*THINGS*

Hail to the thieves! It’s heartening to see a bit of gung-ho, sod-‘em-all pilfering now and then, especially from an institution as august as the ABC. Three recent truths:

1. Madonna puts dummy album tracks all over the Internet to deter file-sharers – apparently containing her bellowing the phrase “what the FUCK are you doing?” - how long before that shows up sampled on a bootleg?
2. The majors, in particular EMI/Virgin, “copy protect” all new CD releases, thus apparently making them unrippable (and unplayable on many “alternative” listening devices such as Xboxes, if my copy of the new Goldfrapp album’s anything to go by).
3. The White Stripes are so worried about filesharing that promo copies of their Elephant album are distributed only on vinyl; the whole album is available online within days of the first promos leaving the label office.
4. Staff at well-respected Australian indie radio station Triple J (kinda like Xfm but national and, er, with more Aussie music) illegally download three tracks from Radiohead’s new Hail To The Thief album and play them to millions of listeners.

Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but to these eyes, one of these truths somehow doesn’t compute. Can you tell which one it is yet? Triple J is owned by the ABC, Australia’s direct equivalent of the Beeb and thus, one is entitled to assume, one of the Antipodes’ most juicily sue-able targets. And yet here they are, brazenly giggling in the reddening faces of Auntie and one of the world’s biggest labels.

Arnold Frolows, Triple J’s Music Director, helpfully rang Radiohead’s label EMI before the tracks were played, not to ask them if it was ok, but to tell them they were going to play them whatever. And play them they did. And if that ain’t rock’n’roll, I don’t know what is.

As it turns out, the tracks were apparently unfinished versions and the band weren’t best pleased. But what does it mean for the future of civilisation (sic) when even assuredly overground, establishment media are flouting copyright laws? More fun for us, is what. Bring it on!

And talking of Madonna (well, we were, sort of – pay attention), news has arrived down here that Australia’s The Androids have just ram-raided every UK radio and TV station, ever, plugging their hatefully flaccid “Do It With Madonna” song. Well, we’ve had to put up with it for 6 interminable months, so now it’s your turn…[insider tip: watch the video with the sound down, it’s pretty funny.]