Bootlegging is also the term used for the creation and sale of copies of
illegal recordings - specifically
live recordings,
outtakes and other material the creator hasn't authorised for release. These recordings, reasonably enough, are called
bootlegs.
Bootlegging is distinct from
piracy, which is the creation of unauthorised copies of released recordings. Many people find bootlegging more
morally acceptable than
piracy because
bootlegs tend only to be bought by people who already own all the legitimately released recordings of the artist, while pirate copies take revenue away from the
copyright holder.
Some famous bootlegs include:
Smile - the
Beach Boys
Great White Wonder -
Bob Dylan
Get Back -
The Beatles
But almost every artist with a substantial following, from
Eminem to
the Beautiful South will have a plethora of poorly recorded live CDs available at your local
record fair...