MEMBER PROFILE
Interview With Steve Kostrey | President of ASK Video

Steve Kostrey is an experienced MI industry executive who has a real passion for music software. Four years ago, Steve started his own company, ASK Video, which creates training videos for numerous music software titles in the market. It is noteworthy to say that since its inception, ASK video has been an IMSTA member and a keen supporter of the association’s educational approach. Now, we will find out more about ASK Video’s president, Steve Kostrey and his reasons for joining IMSTA.

Steve, could you please tell us a bit about yourself and about ASK Video?

	I'm a regular guy with a family that creates educational training software by day. ASK Video was started up because customers wanted a way to learn software quickly. When I was a clinician for Steinberg Canada, customers at clinics would ask if they could buy a video or if they could video tape the clinic. It just made sense to grow ASK Video.         <<Steve Kostrey |Barrie, Ontario, Canada

How did you get involved with music?

I started playing trumpet when I was 12. From there it grew to other instruments and eventually computer music.

Which other instruments do you play? Do you still find the time to play music?

Yes, I play double bass in an orchestra and electric bass once or twice a month.

How long have you been in this business?

I have been in the MI business for 18 years.

What other music related companies have you worked at in the past?

A music store in Brampton, Ontario called Keyboard Kaos for 5 years. Steinberg Canada for 9.5 years. Music Marketing for 3 years. ASK Video for the past 4 years.

How does ASK Video approach the software piracy problem?

We don't want to punish any one or get any one in trouble. We know our customers have many reason for pirating software. Over the last year we have begun to implement an authorization process to restrict pirate copies. However there are many people on eBay that sell copies of our DVDs. We get a lot of complaints from customers telling us they bought such a copy and that there were problems with it. We have no choice but to ask eBay to shut those accounts down - in respect for our true paying customers that wish to purchase real copies.

What are some reasons that you joined IMSTA?

It's a good cause. Education is IMSTA’s main concern and form of communication and we share that opinion.

How can a company such as ASK Video benefit from its membership in IMSTA?

We all benefit from it's membership through being a collective group. No one company alone can stop piracy but a group of companies can educate, advertise or lobby for change. Change the way customers think about piracy, change the way Internet providers allow piracy to exist and change the way our lawmakers create laws concerning piracy.

As you have already said, IMSTA faces the software piracy problem with educational campaigns. As a valued member, what suggestions do you have for IMSTA?

To me, IMSTA should not only focus on the music software community but should really have a strong presence in the gaming market. That is where the real numbers are - customers and companies.

We ask this question of all our interviewees. Is there anything you want to say to the pirates out there reading this article?

We still can't make people wear their seatbelts; ride programs still hand out tickets. We can't make people drive sober, their still are accidents and deaths from drunk divers. So I don't think there will be a day when there are no software pirates. However in both examples above the changes in the way society views seat belts and alcohol limits has drastically improved even to the point of younger people today being shocked or appalled when they hear of other that don't wear seat belt or that drive after drinking. Time will change the way we think and act. We all know it's wrong, we just choose to ignore it.

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