A win for Jonathan Coulton

My buddy Bob has been podcasting his book “Death by Cliché” and running a slice of Jonathan Coulton’s “Skullcrusher Mountain” during the credits at the end of each episode. This is acceptable use under the terms of the Creative Commons that Coulton uses instead of copyright, or so Bob tells me.

Today I got sick of hearing just the first verse and chorus, so I spent 99 cents on the song.

It’s 99 cents I wouldn’t have spent without repeated exposure. It’s only the third Jonathan Coulton song I’ve spent money on. It’s also my new favorite, displacing his “Still Alive” contribution to the Orange Box.

Moral of the story: people will pay for stuff that they can get for free. Not that anybody reading my blog doubts that. I’m making a living that way, after all.

Oh… favorite lyric from “Skullcrusher Mountain” (which you should at least LISTEN to, if not purchase outright):
“Isn’t it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you?”

There’s a Valentine’s Day sentiment we can all get behind, I’m sure. Just don’t use too many monkeys.

28 thoughts on “A win for Jonathan Coulton”

  1. Re: Your Brains is a long-time fav of mine. But Skullcrusher Mountain is also fantastic.

    Coulton is just an Epic Win no matter how you slice it. Him. The pony/monkey. Whatever.

  2. Re: Your Brains is a long-time fav of mine. But Skullcrusher Mountain is also fantastic.

    Coulton is just an Epic Win no matter how you slice it. Him. The pony/monkey. Whatever.

  3. The iPod Touch that my fiancee got me for Christmas has “I ruined a pony making a gift for you” etched on the back. Needless to say, we’re big fans.

  4. The iPod Touch that my fiancee got me for Christmas has “I ruined a pony making a gift for you” etched on the back. Needless to say, we’re big fans.

  5. I’ve not only bought a song from Mr. Coulton, I bought the entire ‘box set’ download. Yeah, I guess you can make sales giving things away for free and no, I don’t think I need to tell you that! (Considering you’re running a close second for the artist who’s art decorates our walls the most.)

  6. I’ve not only bought a song from Mr. Coulton, I bought the entire ‘box set’ download. Yeah, I guess you can make sales giving things away for free and no, I don’t think I need to tell you that! (Considering you’re running a close second for the artist who’s art decorates our walls the most.)

  7. While this isn’t quite the same thing, I own a Sony ebook reader, and when I am looking for something new to read, I sometimes check out ebooks pulled from the darknet. If I like it, I go and buy a copy. If I like it a lot, I might buy the entire series.

    Of course, it’s currently hard to get ebooks for a reasonable price without DRM in them (I won’t play that game) so it’s really only working for Baen Books right now, but I have a list of authors I like and I’m watching for reasonable (price and freedom) versions of their books to become available so I can give them money.

    I’ve bought both movies and music the same way too; pirated copy, or song played on Spider Robinson’s podcast, or something like that, resulted in me going out and buying the album or movie.

  8. While this isn’t quite the same thing, I own a Sony ebook reader, and when I am looking for something new to read, I sometimes check out ebooks pulled from the darknet. If I like it, I go and buy a copy. If I like it a lot, I might buy the entire series.

    Of course, it’s currently hard to get ebooks for a reasonable price without DRM in them (I won’t play that game) so it’s really only working for Baen Books right now, but I have a list of authors I like and I’m watching for reasonable (price and freedom) versions of their books to become available so I can give them money.

    I’ve bought both movies and music the same way too; pirated copy, or song played on Spider Robinson’s podcast, or something like that, resulted in me going out and buying the album or movie.

  9. Hey,

    I’ve been listening to writing excuses. Love you guys! Seriously, I’m homeschooled and I use your podcast as part of my creative writing class, you’ve helped me a lot!
    Anyway love the blog.

  10. Hey,

    I’ve been listening to writing excuses. Love you guys! Seriously, I’m homeschooled and I use your podcast as part of my creative writing class, you’ve helped me a lot!
    Anyway love the blog.

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