Hello Andreas –
In a way, I think killing off your blog, my blog or similar blogs is not the way to go (unless you are sick of doing it); but rather to stick to the ethic. I figure our blogs are the kind done by informed music lovers who care about the music enough to actually write about it. We do not simply post songs or albums. I really feel that we actually do serve a purpose other than giving pirates cover and by adopting the ethic that I suggest and being up front about it, we no longer give cover to people who give no thought about what they do or, worse, use others’ music as content in order to generate money for themselves (through ads or paypal donations). If we disappear, all there will be are pirates and profiteers.
As I wrote, I have been contacted by many artists or their relatives, and I, too, have received no complaints. In fact, I have had one post lead to me reissuing a record. Others have resulted in the artist sending me unreleased stuff to listen to (and post if I want). That good word and will does not justify not seeking out permission, but it does tell me that contact the artist might not just result in a “Yes,” but in uncovering the back story to a song, unreleased and forgotten material, and/or a relationship with the artist – all which would make for better blogs.
best
SS
PS To avoid being a download archive, I’ve always taken down the MP3 I host after two or three weeks. People complain and write me demanding that I repost songs, but they can fuck themselves…or seek out the god damn record.