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To censor or not to censor
Posted by Amanda
on
8:32 PM
While the whole world is bickering about SOPA and PIPA ( Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect Intellectual Piracy Act), musicians such as Robbie Williams, Billie Bragg and Annie Lennox have voted out supporting this act. They would rather have people listening to their music, be it illegal or not. Bragg said that musicians should have their own rights on deciding when should they be paid and when should people listen to their music for free. (Read here)
Well, easy for them to say that. With big banks accounts and endorsement deals knocking on their door every now and then, having their music and music video downloaded for free is a small matter to them. If we were living that way (earning money every single day and not a penny is given out), we will do the same thing. Unfortunately, things doesn't happen the same way in Malaysia. Malaysian artist have to face various condemnation from citizens who only worships foreign artist and they have to buy their own make up sets and clothing for performances.
There is no wonder when most of them supports the piracy law in Malaysia. Their music are their main source of income. If people start downloading their hard earn money and efforts music video illegally, the music industry in Malaysia will not survive much longer.
"The vocalist from a local band Emergency, P. Vijay, said that the fans must know that when they download free songs it consider as they are not supporting their idols but killing their careers instead." (Source here)
With differences of views in the music world, it is hard to create a law that can be use universally. The internet is open to public all over the world, video sharing sites can also be accessed everyday, every hour, every minutes and every second of the day, it is hard to control illegal downloading if the law is not applicable to all citizens.
But at the same time, illegal downloading can help widen the musician's horizon. In places where video sharing sites is not known, individuals that came to the place and show to them the musicians that they like and foster favorable ideas on the musician. With this, more people will acknowledge the singer, by music, voice and face, and that will boost up his/her popularity.
The question now is, to censor or not to censor?
Well, easy for them to say that. With big banks accounts and endorsement deals knocking on their door every now and then, having their music and music video downloaded for free is a small matter to them. If we were living that way (earning money every single day and not a penny is given out), we will do the same thing. Unfortunately, things doesn't happen the same way in Malaysia. Malaysian artist have to face various condemnation from citizens who only worships foreign artist and they have to buy their own make up sets and clothing for performances.
There is no wonder when most of them supports the piracy law in Malaysia. Their music are their main source of income. If people start downloading their hard earn money and efforts music video illegally, the music industry in Malaysia will not survive much longer.
"The vocalist from a local band Emergency, P. Vijay, said that the fans must know that when they download free songs it consider as they are not supporting their idols but killing their careers instead." (Source here)
With differences of views in the music world, it is hard to create a law that can be use universally. The internet is open to public all over the world, video sharing sites can also be accessed everyday, every hour, every minutes and every second of the day, it is hard to control illegal downloading if the law is not applicable to all citizens.
But at the same time, illegal downloading can help widen the musician's horizon. In places where video sharing sites is not known, individuals that came to the place and show to them the musicians that they like and foster favorable ideas on the musician. With this, more people will acknowledge the singer, by music, voice and face, and that will boost up his/her popularity.
The question now is, to censor or not to censor?
