THINK BEFORE YOU PIRATE November 24 2000 dotmusic.com Songwriters say "respect the value of music" on the Net. Today sees the launch of an initiative to emphasise the worth of music even when it can be downloaded for free from the Internet. Labelled "Music Awareness Week", the campaign, led by songwriters' and composers' lobbying group British Music Rights, is supported by musicians such as Elton John and Paul McCartney. According to figures quoted by British Music Rights, the music industry could lose up to £2 billion a year by 2005 as a result of file-swapping and other unpaid Web music systems. However, they say, it's not just big business that is losing out but the smaller artists and composers "who depend upon the income from their work to continue making music". While claiming that technologies such as Napster "provide great opportunities and choice for both consumers and creators", the organisation suggests that musicians should be allowed to receive payment for the use of their music through such services or even opt out entirely should they so wish. "The impact of new technology" says Francis Lowe, British Music Rights' Director General, "is a significant issue for everyone who cares about the future of music and the livelihood of those creating the music we enjoy..." As David Arnold, composer behind the modern-day James Bond soundtracks asks, "If I set up a stall selling bananas at 40p, and somebody sets up beside me giving bananas away, how many people are going to buy my bananas?" But with Napster collaborating with a major record label and in discussion with others, one American royalty collection society, ASCAP, has already volunteered to distribute Napster money among songwriters. Nowadays it seems less a question of 'if' artists will start getting paid than 'when'. So perhaps David Arnold shouldn't worry about his grocery stall just yet. comment on this article e-mail this to a friend start a discussion [about i-drive] writing index thoughts dotmusic index Problems? Questions? Suggestions? Contact me: mail@tobyslater.com back to top back to home page

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