|
|
|
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT |
WASHINGTON – A just-released study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project provides a current and comprehensive snapshot of artists' and musicians' opinions about the internet and copyright in the digital age. The report – "Artists, Musicians and the Internet" – finds that musicians and artists have embraced the internet as a tool that helps them create, promote, and sell their work. However, they are divided about the impact and importance of free file-sharing and other copyright issues.
Download report here: http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/142/report_display.asp
The report assesses findings from three separate surveys: a telephone survey with self-identified artists, an online survey completed by over 2700 musicians and songwriters, and telephone surveys with the general public. The questions in the musicians’ survey cover a broad range of topics related to the internet: from basic usage, to sales, promotion, communication, fair use, copyright, sampling, and file-sharing.
Future of Music Coalition was instrumental in bringing together a broad coalition of musician-focused organizations that then encouraged their memberships to participate in this benchmark online survey, which was conducted in March-April 2004.
Key findings from the musicians’ survey:
Musicians use the internet to promote and sell their work
For independent musicians, in particular, this newfound ability to bypass traditional distribution outlets and geographic boundaries has been a watershed. One musician explained that having the ability to sell music online was the most significant impact of the internet: “A huge positive benefit is being able to have my music available for sale to anyone in the world who wants it. Ten years ago there was absolutely no way to sell your CD except through major distribution deals or at your own shows.”
Musicians are divided over file-sharing
Echoing the sharply conflicting opinions within the ongoing public debate about file-sharing, musicians are equally divided over file-sharing services’ impact on artists. There is no clear consensus regarding the effects of online file-sharing on artists.
Musicians have a wide range of ideas about how to best address the unauthorized distribution of music online.
In an open-ended question, musicians taking the survey were asked what they thought would be the best approach to dealing with the unauthorized music distribution of music online. As expected, the responses ranged from “file-sharers should be prosecuted” to “music should be free”. However, there were a number of surprising variations provided by musicians that signal the difficulty in finding a simple solution to file-sharing.
For example, a surprising number of respondents said that peer-to-peer file-sharing is not the problem, but that it is a symptom of bigger structural issues for the major labels. Many respondents suggested that the music industry needed to recognize the changes that peer-to-peer and digital entertainment in general have brought to the music industry, and change its business model to embrace it, instead of fighting it.
Another batch of respondents used this question to talk about the need for artists to control their own music. While negotiating control over content is difficult in a digital environment, many artists suggested that decisions over peer-to-peer file-sharing and digital distribution should be made by the artist, not the label.
“This report highlights what the FMC has been saying for the past five years,” stated Jenny Toomey, the executive director of the Future of Music Coalition. “There is not now, nor ever has their been one simple unified musicians’ position on these complicated issues. To truly understand their concerns, artists must be included as equals in future debates.”
“We are at a critical point in history, where policy decisions can determine the future path of innovation,” said FMC’s Policy Director, Michael Bracy. “This report clarifies that artists and musicians are eagerly adapting new technologies as a way to interact directly with fans. We also know that music fans are embracing licensed digital download technologies. As long as policymakers refrain from stifling innovation to preserve the interests of some entrenched parties that control the major channels of promotion and distribution, we are confident that this era will be viewed as the turning point in the effort to create a legitimate, fully licensed and wildly popular on-line music marketplace.”
Click here for a sample of quotes from musician survey respondents to a question about file-sharing
Click here for background on this project
# # #
home | manifesto
| resources | press
& news | events | FAQs | subscribe | contact
us
 Want to stay on top of music/tech issues? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter! Read the latest edition online here.
Public Enemy Frontman, Production Team and Insiders Discuss Landmark Album FMC Files Brief to Protect Creative Expression FMC Files Reply Comments in FCC Localism Proceeding
Wilco, Bright Eyes, Aimee Mann & more "Rock the Net" on Compilation CD Musicians Get the Hint About Health Insurance New York State Music Education Events Examine Crucial Issues Facing Artists New York State Music Education Events Examine Crucial Issues Facing Artists Philly Bands Rocking for Net Neutrality OK Go and Bonerama Rocked DC for New Orleans Musicians Upcoming Washington, DC show and benefit EP from OK Go & Bonerama Successful New Orleans Concerts Aid Big Easy Musicians FMC's Latest Fact Sheets Ann Chaitovitz Appointed Concerts for New Orleans Musicians Bring Artists Together FMC's Jenny Toomey Appointed Program Officer for Ford Foundation Seattle "Rocked the Net" Rock the Net: Campaign for Net Neutrality Rocks Seattle Future of Music Policy Summit to Tackle Critical Issues at the Intersection of Music, Law, Technology and Policy Registration Opens for FMC's Annual Policy Summit FMC files testimony with House Small Business Committee on CRB Webcasting Rates June 21, 2006 Indie-rock revolution, fueled by net neutrality Op-ed by FMC's Jenny Toomey and Michael Bracy June 13, 2006 Pearl Jam Donation To Help Musicians Help Themselves FMC's Michael Bracy Testifies in front
of House Judiciary Committee on "Digital Music Interoperability" |
