The Lost Joy of Music Piracy
Summary
The Lost Joy of Music Piracy surveys the rise and fall of private music trackers like What.CD and Oink, exploring how piracy shaped music discovery, distribution, and the shift to streaming. It features interviews with Rob Sheridan and others to illustrate the industry’s response, security considerations, and the evolving economics of music delivery. The piece reflects on how piracy influenced artist pay, streaming models, and the ongoing tension between access and compensation.