The Artists’ Dispute over P2P File Sharing Continues

50 Cent thinks P2P means a good opportunity for business, Elton John supports Lord Mandelson’s anti-file sharing proposals, FAC makes an appeal to reason

While p2p file sharing has been a serious concern for artists and record labels for about a decade or so, lately, the issue had an increasing tendency of splitting the musicians in two – the ones pronouncing themselves totally against file sharing over the Internet and the ones speaking in favor, or, at least defending it and people prosecuted for it.

We have recently posted two articles concerning two artists with opposite stands on file sharing – Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins and the young pop singer Lilly Allen (joined shortly in her rant by Patrick Wolf and Muse’s lead singer, Matt Bellamy). While the former released together with his band their latest album for free over the net, the latter had an outburst against file sharing and the artists supporting it. (i.e. Featured Artists Coalition – FAC).

Today we’ll talk about another two artists stepping forward to speak their mind – one in support of p2p file sharing, the other against it. Let’s start with the popular hip hop figure, 50 Cent, who, in a recent interview on CNBC (to promote his new book “The 50th Law”) also took time to address the subject of file sharing.

“The technology is absolutely shifting things, and uh the marketing dollars that the major companies were providing for artists in the past is gone with the actual record labels,” he pointed out.

Talking about how illegal file-sharing affects today’s musicians, the hip hop artist said he sees the phenomenon as a “part of the marketing” which can help fill up a void left by the record labels with their market strategy. His beliefs in this respect match those voiced by the FAC who called P2P an “important form of promotion” for artists worldwide.
On the other side we have the veteran Sir Elton John who is the latest prestigious entertainer to get involved in this dispute about p2p and illegal file sharing. He wrote to Lord Mandelson in support of the latter’s plans to cut off the internet connection of those engaged in p2p piracy.

“For what it is worth, 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,” said Elton John.

To wrap up, here’s also a message that FAC (who mentions it does not condone piracy but urges toward a more practical system to distribute music to people) wants to get across – “Lastly, the FAC calls upon its fellow artists, irrespective of views or age, to join with us in discussions with labels, publishers and ISPs so as to ensure that the next generation of artists are able to exploit the technological potential of the internet to make a decent living doing the thing they love most –- making music.”