So SoundCloud users had a good run, but now the popularity of the service reached critical mass and raised the ire of the labels so they're knuckling under like every other provider. SoundCloud (sensibly) doesn't want the burden of dealing with the massive copyright infringement by it's users and outsources the job to the owners of the tracks.
Now I get that it sucks that you don't get explicit explanations of what infringed, and I worry hugely about their power to supress content that they actually do not own, but:
1. Stop pretending that you should get a free ride because you're promoting the artist. If you actually give a shit, discover and promote new music from awesome bands that are not beholden to the labels. That's the only way to break the stranglehold.
2. Don't rage at the service that provides a great product to producers of real, original content, just because you've repurposed the platform to promote your infringing mix.
You're completely right: artists who make mixes and use samples should probably do it above-board and follow all applicable copyright laws.
However, the problems are three-fold:
1) Lack of information. It looks like the new automated process provides no clues on what the infringing content was/is.
2) Lack of appeals process.
3) The fact that previously rolled out systems that have allowed major labels this sort of access to services (primarily YouTube) have been subject to abuse by the labels, taking down content that was original, and there has been no indication given that this won't happen here.
> If you actually give a shit, discover and promote new music from awesome bands that are not beholden to the labels. That's the only way to break the stranglehold.
This. If you get a promo from an artist, ask them, "Is this under copyright with a label? Sorry, in that case I can't play it."
Can I plug MusicBox (http://www.mymusicbox.me/) real quick? We curate killer songs from the best indie artists and send them (for free) to a list of over 10k. We work directly with the artists and indie labels, so no issues. We want to support them, not screw 'em.
Actually the correct response would be 'can you give me a release to play it.' Everything is under copyright with someone, refusing to deal with any labels whatsoever just means punishing any artist that dares enter into a publishing relationship with someone else.
Even if you get a separate license on the side, Universal will still take your music down from SoundCloud. Just like how news services take down public domain NASA video from YouTube. They have a special direct relationship that doesn't follow DMCA or any other rules.
Now I get that it sucks that you don't get explicit explanations of what infringed, and I worry hugely about their power to supress content that they actually do not own, but:
1. Stop pretending that you should get a free ride because you're promoting the artist. If you actually give a shit, discover and promote new music from awesome bands that are not beholden to the labels. That's the only way to break the stranglehold.
2. Don't rage at the service that provides a great product to producers of real, original content, just because you've repurposed the platform to promote your infringing mix.