file-sharing on P2P was illegal; afterward, awareness grew to 70 percent.

@ erik.  Just curious.  Do you know these two PR people you describe as "morons" or do you characterize all public relations people morons?  Or do you posit that all people who work at tech companies are morons?

Is the PR person representing your interests a moron? Do you have a PR person to represent your interests? Do you know what a PR person does?  Do you know what the clinical definition of the word moron is?

Yeah, I'm saying that bigotry is bigotry and to call someone a moron because they do public relations is pretty sad.

I am not a PR person but I have known many.  Some are morons but many are quite intelligent.  Sort of like musicians.  Some musicians are morons.

From where I am sitting spelling tech blogs tek blogz is pretty moronic.  I don't mean that as an insult, I just mean it is kind of juvenile.  First of all, you only save one letter.  And it makes you look like a poser trying to seem hip.

#occupy bigotry

1. They are morons because they equal public relations to automated machine operations. Good luck talking to a Google representative over e-mail. Oh. You can't. Why? Google can't be bothered to hire some people to do it. Is this good public relations? Of course not. It's "fuck you, we don't care, we are Google". But, hey, you can search for torrents if you like.

2. All PR people who believe in Facebook and sell it to their clients are morons. If you need me to explain you why, then you also equal public relations to automated machine operations. Have a good day at the mind spa.

3. PR people who pretent to believe in Facebook just to sell it to their clients are scammers.

4. It's tek blogz, not tech blogs, because they don't even know how to set up their own htaccess or make a custom WordPress installation without their admin folder hanging its ass out.

(Right now you don't want to accept it, but at some point in your life you will figure out the above. No need for payment. Just go on iTunes and buy some random indie artist's album for a few $.)

A2IM's staff work for independent labels.  Those who run indie labels often do so knowing they could make more money if they did something else for a living but they choose to do what they do because they're passionate about the music and artists they work with. 

I know Rich and Jim and while I'm sure it makes them uncomfortable that DMN has published their salaries (and for what?  what news was made with this item? to make some sideways reference about the salaries of other humans who have families and whose salaries don't impact Paul or the readers of DMN one bit?), I'd also bet that they'd say they do what they do at A2IM because they enjoy helping independent labels and the artists those labels invest in.

This is a worthless item posted by DMN for salacious purposes but I'll take it as an opportunity to suggest to you that if you run an indie label - member of A2IM or not - find out for yourself what makes the A2IM guys tick, what they have to offer.  They answer their own phones - there is no receptionist and no secretaries.  Call them and ask them for help on something pertaining to your independent label tomorrow.  Maybe Alden should make the 1st call considering how far off base he is with his comment above.

This is exactly why I read DMN. 

Really?!?!  OK...to each his own, I guess.  I still don't see how what any of them make matters to anyone other than their families but...keep at it, Paul.  LOL.

Believe me it matters to members and prospectives.  It's investigative journalism which ruffles feathers like yourself.

That's precisely the point, I suppose, @Vail, CO. 

I didn't read Paul's item as one lauding A2IM for the salaries they pay their team (which, you're correct, is relevant to their members and prospective members).

I didn't read Paul's piece that way since I felt he focused more on the salaries of the RIAA guys and was only using the A2IM salaries to jab at his intended "target".  I still feel that what the RIAA staff makes is of no value since their members are aware of how much they're paying their staff and the RIAA has no prospective members.

As an aside, I think you and I have a different definition of investigative journalism.  I don't count posting info taken from Guidestar.org (where all not for profit financial statements can be found) as either "investigative" or "journalism".

And I thought I was over-analytical.

HA! Great P.R. for A.2.I.M. wonder if they leaked this. Mr. Bengloff, indie champ sir.

 world clique

WOWzers!

And the salaries at Google? Apple? Amazon? Microsoft? Or the salaries and fees at EFF? The contnued blame and attack in posts regarding RIAA and the music industry seems to illustrate little more then the same old fashioned prejuduice and ignorance that glorifies war... another benefit to technology

EFF salaries are actually protected by NDA agreements. Kid you not.

Artists still make SHIT.

The RIAA represents a group that is riding the same sinking ship as the other old-school, traditional media institutions in this country which include print, film and music.  The door swings both ways, and it is lining up to hit these organizations in the ass, unless they re-position themselves so as to not continue to fight a losing battle.  The artists behind the works, and upon whose backs these corporate interests ride, are beginning to be called out, and those who make their livlihood from this industry need to decide on which side of the fence they stand.

Yeah people, which side of the fence are you going to stand?

Come stand on the side where Google+NSA  and Facebook+CIA are standing. You may like the fucking chains and handcuffs after a few tests. Come on over.

Brian Thompson

This is a disgrace.