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Domain Seizures Highlight Trouble With Being a Music Blogger

by Terrence O'Brien on December 15, 2010 at 12:15 PM

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Over Thanksgiving weekend, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seized 82 websites, most of which were shut down for selling counterfeit designer handbags and sunglasses. But caught up in the massive virtual raid were several music blogs, including OnSmash.com, RapGodFathers.com and rmx4u.com. The sites were shut down for posting copyrighted material without the permission of the content owner. But the case against these music sites isn't as cut and dry as it seems. The bloggers are in an awkward position. They're being attacked by the RIAA for posting leaked songs and videos, but often that content is being leaked to them directly by artists, producers and execs at record labels. Leaking material, especially in the hip hop world, has become a powerful and effective marketing tool.

Among those most shocked by the seizures were people inside the record industry itself. Corey Smyth, the manager of Lil Jon and Talib Kweli, told the New York Times, "The industry and my artists don't have any issues with most of these sites. When you're trying to get something out, this is where the kids go." Kevin Hofman, the owner of OnSmash.com is also confused by the situation. A former label marketing worker himself, he has positive relationships with the labels, speaks to Busta Rhymes on a regular basis, is followed by Kanye West on Twitter, and has been thanked by artists such as Rick Ross for helping to spread the word about their music. Yet, he still found himself in the cross-hairs of ICE and the RIAA. The seizure of these sites illustrates the strange world in which many successful music bloggers inhabit. In order to draw an audience, posting exclusive and leaked material is close to essential. Often, these leaks are coming straight from the labels and artists, who understand the power of such seemingly illicit posts to generate buzz about new albums and acts. But these leaks cannot be officially sanctioned, and can land these blogs in trouble with the law and the RIAA.

Tags: blog, blogs, ice, ImmigrationAndCustomsEnforcement, law, lawsuit, music, riaa, top, web

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