In this installment:

Bela Fleck
David Grisman
Eric Krasno
John Medeski
Chris Wood
Brian OConnell
Rob Derhak

Benjy: What do you think of programs like Napster?

Bela: Well I think Napster is a little complicated because its kinda like bands give away stuff on purpose, and then some of the stuff that we dont give away, its given away for us. Its like you go to a bar, and theres food to eat at the bar, but they also have a straight menu and the food at the bar is free. If you went and took the food off the main menu, and didnt pay, youd have to go to jail. You know what I mean? And so I think because bands are so generous about giving away their live shows - we give away all our live shows when we make a record thats not for free. That costs us money. And so I feel that people should pay for the records, and should accept the live gigs and the free tapes as a gift.

Benjy: Okay but then what do you think about the try-before-you-buy theory?

Bela: I wish there was a way to do that but the truth is you cant really do that. I mean, I think if it disintegrated after four plays that would be fine. But it doesnt because it stays and then people make copies of it and then guys go to the store and buy a hundred blank CDs, make copies of tapes for friends, they sell a new record at a dollar profit - they make it for a dollar, they sell it for two dollars to other friends of theirs, and you knowTheres a fallacy the bands are all making a whole lot of money but the truth is only like three percent of all bands records pay off and if you take away half of those sales, that means the band is getting hurt in the long run. Its not an imaginary person. Its the actual musicians. Even though the record deals arent fair, even though the price of the CDs arent fair, youre really hurting the musicians. And so Im afraid I have to take that position, because I think its true. However, you know, I like everybody, everybodys great, everybody should do what they think is right. And I think its going to be great to get an unknown band more well-known.

And theres a lot of stuff were fine with having on Napster live tapes. I just think when youve got a brand new record and a new label who spent a whole lot of money on it and youre not going to see any money till it recoups, and you spent four months in the studio, that shouldnt be for free.

Benjy: What do you think about technology that attaches commercials to the music files

Bela: I dont think thats going to do it. Commercials arent going to do it the money wont get back to the right people anyway. Well, thats a whole other factor. But I think its a much better delivery system than a CD. So I think if they can work it out for the artists to get paid, it should cut the costs of CDs by half. Your music should cost five or seven dollars. It shouldnt cost seventeen dollars. Thats a big part of the problem and thats why a lot of the people are upset and are prepared to take the stuff for free, because they feel theyve been ripped off. A CD costs less than a dollar and theyre being charged seventeen dollars. For everybody to make a good profit, you know, upwards of three dollars each, it should still be under ten bucks. Thats all.

Grisman: I dont know what that is.