There has been a really interesting dialogue going on recently, mainly regarding the “sharing” of music on the internet.

“Hey Jeremy.  This is so old.”

I know, but there is something brand new about this debate, at least from where I sit.

Jason Robert Brown, an incredible composer and equally talented as a singer, has long been someone who’s work I’ve admired.  Last summer, a few dear friends including Shane Snow, Sara-Jeanne Hosie, Alison MacDonald, Jennie Newman and Jonathan Winsby produced an excellent co-op of “Songs For a New World.”  JRB came to see the show and held an intimate concert after SFANW which was simply breathtaking.  The only thing more wonderful than hearing his music sung, is hearing him sing and play it himself.

JRB wrote a blog post recently, read it here, which outlines a twitter/email debate with a 15 year old regarding the sharing of his music online.  Musical Theatre kids (and sadly, professionals) have taken to websites that connect one another for the purposes of sharing digital copies of their sheet music.  It’s the same as using Napster (and now I’ve aged myself) to share digital music.

He also recently wrote a blog post on the New York Times’ site talking about the debate and why he’s waded into it.

The only thing I really learned was that composers and publishers are now facing the same challenges as recording artists and record companies.  I didn’t realize how widespread this all was.  But it was interesting to hear from an artist who was out there trying to protect his business right from his own computer, using his own words.  We’ve heard clips and sound bytes from singers, but it’s really the record executives and their army of lawyers who’ve been on the forefront of the digital download debate for the last decade.  We don’t feel sorry for them.  They’re loaded and probably always will be.  On the other hand, JRB says it perfectly in the Times post, “I write for the theater. It’s not a particularly reliable or consistent way to make a living, but I have found my way to a comfortable middle-class lifestyle by offering my work for sale in ways ancillary to public performances. It no longer makes sense to produce and sell CDs of my work – the expense of producing those recordings far exceeds the income earned in the current climate. Now sheet music is equally endangered.”

I’ll bet you figured Mr. Brown was living in a mansion built of gold and Tony awards.

For the record, of course I’ve downloaded music illegally.  Not in a very long while, however, because iTunes is a hell of a lot easier to use, doesn’t leave viruses on my computer and some of that cash is actually going to the creators of the music or movies I’m consuming.  I have not, however, downloaded or uploaded sheet music.

There are great sites I use to buy sheet music online and I adore the service!  It’s really cheap… like $4.00.  Some of my music I get from the reference section of the library, although I’m kinda feeling bad about that because I’m unsure it’s any different than grabbing it free online.  The copies cost money.  Does that count?  I dunno.

I do know that if I’m ever gifted enough to actually write a song people want to hear, I’ll want to be paid for my work.  It’s what we all deserve, artist or not.