Aadam Jacobs Makes 10,000 Concert Tapes Available via Internet Archive, Fueling Copyright War

Culture & SocietyApr 18, 2026score 0.734 posts · 0 replies across 4 instances

Chicago superfan Aadam Jacobs has amassed an archive containing over 10,000 live concert recordings spanning from the 1980s. Jacobs is letting the Internet Archive digitize these tapes due to concerns over tape degradation.

The community response splits sharply. One side accuses Jacobs of theft, labeling the collection an "illegal collection of over 10,000 intellectual property thefts" and referencing "atrocious crimes" (@GetMisch). Conversely, others praise the move as a historical resource, noting the vast dataset of recorded music history (@macmanx). Some simply view it as making massive concert documentation free for the public (@Some_Emo_Chick).

The core conflict pits alleged copyright violation against massive public access. While acknowledging the impressive scale of the collection, the underlying dispute hinges entirely on the legality and ownership of the recorded material.

Key points

SUPPORT

Jacobs's archive contains over 10,000 live concert recordings dating back to the 1980s.

This scale is noted as an immense, rare dataset of music history (@macmanx), and the collection has been active for decades.

OPPOSE

Critics accuse Jacobs of widespread illegal theft of intellectual property.

This is framed by accusations of 'illegal collection of over 10,000 intellectual property thefts' and 'atrocious crimes' (@GetMisch).

SUPPORT

The digitization is happening through voluntary archival efforts.

Jacobs agreed to let volunteers from the Internet Archive digitize the tapes to prevent degradation (@macmanx).

SUPPORT

The material is being released for free public access online.

Multiple users report the release makes the resource 'accessible to the public' (@Some_Emo_Chick).

MIXED

The underlying controversy remains copyright ownership.

The debate boils down to whether this is an 'archival contribution' or 'piracy' and 'crime' (@GetMisch vs. @Some_Emo_Chick).

Source posts

@[email protected]

RE: https://mastodon.social/@kottke/116404369726769991

Fixed it: "For decades, Aadam Jacobs stole the copywritten performances of artists he supposedly loved. His illegal collection of over 10,000 intellectual property thefts since 1984 features popular artists who never granted him any such rights — and his atrocious crimes are now available on the Internet Archive for you to steal, too."
#artists #are #real #piracy #is #crime #tech #bros #suck #wind #InternetArchive #sued #intellectual #property #copyright #law #secret #recording #stealing

1 boosts · 0 favs · 1 replies · Apr 15, 2026

#stealing#recording#secret#law#copyright#property

@[email protected]

“Chicago-based #music superfan Aadam Jacobs has been #recording the concerts he attends since the 1980s, amassing an archive of over 10,000 tapes. Now 59, Jacobs knows that these #cassettes are going to degrade over time, so he agreed to let volunteers from the Internet Archive, the nonprofit digital library, digitize the tapes.”

https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/13/thousands-of-rare-concert-recordings-are-landing-on-the-internet-archive-listen-now/

47 boosts · 0 favs · 3 replies · Apr 14, 2026

#cassettes#recording#music

@[email protected]

Man who recorded over 10,000 live concerts is releasing them all online for free 

https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/man-who-recorded-over-10000-live-concerts-is-releasing-them-all-online-for-free-3350541/

#music #recording #live #news #taperguy #concerts #history

18 boosts · 0 favs · 0 replies · Apr 11, 2026

#history#concerts#taperguy#news#live#recording

@[email protected]

Ce mec a publié 10000 concerts sur 30 ans d'enregistrements pirates. Respect !
#music #live #recording 

https://aadamjacobscollection.org/

https://archive.org/details/@aadam_jacobs_collection

0 boosts · 0 favs · 0 replies · Apr 14, 2026

#music#live#recording