Piracy Killing the Industry?

Piracy Killing The Industry?

Firstly, more than 7 billion people use illegal downloading. All the pirating has bought down the country economically and has created a great economic crisis in the music industry. Websites like www.flvto.com or www.youtube2mp3.net allow illegal downloading to occur and create big losses in the economy.

Artist like Lily Allen feel that the artist is being ripped off and it is unfair and has decided to support the government in removing illegal downloading websites. However artist like Shakira feel that piracy is acceptable because she feels that fans appreciate her enough to listen to her music, she also feels that illegal downloading brings awareness to her music and any upcoming star. Chris Ruen felt that a lot of time and hard work is spent went artist make their music. He was shocked to see the effort put into music and the little outcome which they received through payment. Also torrents have been put up like LimeWire and Napster to enable the security of other artists music and prevent it to be stolen.

The music industry spends several of dollars into promoting the next superstar however if piracy was removed, the superstar wouldn't grab as much attention and therefore it would create a bigger loss in the industries profit. However on the other hand Artists and the music industry believe that every illegal download is equivalent to a lost sale.

People against piracy also believe that if customers bought their music rather than steal it, less money would be spent and put in towards tours and merchandise. People who are for piracy and illegal downloading also believe that a lot of money goes into the gaming industry. Statistics show that the gaming industry went up from 1.18 billion to 4.03 billion in the past 10 years this expresses that people prefer to spend their money on games therefore to blame the loss of profit in the music industry on piracy is entirely unfair.

Also before illegal downloading was introduced people would record the latest hits from the radio onto their cassettes or burn music onto their CDs, this is another way of looking piracy, however still did take place and would do it often. Therefore illegal downloading takes place and everyone does it so there shouldn't be an issue with illegal downloading.

Concluding piracy doesn't have all negative and in some aspects helps the music industry. Also illegal downloading is unfair because it is equivalent to stealing someone else’s hard work.

Personally, i feel that illegal downloading is not destroying the industry since it is bringing awareness to other artists and brings them fame. this is where most of the industries money is made from and therefore the industry are doing perfectly fine whilst illegal downloading is taking place.

By Asia Hussain