If I do, Dave Douglas loses a potential sale. Like most, this student doesn’t have a lot of disposable income. And if he doesn’t get it from me, he’ll get it somewhere, eventually.

If I don’t, this student will lose or delay the opportunity to listen and learn about arguably one of the best practitioners of jazz today. Many students here have had little or no access to jazz. I can pick jazz students out of the hallway and find you one that has never heard Keith Jarrett.

The industry, with the full backing of the artists they present, should make provision for the educational use of some of their music. With the artists’ blessing, university libraries should receive some music gratis, especially in areas where this music will not be commonly available. (Canada is one such cultural desert, but the industry has made much of America the same way. Check out the jazz or classical selection at your local Wal/Best/Circuit/Sams.)

They should not give away the most popular products – there is no reason that students should get free U2 CD’s.

Weigh the cost in dollars of mailing out 50 or 100 promos versus the cost in knowledge of students not having heard them.

Why do this? Because cultural elitism is the enemy. Because without access to it, certain art forms will continue to die.