The lost joy of music piracy
This article explores the history of music piracy through the lens of Rob Sheridan, a former Nine Inch Nails creative director. It highlights how early file-sharing platforms like Napster and BitTorrent trackers helped fans discover music that was previously inaccessible due to cost.
Why it matters
It provides a cultural retrospective on how digital piracy shaped music consumption habits and fan communities before the era of streaming services.
What.CD, Oink, and the banalities of streaming.
“I was responsible for the dancing baby meme,” Rob Sheridan laughs over a video call. Now better known as an accomplished graphic designer and the former creative director of Nine Inch Nails, Sheridan’s list of accolades date back to 1997, when he created a website dedicated to the low-resolution animated GIF.
The first thing I notice when our interview begins is his t-shirt, which bears the ironic slogan “HOME TAPING IS KILLING MUSIC,” a phrase once printed on record sleeves in the UK during the ‘80s alongside a cassette tape resembling a skull and crossbones, later used in the logo of the infamous BitTorrent tracker The Pirate Bay. During his decades-long career in the music industry, Sheridan has stood out as one of the few outspoken advocates of media piracy.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in