eee (Y The practicality of some loyalty rewards programs (CaO im ta-mBl-10)on-1810 (Y Keep your dogs off the ledge And more! Have your voice heard! Contact: Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor M opinions@theotherpress.ca www.theotherpress.ca She's got too many #1 singles, but Spotify can't make her stay » Taylor Swift’s stance against streaming Cazzy Lewchuk Staff Writer arlier in November, Taylor Swift—arguably the most popular artist in the world— pulled her entire catalogue from : « ¢.. . oy : “unfair compensation” perhaps she should start with the lack : of accessibility and promotion m ta : affecting the millions of successful musician, Swift’s new : . : musicians who are not global : superstars. One such reason : for artists struggling involves : the lack of promotion from : major music distributors such : as iTunes, YouTube, or large : record labels. While popular : Top 40 artists continue to make : millions from track/album sales : and streaming, everyone else is : left behind in the music media : monopoly. the online music streaming service Spotify. In addition to already being a hugely album 1989 reached platinum this year and may be one of the last albums to do so. Swift defended the decision to make her music difficult to access by saying, “I’m not willing to contribute my life’s work to an experiment that I don’ feel fairly compensates the writers, producers, artists, and creators of this music.” Spotify’s payment to its artists has remained controversial, and perhaps rightfully so, as they currently pay a fraction of a penny per play to the artist. However, Swift’s decision is at the best misguided, and at the worst, a marketing ploy. For one thing, Swift’s massive popularity meant that she earned : $2-million through global : streaming already and was : projected to earn $6-million : by the end of the year—this : is of course in addition to the : millions she is currently earning : : through album sales, touring, : promotions, etc. If Swift wants to talk about Consumers of the media today value accessibility over : ownership, and have for quite : some time. There’s a reason : Netflix and Spotify have tens of : millions of paying subscribers. : I personally—and I know many : others feel the same way—will : always go for the legal option : whenever possible, and couldn't : care less about whether I “own” : the thing playing on my screen. : IT wouldn't mind listening : to Swift’s new album before : deciding whether or not to buy : it. ’'d even gladly pay to do so (perhaps the $7.99/month for : Spotify Premium) but she’s : made it clear that’s not an : option. If 1989 was available on : YouTube or another streaming : service, I'd gladly check it out : over there. Indeed, Swift quietly : released all her singles (but not : her albums) on the brand new : music streaming service called : YouTube Music Key. While : she seems to be firm on her : stance of not giving her albums : away for free (which is fairly : reasonable) the fact that these : singles are still not available on : Spotify suggests it’s more of a : corporation battle. Consumers : have to choose between the : less-convenient YouTube service : or the established Spotify : brand. Heaven forbid her music : be legally accessible in more : than one place. I believe artists should be compensated fairly as much : as anyone else, but $6-million : sounds pretty fair to me; it’s : $6-million more than the Pirate : Bay pays. LT a ty Z Hi scars © ie Zlou x ‘Til death do you part » Charles Manson granted licence to marry, as he should Elliot Chan . Opinions Editor M opinions =] @theotherpress.ca T° me Charles Manson had always been the image of insanity, hate, violence, and murder. To me the man is unlovable, or better yet, can abolish freedom and civil rights, but can we ever abolish love, whatever it is? It’s been reported that the 80-year-old convicted murderer and cultural symbol of cruelty and bloodshed has been granted legal rights to marry his 26-year- : old betrothed, Afton Elaine : Burton. It’s a match made : somewhere, anywhere, but : definitely not heaven. However, : : their story is one that may : be adapted into a Nicholas : Sparks novel real soon. After : corresponding over letters : and telephone, Burton, at 19, : moved to Corcoran, California : to be closer to Corcoran State undeserving of love. But is that } prison where Manson is to be how we punish people? Yes, we confined until the day he dies. : Five hours on Saturdays and : Sundays is all they get together, and will continue to get even : as a married couple. To Burton, : that is worth it. Burton, a troubled young woman, found Manson the : killer to complete her, and : even though they will not live : anormal life, it can be said : that they will have a happy : ending, especially when their situation is compared to all the : : other atrocities in the world. : We often say: “Good things : happen to bad people,’ as if : that explains all the injustice : in the world, but what happens : between two people has : nothing to do with justice. : Let’s just say he’s lucky to be : imprisoned in North America. : As far as murderers go, he is a : lucky one. But let’s not forget, Manson is being punished; : nothing is going to change his :; sentence. And after he dies, : Burton can move on withher — : : life, infamous. If nothing more, : : his marriage is final attempt to : spread his ideals, his deep dark : : history through public press : and media. Alternatively, I’d like to consider his story to be : an inspiring one. After all, : : mistakes and loneliness are two : : of the most crippling struggles : people have to deal with. : Finding that special someone is : : not a simple task, and with real : : life obstacles, those who only : have unrequited love may feel : downtrodden and defeated. : Don’t be discouraged, it doesn’t ; matter what you've done in : : life, there is always a chance for : : love. Hey, if Manson found it, : SO can you. What’s funny to me is that America is a country : where one of the world’s most notorious murderers can : operate under the institution : of marriage, while many same : sex couples can’t. Nevertheless, ; same sex partners shouldn't : feel discouraged, since the movement is causing the general mindset to slowly but : surely shifting in their favour. Manson had a family before and he lost it all. He could have died a sad old ; man full of regrets, and many : people like him do. But who’s : to say he’s isn’t full of regrets? : Who’s to say that he is happy? Who’s to say that he even : understands what love is? Either way, marriage is not : something that should be : denied when there is mutual : consent.