Privacy in the music industry is a big issue with people illegally downloading music, and copyrighting the artist work. If you did go round and ask people if they buy their music, most of them will say that they illegally downloaded their music online, as it doesn't cost anything and it's very simple. There are not many people out there in who buy their music either on 'Itunes' or 'HMV' as on the internet there are so many downloading websites to use, such as 'Youtube converter'. So this leads the pop stars have a hard time with the pay back in which they put with producing their work.
But one of the few artist who did make a big fuss about the whole privacy of copyrighting and illegal downloads was Lily Allen. But this did lead to a massive target of thousands of incredibly abusive messages, even death treats. It did lead for her to shut down her website. No wonder why artists think twice before speaking out.
Lars Ulrich from Metalica had the same response as Lily Allen when trying to persuade people to stop downloading music, he only had abusive responses.
The amount of unlicensed illegal downloading sites can be up to 25,000 per site of illegal downloading. This means that the artist who produces the work can see all their profit gone, as they are not gaining anything back afterwards. In 2009 the music industry claimed that 95% of the music available online is downloaded illegally. And with nowadays music is very expensive making, which can be up to millions of pounds to make, and of course the artist wants that million back and profit on top of that!
However a very poignant (and eloquent) message, came from Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins. In a discussion at this year's SXSW, he said 'Commerce starts at the point where people are happy with paying for something- and the fact that technology now allows people to choose to not pay for music has turned music culture into a service culture.' He explained the particular problem this poses for artist such as himself. 'I'm going to do whatever the fuck I want to do, you like it or you don't'. But then was saying I am I now suppose to beg for attention.
Corgan then concludes that if someone like him could be manufactured they wouldn't pick him as a model- they'd pick someone with straight teeth, a better attitude and music that was much more palatable to a wider audience.
Fantastic, detailed, reflective, what more could I ask for at the start of term. Sophia has produced a systematic reflection and knowledge and understanding of the music industry in relation to institution, star image and audience - well done! Can you post the treatments that you completed onto your blog.
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