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Elton and others join P2P crackdown debate
By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 23 September 2009
I know what you’ve been thinking these last few days. No really, I do. You’ve been thinking “it’s all very well knowing what Lily thinks about the governments plan’s to get all strict on P2P file-sharing, but who cares what she thinks, what does Mister Elton reckon?” Well, people, good news, Elton has torn himself away from the Orphans-R-Us catalogue to pen a letter on this very topic to one or another of the country’s esteemed news organisations.
And here’s what he says: “I am of the view that the unchecked proliferation of illegal downloading (even on a ‘non-commercial’ basis) will have a seriously detrimental effect on musicians, and particularly young musicians and those composers who are not performing artists”. So phew, that’s that one settled.
As previously reported, John’s good friend Lily Allen has been ranting about file-sharing ever since the Featured Artists Coalition spoke out against the government’s recent change of heart on the P2P issue. As also previously reported the government are now seriously considering new rules which would see the net connections of persistent file-sharers suspended. The FAC aren’t pro-file-sharing as such, but don’t believe forcing internet service providers to restrict or suspend the net access of those who do file-share will result in any real decline in online piracy. Certainly the most persistent file-sharers will find ways to circumvent any industry tracking devices.
But Lily reckons that any new laws that might have some impact on file-sharing should be properly considered, and wants political types to know she’s not in agreement with the FAC. As also also previously reported, she’s set up a special blog on the issue and is encouraging other pop types to let their personal opinions on the issue be known. Some are doing so via Lily’s blog, others their own websites, some via The Times, who I think have been specifically canvassing for opinions. Here’s some pop star contributions to the debate that have been issued in one form or another on which we haven’t previously reported:
Mark Ronson (via the Lily-blog): “I agree with Lily. Illegal file-sharing is tearing at and could eventually destroy the fabric of what makes the UK recording industry and musical community the most forward-thinking and artist nurturing in the world. The points that Lily made about illegal file-sharing directly effecting the creative freedom of A&Rs and, more importantly, the kind of acts that they sign, is what threatens the greatness of the UK music scene, the greatness that makes the rest of the world look to us to see where the future of music is headed. I cannot express enough how important it is that we protect that; without it, we will be living in and responsible for a world dominated by meritless and disposable cookie-cutter ‘Pop Idol’ musical refuse”.
Fran Healy, Travis (via the Times): “I think if you can afford to buy a record then you should buy it. [But] people who hunt down a record and download it for free will probably talk it up. They are the unsung word-of-mouthers who spread the word and create tipping point situations for a greedy record business that has got so fat it is unable to see its own footsoldiers”.
Gary Barlow, Take That (via the Lily-blog): “I agree with every single sentence [by Lily Allen]. I spend so much of my spare time helping up-and-coming artists find their way, so am fully aware of all the issues in your letter”.
Björn Ulvaeus, Abba (via The Times): “It makes me angry when those who want to get round copyright on the internet evoke a faceless and immensely powerful ‘intellectual property industry’ as their main enemy just because it suits them. Those under attack are people of flesh and blood, who are passionate about their profession. When I speak with younger colleagues about their current situation, I feel a strong sense of compassion for them and understand their anxiety about the future. Some of them feel that their work is being degraded. Patronising crusaders for the right to fileshare say: ‘Why don’t they go on tour and sing for their supper?’ This argument shows a staggering ignorance of the fact that the people who write the songs are, more often than not, not performers. They are producers and songwriters, full stop”.
And finally, Mr Dappy from N-Dubz (via the Lily-blog): “Lily’s comments are something we can relate to immediately. We started by ourselves without a record company, just doing our own music, giving a CD of a song to Bob who gave it to Jim and got the word on the street going. That worked for us. But the minute a song gets on the internet as a digital download, it’s gone and you can’t get it back. It stops you in your tracks, stops you doing what you’re doing, all the stealing. I’d say to someone who takes our music it’s all very well taking it off the internet because you like it, because it’s your favourite song, but you’re forgetting about us in the studio, all the hard work that goes into creating that song. If you steal our music it might make you happy but it makes us very upset. Any ideas to encourage people to use legal music services we’d back all the way. They get the thumbs up from us”.
