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Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 00:33:37 -0500 (EST)
To: Trevor Stilwell
From: Aaron and Amy Tate
Subject: Re: Caedmon's Call Songbook
Cc: [some other guitar folks]

Hey Guys,

I don't have much time to write, but I did want to address the issue of the
chords to our songs being put on the web.

Basically, we do have the legal right to prohibit such "unauthorized
reproduction."  However, we don't care if you do it.  As long as the songs
aren't being used to promote anything bad (which I know they are not).

The main thing is to make our music available for everyone to enjoy.  In
that way, I am thankful for a site that makes it easy for people to get the
chords.  (I know I enjoy such sites for other bands).

Before we made the songbook, we even debated just putting the songs on the
website instead.  However, we decided some folks would want a book.  Then,
we didn't put the chords on the web because we needed to sell a certain
amount of books just to break even.  Thanks to the support of everyone, we
have broken even.  So, if someone doesn't buy a songbook, but just gets it
off some website, that's not a big deal to me.

In fact just today I was thinking about this sort of thing.  I was thinking
that, if we do a songbook for the next record, I might not put the fine
print that says "Unauthorized duplication is a violation..."

Instead I might put what the groovy indie folk artist Ani Defranco puts on
her CDs in the fine print:  "Unauthorized duplication, though sometimes
necessary, is never as good as the real thing."

Thanks so much to all of you for your concern for the songs and for doing
the right thing.  Everyone has been very cool about it, and not
argumentative at all.  I know everyone just wants to do the cool thing.  It
makes it easier for me do the cool thing, and not just think about what
might make more money or something dumb like that.

Y'all give me your feedback.  Next time I'm on the web, I'll check out the
website.

Peace to All.

Aaron Tate
Caedmon's Call Songwriter
Songbook Guy (Compiler, Editor, Owner, etc.)
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