Aimee Deep: blogamatrix

Slashdot via Greplaw reports on the interviewing of the 18 year old daughter of the founder of Madster, Johnny Deep, now Blog Pin up girl Aimee Deep. One word strikes the Blog Herald on her blog: FLESH.

But never one to judge a book by its covers, Aimee blogs on the music industry with the depth of a 30 year old. Her site can be found at http://www.musicpundit.com

The interview from and Mikael Pawlo.
# Who is Aimee Deep?

I’m 18 and a Senior at Cohoes Public High School in Cohoes, New York. When I graduate, I hope to start a publishing company so that I can – yes, you heard right – make money from selling copyrighted art. And of course, I hope to fall in love. Any takers?

I’m looking for Mr. (copy)Right.

# What happened to Madeleine?

Madeline Aimee Deep — I was 15 when Aimster first came out. I may look different, but I still feel the same on the inside.

# What is the Madster / Aimster law suit really about?

Personally, for me, it’s about who controls the Internet – international conglomerates with money and power, or the rest of us with creativity and innovation — and strong privacy.

# The oral arguments are due June 4th, why should Greplaw readers go to Chicago to attend?

To get a kiss from me? And to see and hear a little piece of history in the making. The Seventh Circuit is quite wonderful – Judges Posner, Easterbrook, Flaum, Evans, the whole bench really, Ripple, Rovner, Mannion – and of course, Diane Wood. You go, girl. These are stars whose fame lasts more than 15 minutes.

# How has the proceedings affected the development of Madster?

I think I’m better for it. I’ve learned a lot about the law, and how the world works. And I’ve learned from my Dad that you never give up.

# How has the proceedings affected you personally?

Oh sorry, I thought you already asked that question. It is all about me, you know.

# Right. When the EFF filed an amicus brief, you bursted out ‘coolest thing ever!’ What is so great about this and why?

Uh, it’s the EFF, for God’s sake! They’re only like the greatest, coolest civil liberties group on the whole planet. Have you sent your check to them lately?

# If a Greplaw reader wants to support you and your father’s cause – what should he or she do?

Donate to the EFF. Take me shopping. Speak up, stand up for your rights.

# I find Aimster interesting since it at the time piggy-backs on Instant Messaging services in ways its creators did not think of or intend and makes file-sharing very easy to “ordinary people” (non-geeks) in ways the music business did not care much for, thus combining two worlds into something new and exciting. That much said, do you think there is a moral issue in respect of the piggy-backing or the file-sharing?

There is always a moral issue in every decision I make. But I try – very hard – to make the least worst choice in an imperfect world.

# What do you want to achieve with Musicpundit?

I want to give a voice to artists. I want artists to know that they don’t have to sell their souls to Big Media, that a better day is coming. Artist unbound.

# In your blog Musicpundit you give me the impression that you are not entirely satisfied with the current copyright regime. What kind of changes in current copyright law would you like to see?

I don’t want any changes to copyright law. I only fear an encroaching interpretation of copyright law that the framers never intended. I want the protections of copyright law to apply to all of us equally, not just to a few.

# You were not too impressed with Madonna’s tactics (flooding peer-to-peer networks with fake MP3s) when releasing her new album American Life. You gave a formula for music sales:
‘More file-sharing equals more sales Less file-sharing equals less sales. Oh, and insulting your fans with obscenities? That’s just really bad business.’
Do you really know that this is true? Should Madonna have released the entire album as free MP3- and Ogg Vorbis-files at her homepage to obtain revenues?

Yes, unequivocally, Madonna should have released much if not all of her album for free. Like Radiohead just did. The formula can’t be more simple or more obvious. More filesharing equals more sales. Artist unbound.

And insulting your fans? Come on, that’s just arrogant and self-destructive. I’ve loved Madonna since I was about 6 years old, but hey, she deserves what she got.

# What kind of other tactics do you think Madonna should use in the future to boost revenues and to avoid insulting her fans?

Just look at what’s already working for indie labels – some of the indie labels are having great results, as are some indie studios. Indies have never done this good. Merchandising. collateral products, cross-promotion. guerilla marketing. BUT DON’T WASTE MILLIONS ON MARKETING STUPID. (Not you, personally, Mr. Greplaw editor. You could use a little more marketing. Greplaw on MTV.)

# Greplaw on MTV…that would really be someth… Uh, well, I get the impression that you want to improve conditions for artists. How is Madster helping artists?

We had the coolest service ever for promoting new artists — a buddy recommendation service that was amazingly good at spotting new artists and new art, months before Big Media had a clue. Of course, it’s shut down now by, guess who, Big Media. But we’ll be back. Stay tuned.

# How can the situation for artists otherwise be improved?

Hey, the situation for artists has been very bleak for the last 50 years, dominated by international conglomerates run by soul-less gangsters. It’s getting radically better now, because artists can finally have control over their own careers and their own art. The golden age for artists has just begun. Artist unbound.

# You have quoted Professor Lawrence Lessig at Musicpundit. Professor Lessig is a huge pessimist when it comes to the future of copyright and the Internet in terms of freedom for the public and a creative commons. If Professor Lessig was a character in Winnie the Pooh it would definitely be Eeyore. Do you share his dark view of the future?

I love the guy, what can I tell you. I get a little giddy around copyright guys in general …. Ok, I’m losing my composure … Next question!

# And finally – I am sure you get a lot of attention from geeks and others for your looks, but who is really the best looking geeks-laws-and-everything-in-between-guy?

Oh, that would be you, cool geek greplaw editor hero.

# Now I am blushing.

Love you all. I am most grateful. Artist unbound.