Axl Rose 1, Internet 0

[Originally posted August 28, 2008]

According to the AP, the blogger who leaked nine new Guns N' Roses songs on his blog back in June has been arrested. From the article:

A blogger suspected of streaming songs from the unreleased Guns N' Roses album "Chinese Democracy" on his Web site was arrested Wednesday and appeared in court, where his bail was set at $10,000.

FBI agents arrested 27-year-old Kevin Cogill on Wednesday morning on suspicion of violating federal copyright laws. Cogill appeared in court in the afternoon wearing a T-shirt; his girlfriend sat court and afterward said, "Rally the troops," but declined further comment.

Federal authorities say Cogill posted nine unreleased Guns N' Roses songs on his Web site in June. The songs were later removed.

In later posts, Cogill wrote that the FBI had questioned him and asked his readers if any of them knew a good attorney. He was represented Wednesday by a federal public defender.

According to an arrest affidavit, Cogill admitted to agents that he posted the songs on his Web site. Prosecutors said Wednesday the leak could result in a "significant" financial loss for the band.

“Significant” financial damage for the band? If Axl Rose and Co. were worried about financial damage, they would’ve released the damn thing years ago. At this point, nobody is going to be swayed to buy or not buy the album based on a few songs posted online (that were removed later, I might add).

Using the internet is a large part of music marketing these days, with many high-profile albums being streamed for free via MySpace and other similar outlets the week prior to release. Although these tactics may be more beneficial to smaller, lesser known bands, Guns N' Roses should be glad that people still care at all—especially after Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum were no longer on board.

Axl Rose should be thanking Cogill for adding to the Chinese Democracy hype when most people are over the delay drama. If they only had forced him to remove the songs, that would've made enough of a ripple--The songs really do exist!!--to give the band some press.

Did Cogill break the law? I guess. Does he deserve to be arrested? I think not. Most bands make the majority of their money touring, endorsements and in song licensing and placement, NOT on album sales. Guns N' Roses are not excluded from this. If I had numbers of how many people were able to stream the songs Cogill posted, I'd have a better idea of the so-called damage. But, seeing as the songs were only up for a short amount of time, I doubt it will have that great of an impact on the throngs of GN'R fanatics, 80's metalheads, burnt out rockers, ironic indie kids and just curious music listeners in general from hitting up Best Buy or iTunes the day the album hits stores.

Really, it just comes out to the fact that Axl Rose needs to get his everloving shit together and put out the long-awaited album. This wouldn't even be an issue if people didn't care. They do. He might as well give them what they want, and, after such a lengthty and somewhat periled hiatus, be lucky there's still an audience at all.

Besides, I know a few people who wouldn't mind a free Dr. Pepper.