Steven G. HarmsBLOG POST: #Metallica vs. Napster: The Day Rock Ate Itself
https://stevengharms.com/posts/2026-04-14-metallica-vs-napster-the-day-rock-ate-itself/
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“Napster versus Metallica” was more than a lawsuit. It felt like a moment where skinny thrashers in jean jackets became the homeowners association of Marin County, parodies of themselves. And in the midst of it, the technological generation — my tribe — laughed and snickered: the old men just didn’t get it. “Information wants to be free.” As someone who was still smarting at being abused by the record industry it felt like justice for us.
But there was a cost...
Great art is work and takes time. Artists deserve to buy homes, and food, and braces, and go on vacation. And that childish entitlement to “free shit online” led to the current internet ad model. It enabled the walled gardens of MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter; ultimately helped bring about the death of journalism; and built the communications organ that enabled grievance-filled echo chambers to elect Donald #Trump — twice.