Awww. Poor Steven Tyler.

So I'm watching Rosanna Arquette's All We Are Saying. Five minutes into it and I already want to smack Steven Tyler. (Disclaimer: I generally always want to smack Steven Tyler. When we were on the Rock N Roller Coaster I was hoping we'd run over his carcass at the speed of sound.)

He is bemoaning the fact that his catalog is worth much less than it's previously-valued $24 Million because "of downloading." He says this mournfully from his perch on the sun-splashed balcony of his sprawling mansion home. Look, I'm not a fan of illegal file sharing--whether it's software, music, movies or games. But my mom is a teacher. The most she ever made in a year was $30K. My sister is a teacher. The most she'll ever make in a year is probably $45K. I'm a writer. The most I'll ever make in a year is flexible, but I'll make it at jobs where my writing is ancillary. Unless I sell my book. Then I'll make (at most) $1/copy. My husband works three jobs (one because he has to, and the other two because he wants to.) He's not pulling down major scratch--but we do okay.

Rock stars like Steven Tyler have heretofore made a lot of money because they had a double monopoly. They have (and always will) have a monopoly on creative product. Then they also chose to participate in the monopoly of distribution known as "the record business." Before Jane MacUser could burn her own CDs of her own (legally purchased or self-written and performed) music, the only place to get an album was from "the industry." They set the prices on the product--and like most monopolies--inflated the price. So that $24 million that Steven Tyler was purportedly worth before the internet was a false figure.

As in capitalism since time immemorial there has been a market correction. Get over it, Tyler. Go swim in your big pool or drive your fancy car. I personally don't think "Walk This Way" is worth more than the 99cent download price.