Some of the biggest names in British music have written to David Cameron calling for a crackdown on illegal file-sharing.
Lord (Andrew) Lloyd-Webber, Sir Elton John and Simon Cowell are among those who claim the UK economy could be boosted by stronger copyright laws to protect the music industry.
They have urged the Prime Minister to implement the Digital Economy Act 2010 to ensure internet service providers (ISPs), search engines and online advertisers protect consumers from illegal sites.
Their letter, which was also signed by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend from The Who, and Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen, stated: "As the world's focus turns to the UK this summer, there is an opportunity to stimulate growth in sectors where the UK has a competitive edge. Our creative industries represent one such sector, which creates jobs at twice the speed of the rest of the economy.
"Britain's share of the global music market is higher than ever with UK artists, led by Adele, breaking through to global stardom.
"As a digitally advanced nation whose language is spoken around the world, the UK is well positioned to increase its exports in the digital age. Competition in the creative sector is in talent and innovation, not labour costs or raw materials.
"We can realise this potential only if we have a strong domestic copyright framework, so that UK creative industries can earn a fair return on their huge investments creating original content.
"Illegal activity online must be pushed to the margins. This will benefit consumers, giving confidence they are buying safely online from legal websites."
Robert Plant, Professor Green and Tinie Tempah also added their names to the letter.
Yet if this is so true why has the annual sales of music in Norway dropped by 15% since they blocked illegeal file sharing? People are NT going to pay up to £15 for an album if they haven't even heard the band. Many people I know download music, listen to it, then if they like the artist, they will spend money on getting their albums/going to gigs/ merchandise. Most music acts (ex. Dave Grohl) have announced they don't care if people pirate their music, as long as thir music is enjoyed. the only ones truly feeling anything from pirating is the record companies, who makes billions a year anyway. Why do you think people like Simon Cowell are pushing to get this law through? The musicians only make between 10-20% per CD sale anyway. Most musicians make the most money from live shows, so if you want to support them, you go see them live, don't fall for this cooperate bullshit!
ReplyDeleteThis is the usual whine from the record industry. I can recall when they complained about people recording music played on the wireless and demanded that a levy be imposed on blank tapes to compensate them for their (supposed) losses. Back then, they averred that if the levy was not imposed, the UK music industry would collapse. The levy was not imposed and yet the industry did not collapse.
ReplyDeleteI do not download music illegally, never have done and never would do, partly because I'd much rather prevent my IP address going anywhere near such sites. I doubt that I'd like the pop pap peddled by Cowell anyway.
Most of the CDs I buy are second hand and, of course, not one penny of the price I pay goes to the record company. Would Simon Cowell and the others who signed that letter like to outlaw the sale of second hand recordings and, if they would, how do they suppose they might achieve that?
Finally, their letter makes no mention whatever of the biggest source of 'piracy' and misappropriation of intellectual property - the counterfeiting industries in China. They will (and do) copy almost anything - and the Digital Economy Act 2010 would be of no use to stop such commercial breaches of copyright.