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# My Response To “Why You Should Pay For Music.”
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/my-response-to-why-you-should-pay-for-music/
- Published: 2010-07-14T10:16:00.000Z
- Updated: 2010-07-14T10:16:00.000Z
- Description: (UPDATED) Near the end June, audio engineer Jon Sheldrick published a rather thoughtful, well-written essay titled "Why You Should Pay For Music." It was everywhere. Huffington Post. Sound Ctrl. Hell,. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2010/07/my-response-to-why-you-should-pay-fo
- Author: admin
- Tags: Music Think Tank, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 10:59

(UPDATED)

Near the end June, audio engineer **Jon Sheldrick** published a rather thoughtful, well-written essay titled "**[Why You Should Pay For Music](http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/why-you-should-pay-for-music.html?ref=hypebot.com)**." It was *everywhere*. [Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/modiba/why-you-should-pay-for-mu%5Fb%5F606430.html?ref=hypebot.com). [Sound Ctrl](http://www.soundctrl.com/blog/2010/06/09/guest-post-why-you-should-pay-for-music-by-jon-sheldrick/?ref=hypebot.com). Hell, I even republished it on our sister blog, [Music Think Tank](http://www.musicthinktank.com/?ref=hypebot.com). But, the essay left me **wanting more**. More what? Well, more thoughtful discussion of the issues that surround file-sharing and someone, my hope: the ever vigilant and critical MTT **comments section**, to deconstruct the moments of obfuscation that occur in the piece. After weighing out the merits of critiquing an essay that I, myself, published, **I decided** **to step up to the plate**:

[![Capture333](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/farm2-static-flickr-com/1111/4727014152_4fd1a9471a.jpg "Capture333")](http://www.flickr.com/photos/23641367@N08/4727014152/?ref=hypebot.com "Capture333 by Encrpyed
Memories, on Flickr")

> **[From The Essay](http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/on-file-sharing-are-you-smarter-than-a-12th-grader.html?ref=hypebot.com)**: "More than a decade later, we still identify with and are even **more fascinated by the plight** of these abstract corporations in the digital age than we are with the flesh-and-blood artists that they represent, now **why do you think that is**? Do you really think it is because “people don’t value music in a meaningful way” or are things **a little more complicated**? I would argue that they are more convoluted than Sheldrick leads us to believe. Has **music become devalued** to some degree, due to the social epidemic of file sharing and those born-digital who have embraced it? **Sure**. But, **\[fans\] have become disconnected \[from the value of music\] too**." [Read on](http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/on-file-sharing-are-you-smarter-than-a-12th-grader.html?ref=hypebot.com).