“BMG’s music service was — for many of us — our first foray into mail fraud, scams and thievery. There were a few options for obtaining the free portion of the deal without ever fulfilling your end of the bargain. First, and easiest, involved a fake name. Second, you could have the shipment sent to friends’ houses. Third, once the collection notices began, you could claim that it was not you who actually ordered the CDs and would promptly, and indignantly, cancel your membership (only to start up another membership under a different name the very next week). If I have blamed the Internet for our devaluing of music in the past, please forgive me; it was the craptastic CD that first steered us down the path of ambivalence and not wanting to pay for anything.”
Carrie Brownstein, on NPR, on the death of BMG. (via)
