How Do You Feel About Bootleg Concert Videos Online?

August 20, 2008

Recently, NME reported that the members of Kings of Leon are dismayed when people take bootleg videos at their concerts because then their new stuff then ends up online before the album's release. Guitarist Matthew Followill said:

It's difficult when you make a new record and you wanna play all the new songs live. But with technology these days, there'll be someone out there with a recorder and it kinda spoils it for us. You don't wanna play too many new songs because otherwise they'll be on YouTube or something
. . . If it was up to us we'd play all the new songs because they're so fun to play.

What do you think about bootleg concert videos? Do you watch them? Do you avoid them?

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9 Comments

Mangus65 4 years 34 weeks

I think bootleg video's are cool and only help promote bands. New bootlegs and old bootlegs both serve as marketing material. All bands should appreciate the free promotion bootlegs bring. Anybody have a good bootlegging camcorder they can suggest. Something someone could sneak into a concert without looking conspicuous? Peace, Mangus www.acdcbiography.com

rivrchild 4 years 38 weeks

I completely agree with you Advah.

Jude C 4 years 38 weeks

Most concert videos bore the hell out of me, anyway.

Advah 4 years 38 weeks

Sorry, but Kings of Leon are idiots. If they don't want people to hear their new songs, they shouldn't play them in concerts. If they do, then they obviously want people to hear them. I personally love bootlegs. As Bono once said, from the moment the person isn't making money out of fans by selling a poor quality show, then bands should be happy people want to download shows so they can hear more songs, more versions, and just hear more of the band. And if the bands are good live bands, then they shouldn't be worried about having their live material available without the extra production. :P

inertia 4 years 38 weeks

I've checked out some fan recordings but the vast majority of them weren't worth looking at or listening to. In a way, I think that's okay. I think artists should have the right to decide how their new material will be presented to the world so I was disappointed last year when someone leaked some live recordings of my favorite band's unreleased songs. However, the quality was so bad that almost no one listened and it didn't really make a difference. I make audio recordings of concerts myself, aiming for the highest sound quality I can get. I like the energy of live performances and believe that some songs sound better live than when they're made polished and fussy on CD. But I've never uploaded a new song before it was officially released. Periodically I go through my archives to find especially good recordings that I think really capture the energy, passion, and skill of the band at their very best, and if the song has been out for a while I'll upload it so fans who can't make it to concerts can enjoy a live version. Sometimes I'll also upload live-only cover songs which I know the band will never officially release. But I try to be careful not to interfere with the band's release schedule.

ilanac13 4 years 38 weeks

i think that it's just part of the technology age that we live in. you know that you're going to be able to find stuff online - if you look hard enough. you can't really stop it. i can understand how the artists get upset about it cause they want to be able to make money out of their art - but there's only so much that can be done - right?

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