The anti-copyright collaborative project known as "The Droplift Project" was
released on July 28th. The album is a protest against the copyright restrictions on sampling,
along with the music industry in general. Through the prank of dropping the CD directly into
the shelves record stores across the country, we hope to raise awareness of fair use issues in
music, along with exposing some unsuspecting people to the wonderful world of audio
collage and the art of the sample.
Much more information, along with the complete album in mp3 or full uncompressed
format is available at the Droplift Project website : http://www.droplift.org
Official press release:
WHAT IS THE DROPLIFT PROJECT?
The idea came suddenly.
Manufacture our own CDs, go into chain stores, and leave them in the appropriate bins.
Down among the established pop hits and top 40 product, these CDs await those curious
few who take them to the counter.
Then what? Witness the confused faces of cashiers and customers alike when the CD does
not show up in the inventory. But they'll most likely make the sale, and the CD known only as
THE DROPLIFT PROJECT will go home with yet another customer. Mission
accomplished.
On the weekend of July 28th, 2000, all across the United States and Internationally, ordinary
citizens will walk into record stores with copies of THE DROPLIFT PROJECT hidden on
their person. They will proceed to leave them, well filed, in the stacks, and they will walk out.
Why do this? Surely the artists know they won't get any MONEY from this puzzling act.
Ah, but perhaps you are starting to understand already.
The artists on THE DROPLIFT PROJECT make and find recordings of the stuff we all hear
on radio, TV, in the news, on other CDs and tapes, and from everywhere around us. Then
we cut it all up and rearrange it to make new art, social commentary, parody, and
contemporary criticism.
It's nothing new. Artists have been making collages for the last hundred years. The world of
Fine Art has long recognized the artist's right to use found objects in a new context to make a
comment.
The world of music has been a little behind.
Record companies reject our works outright, wishing to avoid unpleasant harassment
lawsuits. CD Plants, acting on an RIAA mandate to curb piracy, are skittish about pressing
material that might contain recognizable samples. Even free music venues on the Internet
refuse to allow sample-based works.
Is it illegal? Depends on who you ask. We know we are protected by the First Amendment
and the Fair Use clause of the Copyright Act. Apparently the Music Industry does not follow
such things.
The atmosphere of stark panic about the creative reuse of material has really got us in a bind.
Our only recourse was to manufacture and distribute a disc on our own.
In this way we find ourselves in the awkward position of acting in a way that is seen by some
as criminal.
So here it is! Listen to it! We're not doing this for our health. This is a deliberate attempt not
only for our talents to be heard, but to encourage some discussion about artists' use of sound
samples in their work. If you like the disc, spread the word! Write an article, play it on your
radio show, make tapes for friends, and help us get it out there!
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