Sharon Corr denounces government inaction on file-sharing

Emotions ran high at an explosive debate at The Music Show on Saturday, in which the Irish Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD took part alongside SEG's Marc Marot, Victor Finn (Chief Executive, IMRO), Paul Brady & Louis Walsh.

In a lively question and answer session, Corr spoke from the floor and was highly critical of what she called the Government's "laissez faire" record on artists' rights in relation to the illegal downloading of music.

"I just recorded an album. I employed a producer, a studio, I paid the orchestra to come in, the guy who did the score," she told the Minister. "I don't understand why they get paid and I don't get paid (by people who download the album). It's a basic right to be paid for your work."

On the Government's inaction in relation to illegal downloading, she was clear in her condemnation. "I feel the government have a very laissez faire approach to the whole thing," she said. "Implementation needs to happen. A Digital Economy Act needs to be brought in to Ireland. Legislation needs to be put through and implemented."

Minister Ryan refused to commit to tackling the issue through legislation, citing the high number of jobs in the computer industry. The Minster argued that if the music industry and the ISPs would co-operate, this would be much more effective.

"Let's actually meet and have some sort of consultative space," the Minister said, "where you can have both computing industries or ISP industries and musical industries sitting down and sharing some ideas, not just to do it through the courts, but to do it the smarter way, collaboratively.

"I would hope to have such a forum in place by the end of this month, in the hope of taking that sort of approach, rather than just a legalistic approach," he told the audience.

John Reid, CEO of Warner Music Europe, also spoke from the audience. He was openly sceptical of plans unveiled by the Minister during the debate, for talks involving the ISPs, expert academics and other interested parties. Reid said that this would be a protracted and probably ineffective talking shop.

"Don't get a bunch of guys from my old university," said Reid, who was Ents Officer in Trinity College in the 1980s. "It'll take a year and you'll be out of office by then. Move now and follow your nose."

Reid urged the Minister to roll out the three strikes rule to all ISPs. "In Sweden, the introduction of a new law was enough to make sure music sales grew in a year. Put a law in place. It doesn't hurt the ISPs," said the record company boss.

The other panellists seemed to share some of the concerns being raised on the floor. Paul Brady called for even stricter measures - appealing for the introduction of a one strike policy. "I don't know why we're talking about three strikes," said Brady. "It is against the law. Why isn't it one strike and you're charged?"

He continued the criticism of the government's lack of action. "If I hear anyone else in Government saying the arts will get us out of our present difficulties, I think I'll scream," Brady told Ryan, to applause from the audience. "You seem to expect us artists to be cultural ambassadors and work for nothing. Three percent of people, in the last report, in this country think artists should be paid for their work."

Victor Finn, CEO of the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) made further calls for legislation to make the ISPs responsible for illegal actions carried out on their networks. This would effectively force the ISPs to police their users and crack down on illegal filesharers.

In Ireland, only one ISP, Eircom, following protracted negotiations with the Irish Recorded Music Association, has voluntarily introduced a ‘three strikes and you're out' rule against serial downloaders. The first warning letters have been sent out to Eircom customers over the last couple of weeks, Finn stated.

"We have sought the co-operation of the ISP industry," Finn who was part of the IMIR (Irish Music Intellectual Rights) stand at the show, stated. "Apart from Eircom, who have introduced a graduated response measure, the rest of the industry have to be dragged kicking and screaming to the table.

Marc Marot, CEO of the entertainment arm of the powerful Sports Entertainment Group (SEG), gave a damning example of the impact of illegal downloading. He explained that SEG have a successful trance act on his books with a fanbase of 14,000. The band recently shifted 4,000 copies, or £15,000 worth of its LP on the day it went on sale. On the same day, Marot and the band monitored 17,000 bit torrents going out illegally, equal to £150,000 worth of turnover.

"That band effectively wasted an entire year of endeavour, and all of that thought, energy and investment of money they made from touring. Effectively they just watched it disappear down the toilet. That's what happens if governments don't get involved, and they don't use their powers to legislate. It's easy to talk about U2, but it's just the small bands coming up that are suffering," he said.

Another major criticism at the debate was levelled by Louis Walsh, regarding the lack of airplay Irish acts receive on Irish radio. "I can't understand why there isn't more Irish music on Irish radio. I can't hear the bands if they're not on the radio. I might as well be in America or the UK. Radio is the oxygen of the business," said Walsh.

The veteran manager said he "still has to grovel" to get his acts played on 2FM and other national stations. "It's like they're doing you a favour by playing your act."