Troubles in the music industry

You see and hear about the dangers of piracy and plagiarism everywhere you go. Warnings of illegally downloading, distributing and copying media and products that are not your own are made aware on TV, the internet, magazines and textbooks. We all know that file–sharing is illegal but does this mean that each individual will stop it?
The answer is no.

Whilst reading the article “Sharing music files: tactics of a challenge to the music industry” and the tactics that some of the big named music companies go to keep people from plagiarising is astonishing. Whilst reading the article the first thing that popped into my head was every time I go to watch a movie at the cinema’s the very familiar “piracy it’s a crime” commercial that plays during the pre-movie trailers always stays lasting in my mind. This takes me to the tactic of “intimidation versus resistance”.

As explained in the article “powerful perpetrators often act in ways that intimidate their audiences” and “high-profile legal actions alert potential targets that they might be next” (Martin, B, Moore, C & Salter, C, 2010). Both these statements can apply to many piracy warning advertisements, especially the “piracy it’s a crime” commercial.

After finishing this well written article, it got me thinking on the fact that the tactic of intimidation versus resistance valid to the billions of individuals that are file-sharing today?. 

Probably not, it would be a lengthy process to pick out and apply legal action to each individual that is file-sharing over the internet today.

However, there is a positive side to file-sharing particularly within the music industry today. Artist’s use social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogs to help share their music and let them be known to the public. This sort of file-sharing through websites and social media can be seen as a form of free advertising as people share the artist’s music and in turn buy tickets to their concerts. An example of file-sharing sort of advertising would be the “Unearthed” program developed by ABC’s Triple J radio channel to help up and coming artist’s let their music be heard by both streaming online to users and being available for download.

Asta - My Heart is On Fire (Triple J Unearthed Artist), 2013.

References:

Martin, B, Moore, C and Salter, C. 2010, ‘Sharing music files: tactics of a challenge to the industry’, First Monday, vol. 15, no. 12.

http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2986/2680

“Piracy it’s a crime”, YouTube, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmZm8vNHBSU

“Asta – My Heart is On Fire (Triple J Unearthed)” YouTube, 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SumUT0YNoeU

Bollywood

When thinking about sub-cultures that has changed the way I viewed a culture other than my own immediately ‘Bollywood’ springs to my mind.
Those colourful, vibrant and beautiful costumes, singing, dancing in films and productions that is now distributed all around the world, particularly in large consumptions in dominant western countries such as America and England.

When I initially thought of India I have thoughts that differ greatly to the lifestyle and culture we have in Australia, because of the huge population difference and what seems to be a large amount of poverty it makes you think that they are less technologically advanced, this is wrong!. 

When reading an e-book on “Global Bollywood” authors Aswin Punathambekar and Anandam Kavoori describes Bollywood to have had a huge impact on the western world. They also discuss the influence of Bollywood on the American nation with well known famous Indian actress and icon, Aishwarya Rai, making an appearance on the cover of Time magazine and teaching “Oprah Winfrey and her viewers to wear a sari” (Punathambekar & Kavoori, 2008).

Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai being a good example of how infused Bollywood is in western culture because straight away I knew exactly who she was, her face and name has been thrown around media relating to Bollywood cinema for years.

Bollywood has gone so global that it is said that “Bollywood films sold more tickets in the United Kingdom than English- language films” (Punathambekar & Kavoori, 2008).
This made me think how such a global phenomenon has occurred and how there is no geographic boundaries to globalisation. Jan Nederveen Pieterse describes globalisation “is not merely driven by major corporations, international institutions, and governments but also by social forces including consumers and social movements” Which gives you an understanding how Bollywood has spread globally, with the increase of social demand for the industry.

India combined with globalisation is really making their mark on the world.

References:

Nederveen Pieterse, J, 'Globalization: consensus and controversies', Globalization and culture: global melange 2004, Rowman & Littlefield Publioshers, Lanham, Md, pg. 10.

Punathambekar, A & Kavoori, A, 'Global Bollywood'  NYU Press, 2008.

Image (Google Images):

http://chandrakantha.com/articles/indian_music/nritya/nritya_media/bollywood_dance2.jpg  

Image (Google Images):

http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/5900000/aishwarya-rai-aishwarya-rai-5998797-1600-1200.jpg